Putting tip helps Bowler into lead

A putting tip from Bobby Browne half-an-hour before tee-off helped Liam Bowler to a course record at Greenore, during the opening round in the 36-holes Killester Travel PGA Challenge Trophy tournament.

The young St Helen's Bay Club professional fired a seven birdie 65 with just one blot on his almost perfect card.

Bowler saved par four at the fourth hole after being blocked by a tree. He reached the green with a three wood and then got down from 20 feet.

The overnight leader began his birdie trail with a six iron to six feet for a three at the fifth hole and then went three under with a pitch and putt at the long 11th and a seven iron to eight feet at the 12th.

His only mistake was a three-putt on the 13th green before he rattled off birdies at the 14th

from eight feet, 15th from 10 feet, the long 17th reaching the green with a five wood and the 18th where he wedged to four feet.

Bowler leads by one stroke from David Ryan and two shots back are David Walker and Neil Manchip. Walker is chasing a hat-trick of wins in the competition and he pencilled in seven birdies.

KILLESTER TRAVEL PGA CHALLENGE TROPHY AT GREENORE

First Round Leaders:

65 (-6) - L Bowler (St Helen's Bay).

66 - D Ryan (Cork).

67 - N Manchip (Royal Dublin), D Walker (Foxrock).

68 - K Morris (Fota Island), L Walker (Dundalk).

69 - A Manson (Lisburn).

70 - J Dwyer (Ashbourne), P Gray (Holywood).

71 - D Mooney (Laganview), JP Dolan (Charleville), R Symes (Lisburn), G

Roche (Curragh), G Robinson (Wexford), M Sludds (Enniscorthy), K Dorrian

(Unattached), J Bolger (Kilkenny).

72 - L Robinson (Doengal), W O'Callaghan (Fernhill), A Johnston

(Ballyclare), Z Rouiller (Spawell), P McGuirk (co Louth), S Hamill

(Lisburn), G Burke (Curragh), M Collins (Charleville).