Nolan’s fast start; Coulter contending again; Ireland alive in overall at Woodbrook
Liam Nolan is licking his lips ahead of next week's Irish Challenge after opening with a blistering seven-under 64 in the Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A.
The Galway man (26) made nine birdies at Schloss Roxburghe in the Scottish Borders to sit alone in second place, three shots behind Portugal's Tomas Gouveia, who blasted a 10-under 61.
"Really pleased," said Nolan, who is 34th in the season-long Road to Mallorca race for 20 DP World Tour cards. "It's only Thursday, but it's definitely nicer to play well on Thursday rather than poorly.
"The course is perfect, really. It's really similar to some courses we have at home in Ireland.
"It's similar enough to next week's course [for the Irish Challenge at Killeen Castle], so I do like this run of events because everything just feels a little more familiar than usual."
Nolan started with a bogey but credited his iron play for his nine-birdie haul.
"I did not put one good swing on the ball all first hole," he joked. "So I had to lock in then after that and just try and hit the next fairway and go from there.
"I hit a couple of really nice close shots, so I didn't have to work too hard for the birdies once I got on the green. So that was nice to settle me in."
"Overall, very solid today. I just try and work on getting rid of the two bogeys, and then you know I'm really happy."
Gary Hurley was 20th after a 67 while Max Kennedy and Mark Power posted 68s to share 38th as Conor Purcell signed for a 69 and Robert Moran a 73.
It was also low scoring at the PGA Tour's final event of the regular season, the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina, where Seamus Power was among the later starters.
Beau Hossler fired a nine-under 61 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro to lead by three shots from Sahith Theegala and Ben James.
Seamus Power was tied 54th after a 68 as he seeks the top two finish he needs to make the first Playoff event in Memphis next week.
Coulter chasing back to back wins
At the LET's PIF London Championship at Centurion Club, Lahinch's Aine Donegan made six birdies in a three-under 70 to share fifth place, just three strokes behind Canada's Anna Huang.
Anna Foster finished with back-to-back birdies to shoot 73 and share 32nd with Sara Byrne, 54th after a 75.
But there was better news in the LET Access Series, where Co Down's Beth Coulter has a chance to make it two wins in as many professional starts at the CSK Steel Women's Open in Denmark.
The Kirkistown Castle star heads into the final round in a four-way tie for third on two-over par at Himmerland Resort, just three shots behind Tereza Zapletal Kozeluhova.
The Czech was the only player to shoot under par in 30 kmph winds, carding a one-under 71 to lead by two strokes on one-under from French amateur Alice Kong.
Coulter shot 76 to share third with German amateur Lena Geier, Switzerland's Victoria Levy and England's Rebecca Earl on one-over.
Men lose title options but overall still on for Ireland at Home Internationals
In amateur golf, Ireland can still win the overall team title at the R&A Men's and Women's Home Internationals at Woodbrook.
They take on England, who made it two wins from two with a 7.5-1.5 win over Wales, needing to win after they were held to a 10.5-10.5 draw in the combined matches by Scotland.
England’s men 8.5-3.5 and the women won 7.5-1.5 in a global 16-5 victory over Wales.
Ireland's women beat Scotland 5.5-3.5, but the men lost for the second day running, falling 5-7.
While they shared the foursomes 2-2, they won just three of the eight singles through Gavin O'Neill, Fionn Dobbin and, crucially. Dylan Keating on the 18th.
“Dylan had a really good win in the singles yesterday and it’s great to see him come through there in the end. It’s a tough tee shot on the last when you are under pressure,” said Ireland’s men’s captain Damien Coyne.
“Fionn’s win early, very very good performance, and Gavin a really really strong performance along with a really strong performance in the singles yesterday too.
“It’s all to play for. England are a little bit similar to ourselves in that they have a few new faces here this week.
“It will be a good battle as always, they will be up for it, we will be up for it and we will see who wins.
“We are happy enough to go and support the overall team tomorrow. We need to do our bit. The English women’s team is very strong. We have to just go out and take a little bit of frustration out and try and win some matches early.
“An awful lot of matches coming up 18, we will try and get as many of them to go our way tomorrow.”
The formidable duo of Katie Poots and Kate Dillon produced another brilliant win to get Ireland up and running in the morning foursomes. They claimed a comprehensive 3&2 result over Jennifer Saxton and Sheridan Clancy.
Emma Fleming and Anna Abom held firm for a gritty 1up win over Rosie Maguire and Abercrombie Nesbit, before Rebekah Gardner and Olivia Costello were held for a half point.
In behind, John Doyle and David Kitt had a comfortable 3&2 win against Andrew Davidson and Alexander Farmer. And Thomas Higgins and Gavin O’Neill had a 1up win against Oliver and Samuel Mukherjee.
Gerard Dunne and Keating came up short while Keith Egan and Fionn Dobbin suffered a narrow defeat in the last of the morning’s matches.
England continued their fine form with a 5.5-1.5 morning session, with their women winning all three of their matches. Sophia Fullbrook and Patience Rhodes accounted for a 5&4 win.
Tomi Bowen and Caolan Burford got Wales on the scoreboard with a 5&3 result but there were two further victories for England, the highlight coming in Jamie Van Wyk and Greg Holmes’ win, where the former had a hole-in-one as they secured a 3&1 win on 17.
Poots was a 4&2 winner in the first Irish singles match of the afternoon, while Gardner claimed a phenomenal 8&7 win and Fleming was also victorious. The Scots also had three victories and that heaped the pressure on.
The Scottish won five of the men’s singles, but crucially O’Neill won 4&3, with Dobbin securing a blistering 6&5 success. And Keating held his nerve down 18 to send Ireland into a final day decider with the English.
In the other match, the English women won the first four singles matches and secured six points from the men’s section to help themselves to a comfortable 16-5 win over Wales.
Men's standings: 1, Eng 2pts (16 matches); 2, Sco 1pt (15); 3, Wal 0pt (7.5); 4, Ire 0pt (9.5).
Women's standings: T1, Ire. & Eng. 2pts (13.5 each); 3, Sco 0pts (6.5); 4, Wal 0 pts (2.5).
Combined: 1, Eng 2 pts (29.5); 2, Ire 1.5 pts (22.5); 3, Sco 0.5 pts (17.5); 4, Wal 0 pts (13.5).
Final day: Ire v Eng; Sco v Wal.
