Strong field can’t break par in South of Ireland

Not a single member of one of the strongest fields to contest the Pierse Motors South of Ireland managed to break the par of 72 in yesterday’s first qualifying round of the 116th championship.

While several players boasting scratch or even lower handicaps returned slightly embarrassing scores, the 45km/h wind sweeping in from the Atlantic, accompanied by a few fierce showers, played a major part in the carnage. And it has left several big names, including internationals and former champions, concerned about their participation among the 64 who qualify for the matchplay rounds beginning tomorrow.

At the end of a day that began at 7.30am and finished in semi darkness more than 12 hours later, 21-year-old Rowan Lester (Hermitage), who lost in last year’s final to Conor Purcell and a couple of weeks ago captured the North of Ireland at Royal Portrush, was leading the way after a splendid level-par round of 72. The wind had abated somewhat late in his round but this was still an outstanding performance given that Lester started off with a double-bogey six at the 1st and dropped two more strokes at the 6th. If his round was far from a lesson in consistency, it was salvaged by birdies at the 12th, 13th, 17th, and 18th that saw him home in an admirable three-under-par 33.