McKibbin and Mehaffey shine at home

Jordan Smith. Picture: Getty Images

Tom McKibbin and Olivia Mehaffey opened with three-under-par rounds to head the home challenge in the ISPS Handa World Invitational at Massereene and Galgorm Castle.

Holywood star McKibbin (18) was tied 11th after he made three birdies in a flawless 67 opening round at Massereene, where Mehaffey fired a three-under 70 to share 13th in the women’s event. Women’s leaderboard

McKibbin was five shots behind England’s Jordan Smith who carded an eight-under 62 at Galgorm Castle to lead the men’s event by two strokes. Men’s leaderboard

“Nice to be bogey-free, especially with the rain, it was hammering it down when we started and for the first nine holes, which made it pretty tricky,” McKibbin said. “I had to grind a lot and make some good pars in the conditions, but I stayed patient.

“The event has been great. Pretty cool to have men and women competing and to see how the top women players compete too. I could see more events like this happening.”

The event is tri-sanctioned by the European Tour and the LET and LPGA Tours as 144 men and 144 women compete in separate events for an equal share of a $2.35 million purse.

Mehaffey was four shots off the lead held by Korea’s Chella Choi, American Jennifer Kupcho and Scotland’s Emma Dryburgh, who all shot seven-under 66s at Massereene.

“It was solid,” Mehaffey said. “Hit the ball nicely, drove it nicely, hit good putts but didn't hole much. Could have been a lot lower but it was solid and I'm happy with where my game is at. Just have to stay patient.

“It kind of feels like my pro debut because it's at home. It's my first LPGA start as a pro, so kinda in a way, it feels like my debut even though I've been pro a few months now. Few nerves on the first tee but I felt really comfortable out there, which is nice.

“I actually ended up playing a six-hole match with Soren Kjeldsen yesterday - Gary caddied for him for a few years - and I was a bit nervous when he said come on, we'll go play with him. That really helped settle me, I felt really comfortable with him and he's such an elite player.

“I had a lot of family, my friends, cousins, my aunts, my uncle, my best friends from school. It was cool to see everybody and I think there'll be a lot out there tomorrow. I've managed to get a lot of tickets, so that's good.”

Lahinch amateur Aideen Walsh was 89th in the women’s event after carding a two-over 74 at Galgorm Castle.
But it was a mixed day for the rest of the Irish with Kilkenny amateur Mark Power tied 24th after a two-under 68 at Massereene and Dubliner Niall Kearney the only other player in the red, tied 38th after a one-under 69 at Galgorm Castle.

Smith’s 62 gave him a two-shot lead over Scot David Drysdale and Germany’s Matthias Schmid, the leading amateur at the Open, who is making just his second professional start.

Michael Hoey, Simon Thornton, Paul McBride, Conor O’Rourke and John Murphy shot level par 70s to lie inside the top 60 who will make the cut tonight.

ISPS Handa World Invitational, Massereene and Galgorm Castle

Men: Men’s leaderboard

1, J Smith (Eng) 62. Irish T11 T McKibbin 67; T24 M Power (Am) 68; T38 N Kearney 69; T59 M Hoey 70, S Thornton 70, P McBride 70, C O’Rourke 70, J Murphy 70, J Caldwell 71; T96 J Sugrue 72, P Dunne 72, D McElroy 72; T114 C Moriarty 73, E O’Brien 73, C Sharvin 73; T126 C Purcell 74, M Reid (Am) 74; T129 J Hill (Am) 75, R Lester 75, B McCarroll 75; 141st R Moran (Am) 80; 142nd G Moynihan 81; 143rd C Williams.

Women: Women’s leaderboard

T1, C Choi (Kor) 66, J Kupcho (USA) 66, G Dryburgh (Sco) 66. Irish T13 O Mehaffey 70; T89 A Walsh (Am) 74.