James Hewitt wrote his name into the Royal Portrush history books as he fired a course record, nine-under-par 62 on the Valley Links on the opening day of the 2021 North of Ireland Amateur Open.

The Tandragee golfer made seven birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round to lead by one shot from 2019 champion Arron Edwards-Hill.

The Chelmsford golfer had briefly held the course record with a round of 63, but it lasted just over two hours on a day where 39 players broke par.

Only ten of those rounds came on the Dunluce Links where Muskerry's Jack Egan shot the best round of the day on the 2019 Open course, a bogey-free, four-under 68 for a share of sixth place.

Co. Sligo's Ruairi O'Connor had a hole-in-one on the Valley's 13th. An 8-iron to 165 yards, helped O'Connor to a one-over 72.

The players play their second rounds on opposite courses today with the top-64 advancing to the Matchplay stage tomorrow morning. 

After a three-year wait for a return to Royal Portrush, Hewitt went out in six-under 30 as he followed a birdie at the first with five in a row from the third, then added an eagle at the 11th and another birdie at the 16th.

Edwards-Hill made an eagle, eight birdies and a bogey in his 63 on the Valley as Roganstown’s Patrick Keeling, Castlerock’s Andrew Mulholland and Lisburn’s Ryan Symington shot 66s there to share third place.

Scores