Des Morgan impresses at South of Ireland Championship in Lahinch

Ever since the distinguished golf course architect Martin Hawtree modified and considerably altered the famous old links in 2001, Lahinch has become a formidable challenge for the game’s finest, whether amateur or professional.

That was again very much the case yesterday in the first of two stroke qualifying rounds in the South of Ireland Championship.

True, there was a stiff breeze blowing in off the adjacent Atlantic and the rough was sufficiently tough to punish those who strayed off line, but the course record of 66 was never under threat.