Paul Coughlan rides hot putter to lead West of Ireland at halfway

Coughlan leads by a shot from Royal Dublin's Hugh Foley on seven-under-par

Castleknock’s Paul Coughlan took advantage of a hot putter to take a slender one-stroke lead into the final two rounds of the West of Ireland Amateur Championship at County Sligo.

The Dubliner (29) has been struggling with the blade, but he found the perfect weapon for the job at Rosses Point and made an eagle and eight birdies in rounds of 67 and 68 to lead by a shot from Royal Dublin's Hugh Foley on seven-under-par.