Cool Lowry creates a slice of history

SHANE LOWRY, the leading Irish contender for the Walker Cup team to take on the Americans at Merion next August, entered the 3 Irish Open record books at Baltray yesterday by shooting an opening round of five under par 67.

His score equals the previous low by an amateur in the championship set by Tipperary’s Arthur Pierse at Royal Dublin in 1984. Eoghan O’Connell of Killarney was joint top Irishman with Des Smyth after the first round at Portmarnock in 1988. Lowry, who plays off a handicap of plus five, has shed more than a stone in weight thanks to a regime prepared by his fitness and conditioning coach Eric Miller, the former Irish rugby international.

“I played really well with no silly mistakes except for three putts at 13,” said Lowry, a son of former Offaly All-Ireland winning footballer Brendan. “I started on the back nine and after two early bogeys, birdied 14, 15 and 16 to get back to one under.

“I played the par fives well and made birdies at 2nd, 3rd and 6th, hit a great drive down nine and a lob wedge to six feet past the hole and knocked that in. It was one of those days and I hope Colin Dalgleish (the Walker Cup captain) was watching at home.”

He need hardly worry about his place at Merion. He is ranked 16th in the amateur world rankings and a good week here would improve that further. After that, he plans to launch a professional career at the European qualifying school in September.