Thomas Mulligan equals course record

Thomas Mulligan, the talented 16-year-old from Co Louth GC, demonstrated during yesterday’s second qualifying round in the AIG Irish Close Championship at Tramore why, only two days ago, he was included in the British & Irish Jacques Leglise boys team for the forthcoming bi-annual challenge against the Continent of Europe.

Mulligan, a native of Mornington, Co Meath, equalled the four year-old course record set by his fellow Royal County man Brian Casey in the 2011 Irish Youths Championship. In the process, he displayed a wide range of skills in shooting a round that could, in fact, have easily been a couple of strokes lower. He actually dropped a shot at the first before gains at the 2nd, 4th and 9th saw him to the turn in 34. On the way back, Mulligan birdied the 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th but had to settle for regulation figures at the par five 16th and 18th where further birdies were very much on offer.

Mulligan finished second in the qualifiers, a couple behind Balbriggan’s Robbie Cannon who returned two exemplary rounds of 70 and 68 and a six under par total of 138. The 2009 South of Ireland and 2013 Irish Amateur Open champion is a strength and conditioning coach who has been working closely with Shane Lowry since last January and is widely regarded as having played a major part in his successes over the past few months.

Meanwhile, much to the delight of golf fans in the south-east, the father and son duo of Eddie and Kevin Power came safely through the qualifying. Kevin, a 16 year-old, 2 handicapper, matched the par of 72 to close on two over 146 and an hour or so later, Eddie (50) joined him in this morning’s first match play round after a 74 and a shot further back.

The Powers returned their scores in contrasting fashion. Kevin, who plays off a 2 handicap, performed with the kind of consistency that featured his father’s illustrious career, especially on the back nine which he completed in two under thanks to birdies at the par five 16th and 18th and seven pars.

In contrast, Eddie faltered on the way home having reached the turn in 34 with birdies 2 and 4 at the 6th and 9th. He went on to bogey the 11th and 13th before running up a double at the 17th.

Robin Dawson remains the big hope of returning the title to Waterford. He started the day three under and his round burst into life with five birdies in six holes including four in a row from the 9th. That pushed him to six under for the tournament but it was largely downhill from there as he found sand at the 14th and 15th and a hazard at the 16th and dropped shots at all three. He finished on three under par.

All of the more fancied players survived into the match play stages. Stuart Grehan, winner of the East and South of Ireland Championships, joined Robin Dawson and first round leader Jonathan Yates on three under although he had good reason to rue a triple bogey seven at the 14th where he drove out of bounds.