McCarroll, Shaw and Lernihan angling for Alps win

Richard Kilpatrick, Gareth Shaw, Brendan McCarroll and Dara Lernihan chill out by the lake in Austria. Picture courtesy of AlpsTourGolf.com/A spot of late afternoon fishing was just what Irish trio Brendan McCarroll, Gareth Shaw and Dara Lernihan needed after moving into contention for victory on the Alps Tour in Austria.

Derry native McCarroll, 26, fired an error-free, six under par 66 in the €40,000 Gösser Open presented by Martin Wiegele to share top spot with Austria’s Jürgen Maurer (66) and Italian Joon Kim (66) on 10 under par at Erzherzog Johann golf Club near Maria Lankowitz. Scoreboard

Dara Lernihan would love to hook a big win in Austria today.Lurgan’s Gareth Shaw is just a shot off the pace on nine under after a five-birdie 68 while Castle man Lernihan is only three behind the leading trio and tied for fifth on seven under after his 68.

After their rounds, the three musketeers headed off for a spot of fishing behind the fifth green, which was something that McCarroll told the Alps Tour website that had helped him stay relaxed.

“On course there is no real issue. I feel comfortable. I putt pretty well, and most of all I don’t worry any more about the results as I did last year,” said the former East of Ireland winner.

Asked the key to winning, he said with a chuckle: “I don’t know. Keep on making putts?”

Shaw is the leading Irish player in the Alps Tour money list at fourth thanks to his third place finish in the Peugeot Alps de Barcelona last month while McCarroll is ninth.

Banbridge’s Richard Kilpatrick, who is six shots off the pace on four under par after a pair of 70s, also joined his pals for a spot of fishing afterwards.

Brendan McCarroll carded a six under par 66 to take a share of the lead on the Alps Tour