DUNMURRY’S DARREN Crowe may be only a “part-time” amateur these days, but the flame-haired 30-year-old proved he can still mix it with the young guns as he snatched a share of the first-round lead in the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Championship at a windswept Shannon Golf Club.
A 20mph wind blew steadily off the sea for most of the day but Crowe still managed to card seven birdies against two bogeys and a double-bogey six for a three-under par 69 that left him tied at the top with reigning West of Ireland champion Paul Cutler of Portstewart. Just five players broke par.
“I’m not as consistent as I used to be but I can still produce the odd good score,” grinned Crowe, a former winner of the North and South of Ireland titles. “I just lack the competitive edge now that I don’t play as many competitive tournaments, but hopefully I can find it at the weekend.”
The previous 107 editions of the Irish Close have been decided by matchplay, but it is a 72-hole strokeplay event this year and next in an experiment by the Golfing Union of Ireland designed to reduce costs and slot it into the packed international calendar.
That suits Walker Cup prospect Cutler, who showed the tree-lined track maximum respect by playing conservatively off the tee in a round highlighted by an eagle two at the 338-yard 13th, where he holed a 56 degree wedge from 95 yards.
“If you are not hitting the ball well you can find yourself in serious trouble,” Cutler said on a day when his fellow Walker Cup squad member Alan Dunbar confessed to “hitting it sideways” off the tee and shot a 78.
Cutler and Crowe lead by a stroke from Muskerry’s Niall Gorey (70), with Dromoland’s Tony Cleary and Mourne’s Reeve Whitson a shot back after 71s.
The leading 39 players after today’s second round qualify for tomorrow’s final 36 holes.
