<p>Jonathan Keane in action at Rosses Point. Picture: Inpho</p>
Lahinch’s Jonathan Keane made light work of a stiff northwest wind and fired an incredible five under 66 to set the pace in the Connolly Motor Group West of Ireland Amateur Open at Rosses Point.
Running high on confidence after breaking through to win the South of Ireland Championship last summer, the Kilfenora man was the only player in the 126-strong field to break par in the first qualifying round.
“I’m delighted,” Keane said after making nine birdies at County Sligo, including three in a row from the 13th before closing with another. “It was tough, all right, to be fair.
“There was a lot of wind, and we got one or two showers of rain. So yeah, delighted with my round.”
The big-hitting Co Clare man leads by five strokes from Co Sligo’s Aodhagan Brady and by six from defending champion Dylan Holmes, Walker Cup players Matthew McClean and Caolan Rafferty, Monkstown’s Edward Farr and qualifier Cormac O’Muirithe from Belmullet.
With Storm Dave expected to lash the west coast this afternoon, Championship officials advised the players before teeing it up yesterday that their opening rounds might be their sole qualifying round should the weather force the abandonment or cancellation of round two.
Winds gusting over 100 kpmh are forecast, and while it blew over 80 kmph at times on the opening day, Keane took advantage of the best of the early conditions and the confidence that comes with winning an Irish championship.
“I'm pretty used to wind like this, so it's pretty standard for me,” he said. “Last year was a great year for me. I got great confidence from it, and I was happy with how my pre-season went and how I had played in a few tournaments abroad.
“I was feeling good about my game, and I’m delighted to have a good score.”
Unlike 2016, when the second qualifying round was abandoned, players can have no complaints if round two is called off and the top 64 after round one are declared the qualifiers.
“We made a decision yesterday and notified the players last night that the intention was to try and complete the event within the allotted time and in its format, but there would be no extension to Wednesday,” Tournament Director Enda Lonergan explained.
“We told them that they should prepare themselves when going out today for the possibility of a cancellation or abandonment of round two, but it was our intention to start if the weather permitted on Saturday morning.
"We wanted everybody to know the importance of their first round and to take due diligence and due care in that round.”
On the PGA Tour, Scottish left-hander Robert MacIntyre fired an eight-under 64 to take the halfway lead in the Valero Texas Open.
At 14-under, he was four shots clear of Ryder Cup teammate Ludvig Aberg and pleased with his decision to play before the Masters.
“I've tweaked it this year,” the Scot said of his schedule. “I didn't play last year, just went straight into Augusta. This was an adjustment for that reason. I wanted to be sharp, or sharper going into Augusta.
“I prefer playing my way in whether it's one, two, sometimes three events before a major.”
It was Seamus Power’s sixth event in a row but a one over 73 left him two shots outside the cut mark on level par.
Article Link: Keane hits route 66 to lead as players brace for Storm Dave - News - Irish Golf Desk