Ward leading at West of Ireland Open

Defending champion Rory McIlroy struggled to a four-over par 75 as Co Louth's Simon Ward led the qualifiers in the Radisson-SAS West of Ireland Amateur Open.

Bidding for a hat-trick of titles at Rosses Point, McIlroy carded two birdies, two bogeys and two doubles bogeys but qualified for the matchplay stages with three shots to spare as the cut for the top 64 fell at five over-par 147.