McDermott makes light of elements

Gary McDermott defied rain squalls and winds gusting up to 30 mph to shoot a sensational 69 for a one shot lead after the opening round of the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

But the 32-year old Co Sligo stalwart, now playing out of Carton House following a move to Dublin for work reasons, does not dare to dream of a maiden championship win just yet as the Dollymount links once again took its share of victims.

As the wind switched in the afternoon and early morning squalls gave way to southerly gusts of more 30mph, McDermott was the only player in the elite, 120-strong field to break 70 on a day when just four players dipped under par.