<p>Joshua Hill. Picture: Golf RSA</p>
Galgorm Castle's Joshua Hill and Douglas' Jack Murphy opened with two-under 68s to share the lead with England's Conor Byers in the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham at St Annes.
<img alt="" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52780078e4b0782c048f31cb/1682712656545-42LXY8JTEAA3KQUQOWHF/Jack+Murphy+%28Douglas%29.jpg?format=1000w" />
<p>Jack Murphy in an archive photo</p>
Reigning Munster and Connacht Boys champion Murphy was three over after six holes before sensationally playing the remaining 12 in five-under thanks to birdies at the seventh, eighth, ninth, 11th and 17th.
Hill and Byers had five birdies in their 68s and the trio lead by a shot from Wales’ Matt Roberts, England’s Freddie MacArthur, Scotland’s Oliver Mukherjee and Swedish pair Simon Hovdal Wilhelm Ryding.
It was also a great day for Pormarnock’s Brandon St John who recovered from a trying week at the Welsh Amateur by making three birdies and three bogeys in a level par 70 to share ninth.
It was a mixed day for the 19 Irish in action with Athenry’s David Kitt the next best of the bunch in 15th after a 71.
The leading 40 players and ties after Saturday’s second round will go through to play two further rounds on Sunday.
Lytham Trophy, Royal Lytham & St Annes
T1 Joshua Hill Galgorm Castle -2 68
T1 Jack Murphy Douglas GC -2 68
T9 Brandon St John Portmarnock GC E 70
T15 David Kitt Athenry GC +1 71
T24 Matthew McClean Malone GC +2 72
T24 Robert Brazill Vaas GC +2 72
T24 Robert Moran Castle GC +2 72
T38 Richard Knightly Royal Dublin +3 73
T52 Hugh Foley Royal Dublin +4 74
T69 Marc Boucher Carton House +5 75
T87 Aaron Marshall Lisburn GC +6 76
T87 Sean Keeling Roganstown +6 76
T95 Thomas Abom Edmondstown GC +7 77
T103 Darragh Flynn Carton House +8 78
T103 Patrick Keeling Roganstown +8 78
T114 Simon Walker Roscommon GC +9 79
T122 Eoin Murphy Dundalk GC +10 80
T122 Liam Abom Edmondstown GC +10 80
T137 Ryan Griffin Rosapenna +13 83
Article Link: https://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2023/4/28/murphy-and-hill-share-lytham-trophy-led-with-brilliant-68s