O'Rourke leads with 65 as six Irish shoot in the sixties at St Andrews
Conor O'Rourke
Naas' Conor O'Rourke and clubmate and West of Ireland champion Jonathan Yates lit up the New Course in the first round of the St Andrews Links Trophy at the Home of Golf.
With only the top 40 after Saturday's second round on the Old Course making Sunday's final 36 holes over the famous Old Course on Sunday, six of the 10-strong Irish contingent are on course to progress.
O'Rourke has been knocking on the door of the elite for several years and he showed his class on Friday, carding eight birdies in a six under 65 that gave him a share of he lead with Scotland's Craig Howie.
O'Rourke's Naas clubman Yates continued his fine form with an eight-birdie, five under 66 worth a share of third with East of Ireland champion Stuart Grehan tied ninth after a seven-birdie 67.
Irish Amateur Open winner Colm Campbell (68) can make a case for his inclusion in the St Andrews Trophy squad with a good week while 69s for Walker Cup star Jack Hume and Tramore's Robin Dawson leave them tied 26th and in good position.
St Andrews Links Trophy,
Round 1 (New Course, Par 71)
Irish at a glance
- T1 Conor O’Rourke (Ireland) 65
- T3 Jonathan Yates (Ireland) 66
- T9 Stuart Grehan (Ireland) 67
- T16 Colm Campbell (Ireland) 68
- T26 Robin Dawson (Ireland) 69, Jack Hume (Ireland) 69,
- T69 Dermot McElroy (Ireland) 71, John-Ross Galbraith (Ireland) 71, Colin Fairweather (Ireland) 71,
- T96 Alex Gleeson (Ireland) 72.
65 Craig Howie (Peebles Golf Club), Conor O'Rourke (Ireland)
66 Alejandro Del Rey Gonzalez (Spain), Liam Johnston (Dumfries & County Golf Club), Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden Golf Club), Alfie Plant (Sundridge Park Golf Club), Kim Koivu (Finland), Jonathan Yates (Ireland)
67 Jamie Savage (Cawder Golf Club), Francesco Donaggio (Italy), Jack Yule (Middleton Hall Golf Club), Harrison Endycott (Australia), Sebastien Gandon (France), Stuart Grehan (Ireland), Jovan Rebula (South Africa)
68 Jeff Wright (Forres Golf Club), Raphael Geissler (Germany), Richard Mansell (Marriott Forest of Arden G & CC Ltd), Blake Windred (Australia), Joshua Davies (Celtic Manor Resort), Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten Golf Club), Alister Hain (St Andrews Golf Club), Sandy Scott (Nairn Golf Club), Sigot Lopez (Spain), Colm Campbell (Ireland)
69 Franck Medale (France), Alexander George Frances (Denmark), Jack Singh Brar (Remedy Oak Golf Club), Tom Gandy (Rowany Golf Club), Robin Dawson (Ireland), Jack Hume (Ireland), Cameron John (Australia), Jack Davidson (Llanwern Golf Club), Mateusz Gradecki (Poland), Pavan Sagoo (Ealing Golf Club), Filippo Campigli (Italy), Luca Cianchetti (Italy), Giacomo Fortini (Italy), Nicolas Maheut (France), Daniel Brown (Masham Golf Club), Andrew Wilson (Wynyard Golf Club), Travis Smyth (Australia)
70 Brett Coletta (Australia), Frederik Dreier (Denmark), Jonathan Thomson (Rotherham Golf Club), Gian-Marco Petrozzi (Trentham Golf Club), Joey Savoie (Canada), Josh Hilleard (Farrington Golf Club), Rasmus Karlsson (Finland), Euan Walker (Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club), Markus Maukner (Austria), Daniel Sutton (Walsall Golf Club), Marco Penge (Golf at Goodwood Golf Club), Owen Edwards (Llanwern Golf Club), David Micheluzzi (Australia), Jason Smith (South Africa), Sami Välimäki (Finland), Jesus Montenegro (Argentina), Ugo Coussaud (France), Adam Chapman (Carus Green Golf Club), Barry Hume (Haggs Castle Golf Club), Jamie Bower (Meltham Golf Club), Lukas Lipold (Austria), Dylan Perry (Australia), Vitor Londot Lopes (Portugal), Jacopo Vecchi Fossa (Italy), James Walker (Oaks Golf Club (The)), Sam Whitaker (Blankney Golf Club)
71 Jeremy Gandon (France), Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park Golf Club), Scott Gibson (Southerness Golf Club), Zach Murray (Australia), Paul Kinnear (Formby Golf Club), Dermot McElroy (Ireland), Thomas Perrot (France), Tomás Silva (Portugal), James Hart Du Preez (South Africa), Gianmaria Rean Trinchero (Italy), Angus Ellis-Cole (South Africa), Mark Dickson (New Golf Club St Andrews), Michael Hirmer (Germany), Grant Forrest (Craigielaw Golf Club), David Ravetto (France), Ashton Turner (Kenwick Park Golf Club), Connor Syme (Drumoig Golf Club), John-Ross Galbraith (Ireland), Colin Fairweather (Ireland), Calum Fyfe (Cawder Golf Club), Blake Collyer (Australia), Andrea Saracino (Italy), Aubrey George Beckley (South Africa), Craig Ross (Kirkhill Golf Club), Max Albertus (Netherlands), Federico Zucchetti (Italy), Stefano Mazzoli (Italy)
72 Alex Gleeson (Ireland), Frederic Lacroix (France), Alexander Matlari (Germany), Tom Harris (Castletown Golf Club), Steven Robins (Hull Golf Club), Ryan Fricker (Yelverton Golf Club), Kyle Harman (Southerndown Golf Club), Kiran Day (Australia), Andres Gallegos (Argentina), Matthew Lisk (Australia), Ryan Cornfield (Enville Golf Club), Victor Veyret (France), Harry Ellis (Meon Valley Golf & Country Club), Grégoire Schoeb (France), William Whiteoak (Shipley Golf Club), Tristen Strydom (South Africa), Leo Mathard (France), Jordi Panes (Spain), Lawrence Allan (Alva Golf Club)
73 Charlie Dann (Australia), Andre Nel (South Africa), Henry Spring (New Zealand), Federico Zuckermann (Italy), Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm Golf Club), Gregory Foo (Singapore), Michele Cea (Italy), Mans Berglund (Sweden), Calle Hagstrom (Sweden), George Bloor (Cavendish Golf Club)
74 Kyle McClatchie (South Africa), Evan Griffith (Conwy(Caernarvonshire) Golf Club), Kyle Godsman (Moray Golf Club), Philip Geerts (Italy), Jonas Väisänen (Finland), Michael Ludwig (Austria), Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie Golf Club), Albert Venter (South Africa), Scott Gregory (Corhampton Golf Club)
75 Matias Lezcano (Argentina), Cameron Davis (Australia), Anthony Quayle (Australia), Steven Cox (Australia), Lars Van Meijel (Netherlands)
76 Juan Miguel Heredia (Ecuador), Luke Brown (New Zealand), Rhys Jones (Wales)
77 Vince Van Veen (Netherlands)
78 Ben Chamberlain (Padeswood & Buckley Golf Club)
79 Lorenzo Scalise (Italy)
