Even for this, the latest Easter since 1943, familiar surroundings were matched by familiar weather when the Compupac-sponsored West of Ireland Championship returned yesterday to Rosses Point after a three-year absence. But with high winds, rain and the odd hail-shower providing a searching test of skill and patience, Ken Kearney still succeeded in shooting a remarkable 69.
The reigning East of Ireland champion was the only competitor to break 70 in this, the first of two strokeplay qualifying rounds. But there was similar merit in a fine, one-under-par 70 by 17-year-old boy international Derek McNamara from Connemara.
The Scandinavian challengers also coped well, notably Norway's Erik Johanson with a 73. And Mikko Ilonen, the defending champion from Finland, seemed satisfied to settle for a 75 after a rather indifferent putting round on greatly-improved greens.
In a woolly hat and windcheater, Ilonen found the conditions quite tough, having come here from four weeks in Spain. One suspected, however, that this had more than a little to do with the greater difficulty of the Co Sligo links, compared with Enniscrone, the scene of last year's triumph.
"This is among the five best links I've played," said the 20-year-old, who has savoured the delights of Muirfield and Royal Co Down, among others. "It's easy enough off the tee, but the approach shots to the greens are a lot more testing than at Enniscrone." Only a shotgun start could have achieved equity, given that the southerly wind freshened and then abated as the day progressed. As an early starter, Kearney reached the comfort of the clubhouse before a severe, lunchtime hail-shower. But he had to contend with rain for the opening three holes and fresh winds throughout.
In such circumstances, an eagle can suddenly brighten a scorecard: Kearney had two of them. Significantly, both came downwind, at the long fifth, which he reduced to a drive, nine-iron and eight-foot putt, and at the par four eighth, where he holed a sandwedge second shot of about 100 yards.
Having reached the turn in 33 - he three-putted the short fourth - Kearney then faced the elements on the homeward journey where the short 13th, with the wind diagonally against from the right, was especially testing. But he made a tidy par there, in sharp contrast to the experience of international colleague Gary Cullen later in the day.
Using a four-iron where Kearney had hit a five, Cullen ended in the little stream from where he elected to play a recovery. And, in a manner of speaking, he lost the election, twice, before eventually running up a seven on the way to a 79.
Kearney's game was much too tidy for slips of that dimension. After bogeys at the 11th and 14th, he got up and down to save par at the 15th, 16th and 17th before closing with a birdie on the 18th, where he hit a four-iron to four feet. It was only his 28th putt of the round.
"It's a bad omen to lead the qualifiers," he said with a quiet smile.
Such thoughts were far from the mind of McNamara, who is delighted with the prospect of simply reaching the matchplay stage. On his first appearance in the championship last year, he suffered the disappointment of missing out on a countback after shooting 153.
On this occasion, he birdied the long third, long fifth and the seventh (30-foot putt) to reach the turn in 33. From there, he concentrated on keeping the ball in play on the homeward journey, his only bogeys came at the 11th, where he underclubbed, and at the 17th, which he reached with a superb three-wood second shot, only to three-putt to the pin at the back.
"It's a wonderful course in really good condition," he said. "The only time I played here before this week was in a Connacht coaching weekend two years ago."
