Sport

Irish off to fine start

Ireland's amateur international team made an impressive start to their two-day match with the Metropolitan Association of New…

Wed May 06 1998 - 01:00

Ireland's amateur international team made an impressive start to their two-day match with the Metropolitan Association of New York when opening up a three-point lead at the Portmarnock Links yesterday.

The morning foursomes proved crucial to the Irish when they took 31/2

points from a possible four while sharing the afternoon foursomes at two matches each.

Jody Fanagan and new cap Michael Sinclair were the only Irish players to take full points from their two matches. Fanagan teamed up with Andrew McCormack in the morning foursomes to win one up against James Kilduff and Allan Small. In the afternoon he joined forces with Sinclair to beat Jeff Thomas and Paul Dickinson on the 14th.

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Sinclair was an inspiration in the afternoon when he won the 2, 3, 6, 10, and 11, which included four birdies - his only par coming at the third - as the home pair cruised to victory.

Sand proved the downfall of West of Ireland champion, Noel Fox. One up in both his matches playing the 18th, the Portmarnock man found bunkers on both occasions to lose the holes to the Americans.

The Americans' only victory came in the last match where Jeff Putman and Edward Gibstein blitzed the first nine with birdies at 1, 2, 8 and 9 on their way to a 5 and 4 win over Bryan Omelia and Andrew McCormack.

Foursomes: J Fanagan, A McCormack bt J Kilduff, A Small 1 hole; N Fox. P Gribben halved with J Putman, E Gibstein; D Dunne, B Omelia bt J Thomas, P Dickinson 4 and 3; M Sinclair, E Power bt G Rohlf, J Doppelt 3 and 2.

Foursomes Result: Ireland 31/2 MGA 1/2.

Fourball: J Fanagan, M Sinclair bt J Thomas, P Dickinson 5 and 4; P Gribben, E Power halved with J Kilduff, A Small; N Fox, D Dunne halved with G Rohlf, J Doppelt; B Omelia, A McCormack lost to J Putman, E Gibstein 5 and 4.

Fourball Result: Ireland 2 MGA 2.

Overall: Ireland 51/2 Metropolitan Golf Association of NY 21/2.

Today's Pairings: Singles - 9.0: N Fox v J Kilduff; 9.08: J Fanagan v P Dickinson; 9.16: D Dunne v A Small; 9.24: B Omelia v J Putman; 9.32: E Power v J Doppelt; 9.40: A McCormack v J Thomas; 9.48: M Sinclair v G Rohlf; 9.56: P Gribben v E Gibstein.