O'Connor sets new Portumna record

Twenty year-old Brian O'Connor (Hermitage) set a new course record on his way to the lead at the half-way stage of the Irish Youths Amateur Open Championship at Portumna Golf Club.

In the morning round, both Liam Reilly (Galgorm Castle) and O'Connor equalled the course record of three under par 69, and in the afternoon the Hermitage golfer went one better for a four under par 68.

O'Connor's 36 holes total of 137 gave him a five-shot lead over Michael Mulryan from Athenry on 142 with rounds of 72 and 70, followed by Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney on 143.