Hurley and McElroy top Irish at Lytham
West Waterford's Gary McDermott made a solid start with a 72 in the Lytham Trophy. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
West Waterford’s Gary Hurley and Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy are just three shots off the lead after opening with two over 72s in the 50th edition of the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Just two players in the 144-strong field shot par or better at the storied Lancashire links, but the Irish pair survived the breezy, early conditions to end the day in an 11-man logjam for ninth place behind Germany’s Hurly Long.
Plus-three handicapper Long was the only player to break par as he took advantage of a drop in the wind in the afternoon, making his only bogey at the 10th before picking up birdies at two of his last three holes for a one under 69 and a one-shot lead over Slovenia’s Tim Gornik.
Munster star Hurley had three bogeys on the tough front nine but birdied the last for his 72 before being joined on two over by McElroy, who followed a birdie at the first with bogeys at the second, third and seventh before reeling off 11 consecutive pars to finish.
“It was breezy this morning and there was very little wind this afternoon so I’ll take 72,” McElroy said. “It’s a good start to the tournament because the front nine was playing very hard into a left-to-right wind. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
West of Ireland champion Jack Hume from Naas, who lost in a playoff for the title last year, is well in the hunt after a 74 while Stackstown left hander Richard Bridges, Massereene’s Tiarnan McLarnon and Headfort’s Rory McNamara could not be too displeased with 75s.
"I had to hang in on the front nine," said Bridges, who had six bogeys and one birdie. "I felt quite ill for some reason but got better around the turn and finished strongly. It's so hard even in good conditions.
"There are bunkers everywhere, punishing most wayward shots — I was only in one off the tee on 15 but I found four around the greens. So I'm happy enough with the score because it's good to hang tough on days when your not quite right."
McNamara, who warmed up by winning the Dundalk Scratch Cup by five shots last weekend, was out in the first group of the day and got the worst of the wind.
"It was cold and windy this morning but nice from 12 on," said McNamara, who was disappointed to come home in 40 having played the tough front nine in just one over. "Played the easy holes very badly but I'm content with the score."
Following Saturday's second round the leading 40 and tied then play 36 holes on Sunday which means that Mourne's Reeve Whitson and Rosslare's Gary Collins (76), Ardee's Eugene Smith (78), Irish Close champion Cormac Sharvin from Ardglass (79) have work to do to make the cut.