O'Rourke leads St Andrews Links Trophy into final day

Conor O'Rourke. Picture: Pat Cashman

Naas' Conor O'Rourke took his career to a new level at the Home of Golf when he made an eagle and four birdies in a three 69 to lead the St Andrews Links Trophy by a stroke heading into Sunday's final 36 holes.

After opening with a six under 66 on the New Course, the Kildare man continued his superb form on the Old Course to lead on nine under par 134 Nairn's Sandy Scott  and Finland's Kim Koivu.

Eight of Ireland's 10 strong contingent made the one under par cut with Dermot McElroy (69). Robin Dawson (71),  Jack Hume (71) and Jonathan Yates (74) tied for 17th on three under. 

Colm Campbell (73) and Stuart Grehan (74) slipped back to tied 28th on two under with Colin Fairweather's second successive 71 good enough for two more rounds on the Old Course.

Irish at a glance

• 1st  134 Conor O’Rourke (Ireland) 65 69 
• T17 140 Dermot McElroy (Ireland) 71 69, Robin Dawson (Ireland) 69 71,  Jack Hume (Ireland) 69 71, Jonathan Yates (Ireland) 66 74 
• T28 141 Colm Campbell (Ireland) 68 73, Stuart Grehan (Ireland) 67 74 
• T36 142 Colin Fairweather (Ireland) 71 71
• MC (142) 143 Alex Gleeson (Ireland) 72 71; 144 John-Ross Galbraith (Ireland) 71 73.

St Andrews Links Trophy 2016

Detailed scores

134 Conor O’Rourke (Ireland) 65 69

135 Sandy Scott (Nairn Golf Club) 68 67, Kim Koivu (Finland) 66 69

136 Liam Johnston (Dumfries & County Golf Club) 66 70, Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden Golf Club) 66 70

137 Jovan Rebula (South Africa) 67 70, Craig Howie (Peebles Golf Club) 65 72

138 Calum Fyfe (Cawder Golf Club) 71 67, Travis Smyth (Australia) 69 69, Jamie Savage (Cawder Golf Club) 67 71, Alfie Plant (Sunridge Park Golf Club) 66 72

139 Andres Gallegos (Argentina) 72 67, Mark Dickson (New Golf Club St Andrews) 71 68, Adam Chapman (Carus Green Golf Club) 70 69, Joshua Davies (Celtic Manor Resort) 68 71, Jack Yule (Middleton Hall Golf Club) 67 72

140 Connor Syme (Drumoig Golf Club) 71 69, Grant Forrest (Craigielaw Golf Club) 71 69, Dermot McElroy (Ireland) 71 69, David Micheluzzi (Australia) 70 70,  Robin Dawson (Ireland) 69 71,  Cameron John (Australia) 69 71,  Jack Hume (Ireland) 69 71, Sigot Lopez (Spain) 68 72, Sebastien Gandon (France) 67 73, Alejandro Del Rey Gonzalez (Spain) 66 74, Jonathan Yates (Ireland) 66 74

141 Victor Veyret (France) 72 69, Lukas Lipoid (Austria) 70 71, Jesus Montenegro (Argentina) 70 71, Brett Coletta (Australia) 70 71, Giacomo Fortini (Italy) 69 72, Daniel Brown (Masham Golf Club) 69 72, Colm Campbell (Ireland) 68 73, Stuart Grehan (Ireland) 67 74

142 George Bloor (Cavendish Golf Club) 73 69, Steven Robins (Hull Golf Club) 72 70, Alexander Matlari (Germany) 72 70, Colin Fairweather (Ireland) 71 71,  Blake Collier (Australia) 71 71,  Federico Zucchetto (Italy) 71 71,  Marco Penge (Golf at Goodwood Golf Club) 70 72, Josh Hilleard (Farrington Golf Club) 70 72, Joey Savoie (Canada) 70 72, Jacopo Vecchi Fossa (Italy) 70 72, Daniel Sutton (Walsall Golf Club) 70 72, Owen Edwards (Llanwern Golf Club) 70 72, James Walker (Oaks Golf Club) 70 72, Mateusz Gradecki (Poland) 69 73, Andrew Wilson (Wynyard Golf Club) 69 73, Blake Windred (Australia) 68 74

