Ireland fight for top 20 in Turkey

Antalya Golf ClubIreland’s Gavin Moynihan and Kevin Phelan are battling for a top-20 finish in the weather-reduced World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey.

While Alan Dunbar has been unable to take part due to illness, Moynihan and Phelan have fought hard to remain competitive in an event where the best two scores from each three-man team count in the Eisenhower Trophy. Scores

Despite the handicap of Dunbar’s absence, the Irish duo were tied for 16th place before play in the third and final round was suspended for the day with the USA eight strokes clear of France on 24 under.

Starting on the back nine at the David Jones designed Sultan Course, Phelan was one over through nine holes and tied for 12th in the individual standings on four under, ten strokes behind Mexico’s Sebastian Vazquez and American Chris Williams.

Frustrated on the greens, Moynihan was tied for 56th on two over having the opening six holes of his third round in level par with a birdie at the 10th canceled out by a bogey at the 13th.

The championship was shortened from 72 to 54 holes following a weather delay that allowed only six teams to finish the second round on Friday.

The second round was completed Saturday with the USA holding a six-stroke advantage over the Republic of Korea on 266.

Following the completion of the second round, 36 teams started the third round on Saturday afternoon and 36 teams will begin their third rounds on Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday, Americans Chris Williams (67) and Steven Fox (68) combined for a 7-under 135 in the second round to help the USA break the 36-hole scoring mark of 266, held by the gold medal-winning USA team of 2004 in Puerto Rico.

The Americans are going for their 14th Eisenhower Trophy and their first since 2004.