Sugrue bags first round lead in Finland with borrowed clubs
James Sugrue pictured during the Irish Challenge at the Palmer South course at The K Club. Picture: Niall O'Shea
Mallow’s James Sugrue borrowed clubs from former West of Ireland and Irish Open champion Mikko Illonen and blasted a seven-under 65 to lead the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge by a shot.
The 25-year-old added a closing eagle at the par-five ninth to six birdies at Vierumäki Resort and he was thrilled with his performance.
“I drove the ball very well and putted well,” the 2019 Amateur Championship winner said. “I think I had eight putts through nine so I one-putted every green and holed out from a bunker, so I didn’t have to use the putter too much on the front nine!”
Like a number of his fellow professionals across the men’s and women’s game, Sugrue’s golf clubs were lost in transit but he managed to secure a loan set from a former DP World Tour player.
“The clubs aren’t mine, I lost my clubs coming here, so I got a set off Mikko Illonen and they are very nice, I might have to hold on to them!
“Just more of the same tomorrow, I’m really comfortable with that driver, every time I tee it up I think it is going to be a good one. We’ll just see where it takes us.”
He heads the field by a shot from Finland’s Antii Ahokas and Italians Italians Filippo Bergamaschi and Michele Ortolani.
Ahokas, who beat Rory McIlroy in a playoff for the Irish Amateur Open at Portmarnock in 2006, won twice on the Challenge Tour in 2008 before struggling to maintain consistent form for much of the follow decade gave the leader board a home flavour.
Kinsale’s John Murphy is tied for fifth after a 67 in which he birdied the first two holes, bogeyed the eighth but then eagled the par-five ninth and 12th holes.
Gary Hurley also closed with an eagle three at the ninth to share 32nd on three-under with Rowan Lester after a 69 while Conor Purcell was 52nd after making four birdies in a 70.
The duo from The Island, Paul McBride and Gavin Moynihan, are 75th after 71s with Robin Dawson 121st after making five birdies, four bogeys and a triple bogey seven at the fifth in a 74.
Galway’s Ronan Mullarney was 131st after a 75.
