Damien Coyne was on fire in the firrst round of the AIG sponsored Irish Close, firing a 64 at Connemara. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ieTuam’s Damien Coyne holds the first-round lead at the AIG Irish Amateur Close Championship after a sensational eight-under 64 at sun-drenched Connemara.

That’s two clear of Irish Boy International Paul McBride from The Island, who lit up the back nine in 31 shots in the afternoon session, and three clear of East of Ireland champion Paul Dunne of Greystones, who continued his fine form of last week with a five-under 67.

Click here for first round photo gallery by golffile.ie

Warrenpoint’s Stephen Coulter finished with a 68, while a further 20 players broke par in ideal conditions.

The top 64 players will make the cut after the second round, with defending champion Chris Selfridge of Moyola Park struggling after a 77.

A total of 68 players shot 75 or better.

AIG Irish Amateur Close Championship, Connemara Golf Club (Par 72)

Saturday 8 June 2013

First Round Scores (CSS: 74)

64 D Coyne (Tuam)

66 P McBride (The Island)

67 P Dunne (Greystones)

68 S Coulter (Warrenpoint)

69 T McLarnon (Massereene/UUJ), G Lappin (Belvoir Park), G McDermott (Co. Sligo), K Lynch (Skibbereen/NUIM)

70 S Grehan (Tullamore), K Egan (Carton House), D Morgan (Mullingar), C Sharvin (Ardglass), S Flanagan (Co. Sligo)

71 S McCarthy (Killeen Castle/NUIM), D Coghlan (Portmarnock), M McKnight (LPGA International), R Bridges (Stackstown), P Reavey (Warrenpoint), I Brennan (Greenore), N Gorey (Muskerry), E Smith (Ardee), B Anderson (The Royal Dublin), J Hume (Rathsallagh), J Whelan (Newlands)

72 R Pierse (Grange), J Richardson (Royal Portrush), D Byrne (Greystones), J Greene (Portmarnock), E Arthurs (Forrest Little), S Loftus (Lahinch)

73 M McAlpin (Royal Portrush), J Hopkins (The Royal Dublin), S Bleakley (Shandon Park), S Healy (Claremorris), J Yates (Naas), S Walsh (Portmarnock), E Haugh (Castletroy), A D’Arcy (Ballinrobe), R Dawson (Faithlegg), A Thomas (Dungarvan), D Loftus (Castlebar/NUIM), S Bryan (Delgany), D Carey (Carton House), C Campbell (Warrenpoint), E McCormack (Galway), P Linton (Lucan), M Morrissey (Mount Wolseley)

74 E Griffin (Waterford), N Foley (The Island), N Grant (Knock), L Ashby (Killerig), S Ward (Co. Louth), S Brady (Co. Sligo), M Shanahan (Castlemartyr), K Crowley (Fota Island), M Collins (Killeen Castle)

75 E O’Donovan (Craddockstown), D Shaw (Belvoir Park), E Murphy (Cork), P Coughlan (Moate), D McDonough (Galway), A Hogan (Newlands), G Collins (Rosslare), J Sugrue (Mallow), J Lyons (Galway), T Cleary (Dromoland), P Connolly (Clontarf), R Cannon (Balbriggan)

76 C Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown), G Cohen (Beaverstown), S Cannon (Loughrea), P Murray (Limerick), D O’Donovan (Muskerry), G Brett (Ballinrobe), C McKenna (Mallow), E Farrell (Ardee), C Coyne (Youghal), B O’Reilly (Athenry), S O’Hara (Co. Sligo), G Lenehan (Portmarnock), C Melvin (Corrstown), J Conroy (Bray)

77 J Flaherty (Connemara), E Cradock (Gort), A Gleeson (Castle), R McKinstry (Cairndhu), C Selfridge (Moyola Park), M Wylie (Quinta da Ria), A Purdy (Ballyclare), D Brennan (Shannon)

78 J Pierse (Grange), S Cullen (Slieve Russell), I O’Flynn (Cork), J Hickey (Cork), S Carter

(Stackstown/NUIM), S Alley (Co. Tipperary), A Lowry (Esker Hills/NUIM), S O’Connor (Luttrellstown Castle), S McGlynn (Carton House), C O’Sullivan (Fota Island), C Kenny (Curragh), D Byrne (Athenry), D Brady (Co. Sligo), R Walsh (Kilkenny), D Holland (Castle), S Watts (Cairndhu), F O’Sullivan (Tralee)

79 C O’Rourke (Naas/NUIM), J Monaghan (The Royal Dublin), T Fay (Rush), D Foy (Laytown & Bettystown), G O’Flaherty (Cork), S Hogan (Nenagh), M McClean (Balmoral), R Symington (Lisburn)

80 G Shaw (Mullingar), R Knightly (The Royal Dublin), M Horan (Birr), C McCaughey (Dungannon), M Richards (Roganstown), P O’Leary (Lucan), R O’Dwyer (Callan/NUIM)

81 W Bamber (Royal Portrush), D O’Sullivan (Youghal), G Anthony (Connemara)

82 C Fairweather (Knock), G MacNamara (Woodbrook)

83 A Magee (Powerscourt)

84 J O’Flynn (Cork)

85 N McGlynn (Carton House)

86 E McGuinness (East Clare)