O'Neill and Kennedy off to flying starts in The Amateur
Connemara's Luke O'Neill and Royal Dublin's Max Kennedy opened with one-under 70s to head the 16-strong Irish challenge in 36-hole qualifying for The Amateur Championship at Nairn.
Nairn's Calum Scott shot a four-under 67 to lead by one stroke from English Walker Cup player Jack Dyer and by three shots from England's Frank Kennedy and the Irish pair in the race to make the top 64 who qualify for the matchplay stages tomorrow.
Reigning Irish Close champion Hugh Foley (72), Kilkenny's Walker Cup star Mark Power and Carton House's Marc Boucher (73), Royal Portrush's Jack Madden (74), Castle's Robert Moran (75) and Carton House's Keith Egan (76) were also inside the top 64 after the opening day.
Richard Knightly, Matthew McClean, Paul Conroy and Patrick Keeling also shot 76 to lie just outside the top 64 with Alan Fahy and John Cleary (77) and Grange's Jake Whelan (78) within striking distance as Huge O'Hare struggled to an 83.
Scott used his early tee-time advantage to card a bogey-free round he believes might just be his best on his home track.
“That’s probably my best score to be fair, off the blacks anyway,” he said. “I haven’t really played off the blacks very much. Off the whites I’ve shot 66 so off the blacks 67 is my best.”
The 17-year-old has the hopes of the home support firmly on his shoulders after his older brother Sandy – the championship favourite – was forced to withdraw late on Sunday, failing to recover from the wrist injury which saw him also miss the Walker Cup in May.
“It was weird. I was very nervous on the first tee with everyone clapping and stuff. I was happy to see so many people,” he told the R&A..
“I’m just focusing on my next round, my next tee shot. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself because anything can happen with that wind. Especially tomorrow as it will be a wee bit breezy. I’m out a midday and I expect the wind to pick up.”
As the wind picked up in the afternoon, no one was able to catch Scott who now heads into Tuesday with the chance to top strokeplay qualifying.
Walker Cup star Dyer birdied 17 and 18 to card the next best round of the day, a brilliant three-under-par 68, to put himself into second place.
England’s Kennedy impressed in his debut to card a one-under-par 70 and sits three behind Scott along with Irish duo O’Neil and Kennedy.
O’Neill finished brilliantly, picking up birdies at the 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th in a six-birdie effort while University of Louisville star Kennedy also finished superbly with birdies at the 15th, 16th and 18th.