Missed the cut

143 Anthony Quayle (Australia) 75 68, Alex Gleeson (Ireland) 72 71, Grégoire Schoeb (France) 72 71, Leo Mathard (France) 72 71, Tomás Silva (Portugal) 71 72, Ashton Turner (Kenwick Park Golf Club) 71 72, Paul Kinnear (Formby Golf Club) 71 72, Stefano Mazzoli (Italy) 71 72,  Euan Walker (Kilmarnock (Brassie) Golf Club) 70 73, Sami Välimäki (Finland) 70 73,  Jamie Bower (Meltham Golf Club) 70 73, Frederik Dreier (Denmark) 70 73, Pavan Sagoo (Ealing Golf Club) 69 74, Jack Singh Brar (Remedy Oak Golf Club) 69 74, Jack Davidson (Llanwern Golf Club) 69 74, Alister Hain (St Andrews Golf Club) 68 75, Richard Mansell (Marriott Forest of Arden G & CC Ltd) 68 75, Jeff Wright (Forres Golf Club) 68 75  

144 Albert Venter (South Africa) 74 70, Max Alberts (Netherlands) 71 73, Angus Ellis-Cole (South Africa) 71 73, John-Ross Galbraith (Ireland) 71 73, Zach Murray (Australia) 71 73, Sam Whitaker (Blankney Golf Club) 70 74, Nicolas Maheut (France) 69 75, Luca Cianchetti (Italy) 69 75, Raphael Geissler (Germany) 68 76

145 Gregory Foo (Singapore) 73 72, Federico Zuckermann (Italy) 73 72, Ryan Fricker (Yelverton Golf Club) 72 73, Harry Ellis (Mein Valley Golf & Country Club) 72 73, Tom Harris (Castletown Golf Club) 72 73, Kiran Day (Australia) 72 73, James Hart Du Preez (South Africa) 71 74, Craig Ross (Kirkhill Golf Club) 71 74, Rasmus Karlsson (Finland) 70 75, Gian-Marco Petrozzi (Trentham Golf Club) 70 75, Ugo Coussaud (France) 70 75, Jason Smith (South Africa) 70 75, Markus Maukner (Austria) 70 75, Tom Gandy (Rowany Golf Club) 69 76, Filippo Campigli (Italy) 69 76, Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten Golf Club) 68 77, Harrison Endycott (Australia) 67 78

146 Steven Cox (Australia) 75 71, Lars Van Meijer (Netherlands) 75 71, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie Golf Club) 74 72, Scott Gregory (Corhampton Golf Club) 74 72, Michele Cea (Italy) 73 73, Andre Nel (South Africa) 73 73, Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm Golf Club) 73 73, Tristen Strydom (South Africa) 72 74, Matthew Lisk (Australia) 72 74, Ryan Cornfield (Enville Golf Club) 72 74, Thomas Perrot (France) 71 75, Barry Hume (Haggs Castle Golf Club) 70 76, Dylan Perry (Australia) 70 76, Vitor Londot Lopes (Portugal) 70 76,  Alexander George Frances (Denmark) 69 77,  Francesco Donaggio (Italy) 67 79   
 

147 Cameron Davis (Australia) 75 72, Kyle McClatchie (South Africa) 74 73, Kyle Harman (Southerndown Golf Club) 72 75, Jeremy Gandon (France) 71 76,  Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park Golf Club) 71 76,  Scott Gibson (Southerness Golf Club) 71 76   
 

148 Vince Van Even (Netherlands) 77 71, Kyle Godsman (Moray Golf Club) 74 74, Evan Griffith (Conwy(Caernarvonshire) Golf Club) 74 74, Calle Hagstrom (Sweden) 73 75, Lawrence Allan (Alva Golf Club) 72 76, Aubrey George Beckley (South Africa) 71 77
 

149 Luke Brown (New Zealand) 76 73, Juan Miguel Heredia (Ecuador) 76 73, Philip Geerts (Italy) 74 75, Henry Spring (New Zealand) 73 76, Mans Berglund (Sweden) 73 76, Jordi Panes (Spain) 72 77, Gianmaria Rean Trencher (Italy) 71 78, David Ravetto (France) 71 78, Jonathan Thomson (Rotherham Golf Club) 70 79, Franck Medale (France) 69 80
 

150 Ben Chamberlain (Padeswood & Buckley Golf Club) 78 72, Jonas Väisänen (Finland) 74 76, Andrea Saracino (Italy) 71 79
 

151 Rhys Jones (Wales) 76 75, Matias Lezcano (Argentina) 75 76, Michael Ludwig (Austria) 74 77, Frederic Lacroix (France) 72 79
 

152 Charlie Dann (Australia) 73 79, Michael Firmer (Germany) 71 81
 

153 William Whiteout (Shipley Golf Club) 72 81
 

157 Lorenzo Scalise (Italy) 79 7