Golf: Darcy faces battle for title

BANK OF IRELAND/MASTERCARD IRISH PGA (Southern Branch) CHAMPIONSHIP AT ARKLOE:

Eamon Darcy defends the title but will need a big effort in the second and final round today if he is to keep it.

Darcy could only manage a three-over-par 72 in the opening round and lies joint 10th on the leaderboard with five other players.

FIRST ROUND LEADING SCORES:

68 (-1) - J Dwyer (Ashbourne).

69 - L Walker (Dundalk),P Walton (Westpoint Fitness Centre).

70 - S Codd (Rosslare), W O'Callaghan (Fernhill).

71 - K Padajachee (Ashbourne), M O'Boyle (Cill Dara), J Dignam (Slade

Valley), J Kelly (The Ward).

72 - D Byrne (Hermitage), C Barry (Donabate), S O'Grady (Black Bush), E

Doyle (The Heath), D Walker (Foxrock), E Darcy (Druid's Glen).

73 - J Dooley (Faithlegg), G Roche (Curragh), N Howley (Black Bush), G Egan

(Castlewarden), J Murray (Malahide), M O'Shea (Kilkenny), P Duignan

(Charlesland), G Robinson (Wexford), JP Dolan (Charleville), A Schweppe

(Malahide), L Owens (Royal Dublin).