Irish dominate Dutch Open

Ireland’s Damien McGrane completed a superb 64 to finish as outright leader on 12 under par in a great day for the Irish at the KLM Open today.

McGrane enjoys a three-shot lead over fellow Irishman Peter Lawrie, who also carded a 64.

England’s Simon Dyson and France’s Jean-Francois Remesy share second. Australian Richard Green then smashed the course record established by Lawrie and McGrane with a 62 to lie four off the pace in a superb day of golf.

Surprise leader McGrane is a former teaching professional whose best finish on tour is fourth in the St Omer Open in 2003, but he has improved steadily over the last three years, finishing 140th, 101st and then 59th on the money list.

“It’s great to go out there and play well, tomorrow is another big day for me and I’m hoping for the same again,” said the 35-year-old from Meath, who birdied the last four holes and had nine in total after a bogey at the first.

“I got myself around the lead and pressed on and the birdies kept coming my way.

“Peter Lawrie is a good friend of mine and it’s wonderful for the two of us to be out there and in the position we are.

“It will be nice to have somebody there that you know very well and play together with often. It’s a big day for the both of us.

“My golf has been improving year in, year out for the last 10 years and the European Tour has been pretty good to me so far. I feel like I’m improving and I’ve got a point to prove, waiting to crack that nut of the first win.”

Lawrie was European Tour rookie of the year in 2003 but has yet to win his maiden title and admitted he has been disappointed not to have made the winner’s circle.

“To be honest it’s been very slow,” the 32-year-old Dubliner said. “I was hoping for a quicker progression. It at least has been a progression but I can’t quite put my finger on why I haven’t won yet – a bounce here or a putt there perhaps.

“It will be a shoot-out tomorrow if the weather is decent because the course is playing quite easy if there is no wind. I think I’ll need to shoot something in the region of a 66 but just play my own game, not focus on the leaderboards and play the shots I know I can.”

Colin Montgomerie was among 63 players forced to return to the course early on Saturday morning to complete their second rounds after more than four hours’ play was lost on Friday due to thunderstorms.

Another thunderstorm meant the re-start was delayed for a further 50 minutes before Montgomerie was able to complete his only remaining hole, the 18th, and the 43-year-old Scot was furious to run up a bogey five.

“I was up at 6am, by 10 past nine I had three-putted the 18th green which was a delight, and then had to wait around for three hours to play the third round,” added the world number 15.

“Within three holes I’d three-putted again and it’s difficult to maintain concentration. It’s been a long week for us all and I’ll go to America next week (for the USPGA Championship) for a week off and some relaxation.”