McKibbin one off the pace in Spanish Amateur in Seville
Holywood’s Tom McKibbin
Holywood’s Tim McKibbin continued his superb start to the season by opening with a three-under 69 that left him just a shot off the lead after the first qualifying round of Spanish Amateur for the Copa del Rey in Sevllle.
Currently ranked 109th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the 17-year-old from Newtownabbey was runner-up in the Australian Amateur Championship in January before finishing ninth and seventh respectively in the African Amateur and South African Amateur Strokeplay Championships.
So far, he shows no signs of slowing down.
With the top 32 to qualify for Friday’s matchplay stages, McKibbin is tied for second ahead of today’s second qualifying round at Real Club de Golf Sevilla after making seven birdies and four bogeys in a 69 that left him a shot behind the Netherlands’ Norin Van Tilburg.
It was also an excellent day for Hermitage’s Rowan Lester, who shot a two-under 70 to lie joint sixth as Malone’s Matthew McClean shot level par to lie tied 23rd.
Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell made five birdies and six bogeys in a 73 to lie a shot outside the top 32 alongside Waterford’s Eanna Griffin, who made two birdies and three bogeys.
Castle’s Robert Moran came home in two-under to salvage a three-over 75 and share 60th with Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley, who level par with two to play but he followed a bogey at the 17th with a double-bogey six at the dangerous 18th.
It was also a tough day for last season’s Bridgestone Order of Merit winner Robert Brazill, who signed for a 78.
The Naas man was out in 40 and home in 38 in a round where he mixed two birdies with six bogeys and a double bogey.
Irish golfers have captured the title four times with Reeve Whitson following in the footsteps of Philip Walton, Michael Quirke and Darren Clarke in 2013.
Gary Hurley was runner-up in 2015 in Jerez, losing on the 36th to Jeroen Krietemeijer of the Netherlands.
Other past winners include European Tour stars Romain Langasque (2017), Danny Willet (2008), John Parry (2007), Joost Luiten (2005), Gonzalo Fernandez Castaño (2003), Richard Finch (2000), Sergio García (1999), Maarten Lafeber (1997) and José Manuel Lara (1996).
1981 Torrequebrada, Philip Walton beat J. López Moreno 3 and 2
1987 Aloha, Michael Quirke beat O. Carrisson
1990 El Saler, Darren Clarke beat Sven Struver 7 and 5
2013 La Manga, Reeve Whitson beat Neil Raymond 4 and 3
Spanish Amateur Championship for the Copa del Rey, RGC Sevilla (Par 72)
