Young guns defy wind and rain at Lahinch

Ryan Griffin. Pic: Brian Arthur

Such is the level of amateur golf these days that not even squally showers and westerly whipping over 25 mph could stop 42 players firing in sub-par scores in the opening round of the Pierse Motors-sponsored 122nd South of Ireland Amateur Open at Lahinch.

Softened by summer rains, the Co Clare links were a green paradise for the 150-strong field when Castleknock’s Ian O’Connell and Ballybofey and Stranorlar’s Ryan Griffin carded six-under 66s to top the leaderboard after the first qualifying round.

They lead by a shot from Naas’ Jamie Butler, Malahide’s Gavin O’Neill and Berehaven’s Joe O’Neill in the battle to make the 64 qualifiers for tomorrow’s matchplay stages.

Co Sligo's Aodhagan Brady, Fermoy’s Dean O’Riordan, Carton House’s Darragh Flynn and impressive Danish raider Mads Jensen shot 69s to tie for ninth as defending champion Colm Campbell from Warrenpoint opened with a 70 that left him joint 13th.

Griffin, who impressed for the International team in the recent Arnold Palmer Cup matches at Lahinch, made an eagle and six birdies in his 66 to set the pace.

But 26-year-old O’Connell was thrilled to match him and go bogey-free in the worst of the afternoon weather.

“Aye, just short,” he said after he came up just short with an 18-footer for a closing birdie that would have given him the outright lead. “I started steady with six pars and got in trouble on seven and holed a 35 footer for par there and then started rolling the putter for the rest of the round. 

“The putts were dropping. I’ve never had a low round like that in a championship so I am just delighted.” 

A Senior Cup and Barton Shield player with Castleknock, O’Connell felt so calm he didn’t realise he’d gone bogey-free, and he’s hopeful now he can finally make the cut in the championship.

“Maybe I’ve finally figured it out,” he beamed as misty rain reduced visibility for the late finishers He made an eight-footer for a two at the eighth, tapped in from short range for another birdie at the ninth, then made a 30-footer at the 10th to go three-under before making another hat-trick of birdies at the 13th, 14th and 15th.

Griffin, who is about to start his Masters at Maynooth University, cancelled out bogeys at the third and 15th with birdies at the first, eighth, 11th, 13th, 17th and 18th and an eagle three at the fourth.

“I’ve good memories here,” said the 24-year-old, who lost to Campbell in the quarter-finals last year but went on to win the R&A Student Series last winter to secure a Palmer Cup call-up.

“It started off with a nasty shower, and the first four holes were very tough, but it was lovely after that; a bit breezy, but we’re used to that down here.” 

Griffin, who played in LIV Golf’s Promotion Series event in Abu Dhabi last season, is looking to notch his first Irish major win but his first task is to make the matchplay draw tonight.

He’s well-placed to do that as he and O’Connell lead by a shot from Naas’ Jamie Butler, Malahide’s Gavin O’Neill and Berehaven’s Joe O’Neill.

Blainroe’s Conor Dean (26), a son of former Ireland rugby out-half Paul Dean, shot an impressive 68 on his debut at Lahinch to share sixth place with Roscommon’s Thomas Higgins and Nenagh’s David Reddan.

An out-half in the oval ball game, he had some local knowledge on the bag in Lahinch member and St Mary’s College RFC teammate Andrew Walsh, dropping his only shot of the day at the 17th.

Defending champion Campbell was tied for 16th with the likes of veteran Pat Murray, the 2012 champion, but 2022 winner Hugh Foley from Royal Dublin has work to do to make the cut after opening with a 74.