Malahide ace O'Neill sets the pace in Irish Boys at Thurles
Gavin O'Neill (Malahide) driving at the 17th tee in the first round of the 2020 Irish Boys Under 18 Amateur Close Championship at Thurles Golf Club today (10/08/2020). Picture by Pat Cashman
Malahide's Gavin O'Neill birdied two of his last three holes to card a three-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Irish Boys Championship at Thurles.
After an early bogey at the second, the 16-year old Dubliner birdied the fourth to turn in level par then picked up shots at the 10th, 16th and 18th to lead by the narrowest of margins from Belvoir Park’s Luke Kelly.
“On the first few holes I hit a few bad drives and made a few scrappy pars there,” O’Neill said after making a 25 footer from just off the green for a birdie at the par-five 18th. “I got it together on the back nine, hit more fairways, hit more greens, produced better wedge play, and holed some putts as well.”
Delighted to get back into action after the coronavirus lockdown, he said: “Yeah, it’s been a long break between last summer and this, but I’ve been playing in the Portmarnock Summer Series, a few open competitions and trying to get a bit of competitive golf back in before these [championships] kick off again.”
He was runner up in two Under 16 championships last year, the Leinster U16 Close at Ashbourne and the Connacht U16 Boys Open in Galway Bay, and he’s looking to make his mark at Under 18 level.
“I’ve been close before,” He said. “It’s been a good start so let’s see what we can do for the next two days.”
The top 40 and ties after Tuesday’s second round will make the cut for the third and final round on Wednesday.
Irish Under-18 Boys Amateur Close Championship, Thurles (Par 72)
Leading players after round one
69 Gavin O’Neill (Malahide)
70 Luke Kelly (Belvoir Park)
71 Rory Fives (Faithlegg), Charlie Flavin (Youghal), Darcy Hogg (Belvoir Park), Sam Murphy (Portumna), Daniel Mulligan (L'town & B'town)
72 Rory Milne (Faithlegg), Zak Collins (Muskerry), Gavin Rochford (Bray), Luke Curran (Westmanstown), Dylan Keating (Seapoint), Morgan O'Sullivan (Ballyneety)
