McGovern on the birdie trail

Brendan McGovern went on the birdie trail at Castle Hume to win the £12,000 Ulster Lakeland Classic.

Souther Branch champion McGovern pencilled in eight birdies in his impressive round with just one bogey on his card. That was a four at the 4th holes and it was just a momentary lapse.

The PGA Irish Region vice-captain birdied the short 2nd hole, the long 6th and the par four 7th to turn two-under-par (34) and then strung three more birdies together from the 10th, going 3-4-3.

Further birdie threes were pencilled in at the 14th and 17th as McGovern stormed over the back nine in five-under-31.

ULSTER LAKELAND CLASSIC AT CASTLE HUME

Leading Scores:

65 (-7) - B McGvoern (Headfort)

69 - D McGrane (Wexford)

70 - D Ryan (Cork), N Manchip (Royal Dublin)

71 - F Dwyer (Celbridge)

72 - P Collins (Galgorm Castle), R Symes (Lisburn), P Gray (Holywood), J

Dignam (Slade Valley).

73 - L Walker (Dundalk), G Loughrey (Knockbracken), F Howley (Ballyliffin),

S Hamill (Lisburn), P Stevenson (Portadown).

74 - J Heggarty (Spawell), D Mooney (Laganview), T Higgins (Mt Juliet), L

Robinson (Donegal).

75 - G McShea (Rossmore), P Hanna (Fortwilliam), C Spence (Royal Belfast), J

Dwyer (Ashbourne), M Allan (Leopardstown).

Team:

91pts - S Hamill (Lisburn) with Chris McVitty 5, Pat Duffy 12 & Ger Love 18

(all Castle Hume).