Amateur golfBrian KeoghMay 15, 2018NCAA Tournament, Conor Purcell, Paul McBride, Devin Morley, Eoin Leonard, John Murphy, Oisin Devereux

Purcell and McBride fight back at NCAA Regionals

Amateur golfBrian KeoghMay 15, 2018NCAA Tournament, Conor Purcell, Paul McBride, Devin Morley, Eoin Leonard, John Murphy, Oisin Devereux

Portmarnock's Conor Purcell and The Island's Paul McBride fought back from disappointing starts with sub-par second rounds in the NCAA Regionals in the US.

Playing as an individual out of the University of Charlotte, Purcell fired a four-under 67 to move up to 54th in the Raleigh Regional at North Carolina State's Lonnie Pool course in Raleigh.

The top six colleges and the top six individuals at each of the six regional venues advance to the National Finals at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma from May 25–30.

It looks impossible now for Carton House's Oisin Devereux in Raleigh after he slipped to 10-over after a 77 with his college, Iona, 14th in the team standings.

But there was better news of McBride in the Columbus Regional at Ohio State where play was suspended late on Tuesday and scheduled to resume at 7 am today.

The Dubliner added a one-under 70 to his opening 76 to lie tied for 22nd in the clubhouse on four-over 146 with his college, Wake Forest, provisionally in seventh place.

Oughterard's Devin Morley shot 77 for Louisville —ranked 11th— to be 10-over while his teammate, Kinsale's John Murphy, is five shots further back after a 78.

Yales's Eoin Leonard, a Killiney member, was five-over for the day with two holes to play and tied 61st on 13th over with the Ivy League champions 12th in the 13-strong field.