Golf: Loughrey tops leaderboard at Nuremore

Maxfli Irish Club professionals' championship at Nuremore, first round scores

FIRST ROUND SCORES (Par 71):

68 - G Loughrey (Knockbracken)

69 - S Hamill (Allen Pk), M Allan (Leopardstown), L Walker (Dundalk)

70 - R O'Dell (Village Green)

71 - P Jones (Coollattin), B McGovern (Headfort), S Thornton (Royal County

Down), J Kelly (The Ward), J Dignam (Slade Valley), E Logue (Hilton), N

Manchip (Royal Dublin)

72 - R Hutton (Cliftonville), K Morris (Fota Island)

73 - D O'Sullivan (St Margaret's), M Cassidy (Nuremore), M Leung (MacGregor

Golf), N Lane (The Island), R Symes (Royal Belfast), G Fairweather (Knock),

P Hanna (Fortwilliam), M Sludds (Enniscorthy), D Kearney (Galway DR), M

Bannon (Bangor), S Duffy (Roe Pk), S O'Grady (Black Bush).

74 - L McCool (Slieve Russell), JP Dolan (Charleville), G Mercer

(Tandragee), J Murray (Malahide), G Burke (Curragh), V Teague (Moyola Pk), R

Creamer (Royal Dublin), P Collins (Galgorm Castle).

75 - N Howley (Black Bush), R Duckett (Fortwilliam), N Callan (City of

Derry), S Hoey (Royal Tara), S Byrne (Hermitage).

Heavy rain which flooded the greens disrupted play for two and a half hours

during the first round with the result that some players did not complete

the 18 holes. These players must finish out before teeing up in the second

and final round today.

Knockbracken professional Geoff Loughrey was one player who did manage to

get a full day's work done and he handed in a super 68 - three under par -

to take an early lead in the championship.

Left-hander Loughrey carded four birdies and one bogey to be one stroke ahead of defending champion Leslie Walker (Dundalk), Stephen Hamill (Allen Pk) and Michael Allen (Leopardstown).