Browne still daring to dream of East success
The 40-year old from Hermitage, who played on both the European Tour and the Challenge Tour for seven years before quitting in 2008, added a 74 to his opening 75 to trail defending champion Paul Dunne (72) and Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell (68) by nine shots on five over par.
It looks like an impossible task but having got to two under early in his first round and raced to five under after six holes yesterday, the Hermitage player is not giving up on what would be a sensational victory. “It’s been done before, many a time,” said Browne, who now sells financial planning software.
He added: “But I think I made the right decision [to quit the Tour] six years ago. I had a putt on eight from six feet to go five under, missed that and bogeyed nine, 10, 11, 12 and doubled 14.
“Thankfully my experience got me home but while the golf course is absolutely fantastic, it’s right on the edge so if you are slightly out anywhere — the greens are firm, the rough is up and it’s windy — you are in trouble.”
Thick rough and winds gusting up to 20mph made a firm and fast County Louth a tough test, with just four players under par after two rounds and the cut falling at seven over 151.
“It’s US Open-style but in terms of my golf, it is a really good test,” said Browne, who eagled the third and birdied the par-three fifth and seventh holes to get to within a couple of shots of the lead.
On his last appearance in the East in 2001, Browne came from the cut line to finish fourth, shooting nine under on the final day, to set up a magical summer that convinced him he had the game to turn professional.
With top 25 on the leaderboard covered by just eight shots, the Championship is certainly wide open
Mobile phone shop manager Campbell, a 27-year old former Ulster interprovincial, was certainly dialled in as he fired a 68 to grab a share of the lead with defending champion Dunne, who struggled to a 72 in the afternoon winds. Campbell was six under after 13 holes before struggling over the closing holes but he believes Baltray owes him one after he came to the 18th needing an eagle to win two years ago but three putted for par to miss out on a play-off by one.
Greystones’ star Dunne (21) confessed that he’s struggling to adapt to Irish conditions after only returning from playing the NCAA Championship with the University of Alabama Birmingham on Thursday.
“The course is easy from the fairway but tough from the rough,” he said after making four birdies and four bogeys. “Working the ball against the wind is something I have to get used to again, hopefully today will stand me in good stead for tomorrow.”
Campbell and Dunne lead by a shot from Cork’s Gary O’Flaherty, who added a fine 71 to his opening 70.
West Waterford’s Gary Hurley is the next best on level par after a controlled 70, tied for fourth with Naas’s Conor O’Rourke, who equalled the best round of the championship with a four under 68.
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