Nigel Howley matched the blistering sunshine at Royal Portrush yesterday to set a course record of six-under-par 64 on the Valley in his opening salvo in the Carlsberg-sponsored North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship.
It was an amazing performance by the Ballinasloe scratch player who blazed off with an eagle two at the first hole before adding five birdies during his record round which clips a stroke off the long standing record set up by former North champion Michael Hoey.
Howley holed out with a nine-iron from 135 yards at the first and then added birdies at the short third, where he steered an eight-iron to three feet, and then at the fifth where his wedge approach stopped six inches short.
Ironically, he was short at the par three sixth to turn in three under 33. He swapped birdie at the 10th for another bogey at the short 11th but then made three birdies in four holes from the 13th.
At the long 13th his eagle putt from 15 yards failed to drop and at both the 14th and 16th he got down from four feet to be six-under-par. "I was delighted to hold that to the end," he said.
Howley is two shots clear of teenage international David Jones from City of Derry.
Gavin Baker (Carrickfergus) matched par 72 on the big Dunluce course where the higher handicap players tested their skills. The lower men were all on the Valley but the players switch courses today after which the leading 58, from the 300 who started yesterday, will go through to the matchplay stages.