Higgins gets hot as Ireland make scorching start to European Team title bid in Killarney
Ireland’s Thomas Higgins assesses the situation during the first round of the European Amateur Team Championships in Killarney. Pics by Inpho | Laszlo Geczo
Thomas Higgins fired a four-under 68 to help Ireland make a strong start to the European Amateur Team Championships on a sun-scorched day in Killarney.
The Roscommon talent (22) believes he’s a far stronger player than he was when he headed to Clemson University three years ago and it showed at the pristine Killeen Course.
With Fota Island’s John Doyle shooting 69, Malone’s Matt McClean a 70 and Co Louth duo Stuart Grehan and Gavin Tiernan a brace of 71s, Ireland ended the opening day in third place in the race to make the top eight who qualify for the championship matchplay tomorrow.
Scoring European Men’s Amateur Team Championships
“I bogeyed one but from there on it was pretty flawless,” said Higgins, who made birdies at the sixth, seventh, 11th, 14th and 17th in blustery conditions.
“I’ve developed into a much better player since going to Clemson, just much more developed in all areas, and more mature as a person as well.”
Ireland claimed the last of their six European Team Championship titles in 2008 when Shane Lowry was part of the winning sextet in Turin.
But they have their work cut out this week as 11-time champions England made a strong start and shot 20-under to lead by seven shots from Iceland with Ireland third alongside Germany on 11-under as Caolan Rafferty’s level par 72 was discarded.
England’s Charlie Forster shot a best of the day seven-under 65 to lead the individual standings by a shot from Spain’s Sergio Jimenez and Denmark’s Kristian Hjort Bressum with Higgins 11th after his 68.
Irish captain Damien Coyne was thrilled with his side’s start and hopes to see them push on and challenge for the top seeding.
“We’re well up there and that’s all we wanted,” Coyne said open a day when Denmark, Italy, Spain and France rounded out the top eight and holders Sweden struggled to shoot five over for 14th place.
“So a really good day’s work. Any day when level par is your worst score, you are delighted with that.
“The aim at the start of the week was to try and qualify number one and that's still the goal.
“The four-under by Thomas was a super score because it got quite breezy in the afternoon and John Doyle did really well this morning so that’s really impressive from two guys making their debuts in this event.
“You can always rely on stalwarts like Matt and Caolan, Gavin hung in there really well and Stuart fought back from two over early on to shoot one under. So we’re delighted with that.”
In the European Ladies’ Amateur Team Championships, Beth Coulter’s two under 68 was the only Irish score at or under par, leaving Ireland in eighth place after day one at Chantilly.
Ireland were tenth, just four shots outside the top eight, at the European Boys' Amateur Team Championships in the Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, Kate Dillon’s two under 72 was the best of the Irish, who were eighth after the first qualifying round at the European Girls’ Amateur Team Championships at Slaley Hall in England.
In Scotland, reigning Open champion Xander Schauffele good see the funny side of what he described as the worst season of his professional career as he prepares for Royal Portrush in the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club.
Spying a picture of himself celebrating his 2022 Scottish Open win under a sign pointing to the toilets in the media centre, he could only laugh.
“It was nice to see my photo out by the toilet,” joked Schauffele, whose tie for eighth in the Masters is his lone top-10 this season.
“That was heartwarming. Summed up how I feel about what’s going on right now. I actually chuckled when I saw that one.
Stymied by an early season rib injury after winning the PGA Championship and the Claret Jug last year, he pointed to his metal game as the one big positive from a disappointing season.
“I’m trying to do a lot of things, and I think the best part of my game has probably been my mental, just, fortitude, whatever you want to call it, just to try to stay positive and behave as if I am playing really well,” said the Californian, who is joined in Scotland by Rory McIlroy and Pádraig Harrington.
“But coming off a year like last year, getting hurt, coming back, my expectations and playing ability have not cued up very nicely.
He added: “I think I’ve just been angry-ish. That’s been the biggest emotion of this, is frustrating, versus why we love playing to be in contention and kind of see what you can do.
"That part’s been humbling. It’s a battle, and I’m going to try and win it.”
