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.