Vorster leads East of Ireland with one round to go after 67
Martin Vorster with the Junior Open trophy at St Andrews last year
South Africa’s Martin Vorster carded a bogey-free, five-under 67 to surge into the lead with a round to play in the East of Ireland Amateur Open at County Louth.
Tied for 14th overnight on one-over par, four strokes behind County Louth’s Adam Doran, the world number 201 and current Junior Open champion is on course to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Christo Lambrecht, who was unable to return to defend his title this year.
Vorster birdied the second, fourth, 10th, 12th and 18th for his 67 to lead by one stroker from 2016 champion Paul O’Hanlon from Carton House, who shot 70.
Naas’ Robert Brazill also made a big move, jumping 47 places to tied third with Sligo man Sean Flanagan (69) on one-under after a 67 that featured a bogey on his final hole (9th).
Overnight leader Doran shot 77 to slip back to tied 12th on two-over with much of the damage done by a triple bogey seven at the 10th.
But with 15 players within six shots of the lead with 18 holes to play, there’s still hope for many with Colm Campbell and Peter O’Keeffe just five and six back respectively after disappointing 73’s this morning.
Leinster Golf and County Louth officials agreed to move the tees up to the whites today but while the wind is not as strong as it was yesterday — a 20mph west-southwest wind gusting to 25-30mph — the scoring average for round three was 74.63.
The field averaged 77.51 in Sunday’s second round.
East of Ireland Amateur Open, County Louth Golf Club (Par 72)
Sponsored by The D Hotel
After 54 holes
212 M Vorster (South Africa) 72 73 67
213 P O'Hanlon (Carton House) 69 74 70
215 R Brazill (Naas) 71 77 67, S Flanagan (Portmarnock ) 70 76 69
216 G O'Mahony (Fota Island) 70 75 71
217 J Madden (Royal Portrush) 72 74 71, D Coghlan (Portmarnock) 71 72 74, A Lowry (Esker Hills) 70 77 70, C Campbell (Warrenpoint) 69 75 73, P Murphy (Rosslare) 68 78 71, Y Premlall (South Africa) 68 77 72
218 P O' Keeffe (Douglas) 71 74 73, J Duminy (South Africa) 70 76 72, S Ryan (Royal Dublin) 70 72 76, A Doran (Co. Louth) 70 71 77
219 M Boucher (Carton House) 73 72 74, H O'Hare (Fortwilliam) 70 77 72, T McLarnon (Massereene) 70 77 72, E Smith (Links Portmarnock) 68 74 77
220 R Mullarney (Galway) 73 75 72, F O'Sullivan (Tralee) 71 73 76, A Ryan (Thurles) 71 72 77, S Walsh (Portmarnock) 69 76 75, H Foley (Royal Dublin) 69 76 75, R McCormack (Palmerstown House Estate) 69 73 78, O Brown (Wales) 68 78 74, G Cullen (Links Portmarnock) 67 77 76
221 T Ford (Co. Sligo) 74 74 73, J Hood (Galgorm Castle) 73 75 73, R Moran (Castle) 73 74 74, P McKeever (Castle) 71 75 75, G Dunne (Co. Louth) 70 78 73, K Egan (Carton House) 70 78 73, S Desmond (Monkstown) 69 78 74, P Murray (Clontarf) 69 75 77
222 S Murphy (Portumna) 70 77 75
223 D Brady (Co. Sligo) 74 73 76, J Gourley (Shandon Park) 73 75 75, C Jarvis (South Africa) 72 73 78, D Flynn (Carton House) 71 76 76, D Morley (Oughterard) 68 78 77, M McClean (Malone ) 66 80 77
224 R McNelis (Fintona) 73 75 76, D Shaw (Belvoir Park) 72 75 77, L Power (Galway) 70 78 76, W Small (Tandragee) 67 81 76
225 J Mc Donnell (Forrest Little) 76 72 77, B Best (Rathmore) 72 75 78, D Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 71 76 78
226 E Murphy (Dundalk) 73 75 78, G Smyth (Clonmel) 72 74 80, A McCabe (Links Portmarnock) 72 72 82
227 J Blake (Island) 71 76 80
RTD 148 S Carter (Royal Dublin) 73 75
