Hopkins seven off the lead in Zambia; Concession Cup blow for GB&I
Jeff Hopkins in aciton in last year's AIG Barton Shield semi final at Carton House. Picture by Pat Cashman
Royal Dublin's Jeff Hopkins had a rollercoaster 73 to lie seven shots off the pace after the opening round of the Zambia Sugar Open at Lusaka Golf Club.
The Dubliner had five birdies in his level par opening round but he also made three bogeys and a double bogey six at the 15th.
He ended the day tied for 49th, seven behind South Africa's James Kante, whose 66 gave him a one shot lead on seven under par from Teaghan Gauche and Ulrich van den Berg.
The Concession Golf Club
Opening day 8-1 defeat for Great Britain and Ireland in Concession Cup
Concession Cup — Garth McGimpsey's Great Britain and Ireland side lost the opening foursomes session 8-1 to the USA in the Concession Cup in Florida.
Created by supporters of amateur golf, "The Concession Cup is an event designed to celebrate the game through international competition while giving back to worthy causes."
The event is a biennial team competition played between teams comprised of leading male Mid-Amateurs, Senior-Amateurs and Senior Amateurs - age 65+ from the United States and Great Britain and Ireland. The Concession Cup competition Committee selected the participating players through the following categories:
Eight (8) Mid-Amateurs, age 25 to 54.
Eight (8) Senior Amateurs, age 55 and older.
Two (2) Senior Amateurs, age 65 and older.
Scoring
The US team dominated Day 1 of the 2016 #ConcessionCup! They lead team GB&I 8 - 1. pic.twitter.com/CxdIMX6d1y
— Concession Cup (@Concession_Cup) April 21, 2016
Ireland is represented by McGimpsey, Tipperary man Pat Murray, Portmarnock's Adrian Morrow, Cork's Tom Cleary, Tipperary's Arthur Pierse, Killiney's Nigel Duke and Naas' Maurice Kelly.
None of them managed to get on the board on day one with GB&I's solitary point coming when Cardiff's Ben Westgate and Brigend's Mike Hearn beat Todd White and Nathan Smith.
Murray and James Bunch lost to Mike McCoy and Scott Harvey; Morrow and Stephen East fell to Bryan Norton and Bob Kearney; Pierse and Cleary lost to Chip Lutz and Pat Tallent while McGimpsey and Ronnie Clark and Duke and Kelly also fell.
Brian Keogh