Paul Cutler is out on his own at Shannon. But there’s always someone lurking ….Portstewart’s Paul Cutler will be bidding to follow in the footsteps on current world number six Rory McIlroy when he takes a one-stroke lead into the final two rounds of the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Championship at Shannon today.

The 22-year old Walker Cup hopeful carded a one over par 73 on another blustery day to top the leaderboard on two under par and keep alive his hopes of completing a rare West of Ireland - Irish Close double last achieved by McIlroy at the European Club in 2006.

Walker Cup prospect Paul Cutler showed windswept Shannon maximum respect as he opened with a three under par 69 to share the lead with Dunmurry’s Darren Crowe in the first strokeplay edition in the history of the Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship.

The reigning West of Ireland champion holed out from 95 yards for an eagle two at the 13th and mixed four birdies with three bogeys on a day when just five players in the 156-strong field broke par on the tight but pristine parkland beauty hard by the Shannon estuary.