Moran heads Cannon by two at halfway in Balbriggan Senior Scratch Cup
Castle’s Robert Moran. Picture: Pat Cashman
Castle’s Robert Moran fired a five-under-par 67 to snatch the first-round lead in the Ace Express Freight sponsored Balbriggan Senior Scratch Cup.
The 20-year old Dubliner made six birdies and a bogey to take a two-shot lead over local hero Robbie Cannon but the elite field found the pristine Balbriggan lay-out a major test as a swirling wind and tight pin positions made scoring tough.
“I am very happy with it,” plus-three handicapper Moran said. “I was very solid in and around the greens and took any chances I had and scrambled when I was out of position.
“The course is very good and the greens are quite receptive but a few of the pins are close to the slopes so you have to be careful. I had never played here before but I heard great things and it’s even better than most people thought.”
Cannon birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th en route to a three-under 69 with Hermitage international Rowan Lester the only other player to break par as he carded a two-under 70 to lie in third place as he seeks his first ever win in a scratch cup.
“I’m pleased with the score but I didn’t play great,” said former South of Ireland, Irish Close and Irish Amateur Open winner Cannon after mixing five birdies with two bogeys. “I didn’t play great now but the short game and putting kept me in it and I hit some good iron shots.
“I need to drive it better this afternoon though because I didn’t drive it great this morning.”
Belvoir Park’s Gareth Lappin and holder Jack McDonnell posted level par 72s to share fourth but Walker Cup player Caolan Rafferty dropped four shots in his first five holes before steadying the ship to card a four-over 76.
“It was lovely and the course is in great condition,” said Rafferty, who is the highest-ranked Irish player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings at 18th. “The greens are flying and there are a couple of tricky pins. But you just have to drive the ball well and I struggled early on.
“If you are not driving it well you are going to drop shots but it’s in great condition — the fairways are nice and the greens are good— but it is really tight off the tee.”
Like fellow internationals Lester, Keith Egan (73), Eanna Griffin (74), Matt McClean (75) and Tiarnan McLarnon (75), Rafferty is pleased to get some competitive action before the amateur season resumes.
“It’s great to get a scorecard back in your pocket and see all the lads again. So hopefully we can get back to some kind of normal and play a few events again.”
Former European Ryder Cup skipper Paul McGinley was also at Balbriggan to watch his son Killian (20) get some more competitive experience.
The Sunningdale golfer, who is on an academic and golf scholarship at Fairfield University in Connecticut, showed his good golfing genes as he opened with a two-over 74 that left him just outside the top-10.
In the Junior Scratch Cup, Balbriggan’s Liam Rooney shot a six-over 78 to lead by a shot from club-mate Thomas Doran.