Morris takes five shot lead in Co Louth

Mullingar’s John Morris opened with a five under par 67 to take a one shot lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Co Louth yesterday.

Starting on the back nine, the Cork-born doctor reached the turn in one under before coming home in 33 thanks to two birdies and an eagle three at the 531 yard sixth.

His round gave him a one shot lead over another Leesider, 20-year-old Niall Turner from Muskerry.

Ulstermen Eddie McCormack (Slieve Russell), Brian McElhinney (North West), Michael Sinclair (Knock) and Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) are all two behind on three under.

International Andrew McCormick of Scrabo is in a 10 man group on two under par after a rollercoaster round.

Three over after five holes, he holed an eight iron from 155 yards for an eagle two at he eighth to get back on track and played the remaining holes in three under par.

East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, Co Louth

1st round

67 J Morris (Mullingar)

68 N Turner (Muskerry)

69 E McCormack (Slieve Russell), B McElhinney (North West), M Sinclair (Knock), D Crowe (Dunmurry)

70 G Hall (Edenderry), F O'Donoghue (Belvoir Park), A McCormick (Scrabo), P Lyons (Cork), D Kelleher (Portmarnock), A Morrow (Portmarnock), A Morris (Belvoir Park), M Campbell (Stackstown), C Cunningham (Mullingar), D McNamara (Connemara)

71 G Bohill (Co Louth), R Cannon (Balbriggan), N Beirth (Co Louth), C Brown (Royal Portrush), D Moran (The Island), N Kavanagh (Westport)

72 W Kelly (Killeen), M Ryan (Grange), M Burton (Powerscourt), D Ryan (Grange), C Montgomery (Malone), T Cleary (Cork), J Mulready (Castle), M Rowe (Athlone), B Smyth (Mourne), C Murphy (Clandeboye), M Murphy (Waterville), P Purdy (Shandon Park), S Paul (Tandragee), R Durnin (L&Bettystown), K Leahy (Mill Ride UK), E O'Sullivan (The Island)

73 L Hynes (Blainroe), J Rafferty (San Diego), J Brady (Edenderry), A McKinley (Shandon Park), B O'Connor (Hermitage), R Kilpatrick (Banbridge), R Leonard (Banbridge), C Doran (Banbridge), L Ryan (Stackstown)

74 D Finn (Mallow), E Arthurs (Forrest Little), I Moore (Dunmurry), M O'Sullivan (Galway), J Foster (Ballyclare), R Boal (Scrabo), R McDowell (Royal Belfast), R Forsythe (Hilton Templepatrick), A Dowling (Hermitage), M McEneff (St Anne's), G Lynas (Shandon Park), J Moore (L&Bettystown), D McWilliams (Holywood), S Crowe (Dunmurry), M McGinley (Grange), J Callan (Howth), C Cassidy (Portmarnock), S McParland (Greenore)

75 J Clynch (L & Bettystown), A McCloy (Ballymena), N Lavin (Royal (Dublin), M Collins (Sutton), S Miskelly (Knock), C McNamara (Limerick), D O'Brien (L&Bettystown), B Reddan (Co Louth), A McAllister (Portmarnock), R McCarthy (The Island), M Mulryan (Athenry), G McKevitt (Greenore), M Staunton (Ballinasloe), B Trainor (Warrenpoint), M McDermott (Stackstown), P O'Keeffe (Douglas), G Wardlow (Shandon Park), J Lyons (Galway), P McGrath (Dromoland), C Martin (Nenagh), R Evans (Moyola Park), D Morgan (Mullingar), S Irving (Howth)

76 D Quilligan (Elm Park), D Coyne (Tuam), M Owens (Mallow), S Caul (Malahide), H Diamond (Holywood), C Conaty (Royal Dublin), D Rawluck (The Island), E McAnoy (Knock), R O'Connor (Island), H Hanley (Grange), R Maher (Nenagh), D Dunne (Royal Dublin), F Whelan (L&Bettystown), D McInerney (Lahinch), J McGinn (Greenore), K Bornemann (Douglas), B O'Brien (Headfort)

77 P McLaughlin (Ballyliffin), M Curtis (Grange), M O'Kelly (Limerick), J McKinstry (Cairndhu), S Franklin (Athenry), D Carroll (Grange), A O'Callaghan (Douglas), G Massey (Hermitage), D O'Donovan (Muskerry), P McDonald (Woodbrook), P Murray (Limerick), S Gannon (Co Louth), J Mulready (Castle)

78 D Heather (Sutton), J Mooney (L&Bettystown), C Moriarty (Clandeboye), M McMurray (Bangor), D Coyle (Co Louth), S McVey (Banbridge), S McTernan (Co Sligo), A Smith (The Island), S Moloney (Castletroy), D Branigan (Seapoint), A Fox (Black Bush), T Ford (Co Sligo), D Doyle (Curragh), A Hofvaner (Sweden), T Ford (Co Sligo), J Fox (Portmarnock)

79 G O'Flaherty (Cork) 79, C Waters (Athenry), D Gleeson (Old Conna)

80 A Hogan (West Hill), P Higgins (Mullingar), M McTernan (Co Sligo), C Long (City of Derry), P O'Brien (Lucan)

81 R Williams (Baltinglass), S Prendergast (Royal Dublin), J Hutchinson (Royal Dublin), MF Morris (Portmarnock), R McIlroy (Holywood)

82 L Bird (Killeen), K McCarthy (Kinsale), M Reck (Lucan)

83 S Eyres (Connemara), P Errity (Delgany)

84 F Flynn (L&Bettystown)

NR J Crangle (Fortwilliam), E Barton (Grange), D Baker (Downpatrick), D Kyle (Royal Belfast)