Moriarty shoots magical 63

BACK in 1987, a 17-year-old Irish amateur, Eoghan O'Connell, astonished the golfing world when he twice shot rounds of 65 in the qualifying rounds for the British Open at North Berwick to lead the way into the Championship proper by a clear five strokes.

Now there is every opportunity of history repeating itself after yesterday’s remarkable 63 by another of the unpaid brigade, 23-year-old Colm Moriarty from Athlone.

His seven under par round equalled the course record at North Berwick, one of the oldest and most venerable links in these islands. It was set about an hour earlier by South African Trevor Immelman and the pair carry a two shot advantage into today’s final 18 holes. Such was the remarkable quality of the scoring on a day of almost total calm that Moriarty will again have to shoot a relatively low number to be sure of rubbing shoulders with Tiger Woods and the rest of the world’s greatest in the real thing starting at nearby Muirfield on Thursday. Only six go through from each of the qualifying venues, so it remains very much a lottery and a nervewracking experience as well for all of those in contention. For now, however, Moriarty has every good reason to be delighted with himself. And for good measure, he is backed up at North Berwick by another amateur, Waterville’s Mark Murphy, who was round in 68. Otherwise, it was a relatively disappointing day for the remaining Irish aspirants. Ulstermen Graeme McDowell and Paddy Gribben finished one over par on 72 at Dunbar, where the Slade Valley professional John Dignam took 73. 1999 Ryder Cup captain Mark James, 2000 Murphy’s Irish Open champion Patrik Sjoland and Sam Walker from the Forest of Arden, lead the way here on six under 65.

Cork Senior Cup player Pádraig Dooley and Stephen Browne, the former European Amateur champion and South of Ireland finalist last year, brought in very respectable one under par 70s at Gullane Number 1, but their plight is put in perspective by the fact that the lead here at this none-to-easy lay-out a short distance from Muirfieled is the Swede Fredrik Andersson on 62! Killarney amateur Danny Sugrue was the only Irishman in action at Luffness New, where he slumped to a 77, a massive 16 shots behind the leader, Scottish Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart. While Moriarty and Murphy performed with great distinction at North Berwick, Headfort professional Brendan McGovern, 69, and Waterville’s David Higgins, 72, left themselves with a mountain to climb at the same venue.

Moriarty has been proving over the past few seasons that he has little fear of competing against the aristocrats of the game. He missed the cut in the Irish Open last year by two shots; last month, he lost out by one. Furthermore, he plays off a plus three handicap, having finished 2nd in this year’s Brabazon Trophy for the English Amateur stroke play championship and is a member of the 2003 British & Irish Walker Cup squad.

He began yesterday’s round uneventfully with four straight pars before an eight-footer for his first breakthrough at the 5th started the fireworks. Three further gains followed, thanks to putts of 20 and 15 feet at the 6th and 7th before he reached the long 8th with a drive and three iron and two putted from 40 feet. “Four under 32 to the turn was very satisfactory,” glowed Moriarty. “At that stage, I felt I just needed to keep hitting fairways and greens.” He achieved that objective without the slightest difficulty. He was in from eight feet for a two at the 10th and then demonstrated his power by overshooting the 549 yards 11th with a drive and five iron. Undaunted, he chipped back to a couple of inches for his four. By now he was really on fire and duly staged a grandstand finish, knocking in a 12-footer for a birdie at the 16th before driving the 273 yards 18th with a three wood and two putting for his eighth birdie of a great day.

“I’ve just been told that I have equalled the course record and that’s a great feeling,” enthused the Athlone golfer as he exited the scorers’ tent. “My immediate objective is obviously to qualify for the Open this week and after that my ambition is to make the Walker Cup team. I suppose I will turn professional eventually.”

Mark Murphy is recognised as one of the characters of the Irish amateur scene and he certainly has no intention of allowing the aura of the Open Championship to inhibit him in any way. The assembled media were amused and interested to learn that he worked as a disc jockey back in Kerry and he was quick to inform them: “I’m missing out on a lot of money being here and your sterling pounds are murder, jeez everything is so expensive over here.”

In a more self-deprecating manner, Murphy, who has reached the final of the West of Ireland and twice ran up for the East, quipped: “I’ve never won anything, always 2nd like Pádraig (Harrington) although I wouldn’t mind being in his position. I’ll turn pro at the end of the year, why not I’ve nothing to lose. I realise there are only six qualifying spots but what harm, I only want one”.

Murphy, 24, shot three two putt birdies, at the 8th., 9th and 12th and sutick rigidly to par otherwise.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods arrived in Scotland yesterday from Ireland and had his first look at the Open Championship lay-out. “It’s a heck of a golf course, the rough is up and it’s pretty tight, it’s going to be a great challenge,” he acknowledged.

He is certainly right about the height of the rough and anybody leaving the fairway is in grave danger of losing a ball. There will be some sob stories here this week.