Ryan leads at Little Island

David Ryan, the former Irish Assistants' Champion from the Cork Club at Little Island, swept to the top of the leaderboard at Shannon in the first round of the €22,860 Dr William Flynn Memorial pro-am that is sponsored by Shell.

Ryan, who has been constantly in the shake-up at tournaments this season, carded a two-under-par 70 in pretty difficult conditions to lead overnight by one stroke from Finian Dwyer and Brendan McGovern, the vice captain of the PGA Irish Region.

Only these three players managed to break par with a group of four, including former Ulster Open champion Phil Collins, on regulation 72.

Collins also led in the leading team on 92 points. His amateur partners were Tom Crowe, Noel Casey and PJ Moroney.

Shell Shannon Dr William Flynn Memorial Pro-am:

First Round Leaders:

70 (-2) - D Ryan (Cork),

71 - F Dwyer (Celbridge),

B McGovern (Headfort),

72 - J Murray (Malahide),

P Collins (Galgorm Castle),

P Gray (Holywood),

D McGrane (Wexford).

73 - T Higgins, jun (Mt Juliet),

H O'Neill (Connemara),

D McArdle (Tullamore),

P Russell (Allen Pk),

D Mooney (Laganview),

J Heggarty

74 - W O'Callaghan (Fernhill),

C Barry (Donabate),

A Pike (Shannon),

D McSweeney (East Cork),

I Kerry (Carlow DR),

R Burns (Newlands),

J Bolger (Kilkenny),

P Hanna (Fortwilliam),

J Dignam (Slade Valley),

I Stafford (Bandon).

TEAM:

92pts - P Collins (Galgorm Castle) with Tim Crowe 18,

Noel Casey 14 & PJ Moroney 14 (all Shannon).