A CLASSIC links challenge was beyond the capacity of all but the more accomplished competitors, when the AIB East of Ireland Championship reached the halfway stage at Baltray yesterday.
Even at that, shot making skills were severely tested as strong, north easterly winds swept bone hard terrain.
It was certainly quite a change from Saturday, when Tony Hayes led the field with a three under par 70. Within 24 hours, he had crashed to a second round of 84 that included a triple bogey six at the short 15th while Ulsterman, Stuart Paul, took over at the top with a 74 for 145 - one under par.
Noel Fox, the holder, also remained admirably patient for a 74 and a total of 147 to share second place with Michael Sinclair of Knock. "It was a struggle, particularly with the putter," said Fox, whose late start proved to be a mixed blessing insofar as an abatement of the wind had to be balanced against progressively tricky greens.
One over at the turn, Fox ran up a double bogey at the 10th where he was in rough off the tee, despite the precaution of taking a two iron. But at the 14th, his drive to the fringe set up a two putt birdie and he went on to finish the round with a spectacular eagle at the 541 yard 18th. There, he reached the green with a six iron second shot downwind and proceeded to sink a 30 foot putt.
Paul, on the other hand, made more progress on the outward journey. But he, too, failed to keep a double bogey off his card a way ward approach and three putts led to six at the 13th. Still, he had a heartening finish when a five iron second shot set up a two putt birdie at the 18th, making him the only player below par at this stage.
Meanwhile, quite a number of players suffered in the 80s with Hayes. But Declan Branigan, twice a winner of the title, refused to accept that such figures could be justified by the conditions. "It's unquestionably very difficult out there, but anyone who thinks he played well while scoring in the 80s, is deluding himself," be said.
All of which was reflected in a relatively high cut of 155 - nine over par. In fact only eight of the 7 players on this figure got through to the final 36 holes. They did not include former champion Barry Reddan who was entitled to consider himself unfortunate after a respectable 78 yesterday.
Even allowing for the presence of Paul and Sinclair on the leaderboard, links experience was clearly a help. Sean Quinlivan of Ballybunion and David Dunne of Co Sligo were among those who prospered. And it was particularly interesting to note the performance of reinstated amateur Niall Goulding of Portmarnock, whose level par 73 was the best round of the day.
Competitors faced the wind at the 433 yard first, where they were hitting driver second shots early in the day. When conditions improved in the afternoon, it was possible to reach the green at the 544 yard third with a short iron second shot.
It was the challenge of working the ball along fiery fairways, however, that caused most problems. Then there was the difficulty of treacherously firm greens with a Stimpmeter speed of about 10, well up to European Tour pace. Which went some way towards explaining the 39 putts by 1990 champion Den is O'Sullivan in a round of 80.
A problem typical of the conditions was encountered by reigning south of Ireland champion Adrian Morrow at the 332 yard 14th, playing directly downwind. When his drive finished pin high left of the elevated green, Morrow had an extremely difficult pitch of 30 yards into a cross wind.
"I was delighted to keep it on the putting surface and get away with a par," he said afterwards. At 44, he remains as keen as ever to prove himself
Ireland's selectors were present to assess current form in the countdown to the European Amateur Team Championship at Portmarnock later this month. Only Peter Lawrie, Jody Fanagan and Keith Nolan can be taken as virtual certainties in the six man line up, which means that the other three places are up for grabs.
