Chapman masters the conditions

BALLYBUNION is rarely visited by a north-easterly wind gusting to over 20 miles per hour but when it happens, the famous golf links becomes a seriously testing challenge.

The scoring in yesterday’s opening round of the AIB Irish Seniors Open bore ample testimony to that fact as many of the field struggled to match the scoring enjoyed during practice rounds played in glorious sunshine but with little breeze on Thursday.

The sky was blue, the Atlantic looked at its most majestic and the whole scene was worthy of a picture postcard extolling the virtues of the North Kerry resort.