Seniors Tour: Eamonn Darcy shot a bogey-free four under par 67 to open a two shots lead in the Bovis Lend Lease European Senior Masters at Woburn GC yesterday.
Darcy with halves of 32 and 35 leads from Jerry Bruner (US) with former Ryder Cup captain, Sam Torrance third along with Maurice Bembridge (England), Australian Terry Gale, Jamaica's Delroy Cambridge, and Simon Owen from New Zealand.
"I played good, hit it solid. Pity about the last where I hit a lovely second shot to five feet but left the birdie putt short. I putted solid though. Made a few, missed a few. I kept it on the fairway that was the main thing. Just hit it in the trees once. Hit my irons well and kept out of trouble," said Darcy, who is looking for his maiden seniors victory since turning 50 two years ago.
He was on course for a hat-trick of birdies at the end following birdies on the 16th and 17th before his miss on the last.
"My form has not been good this year. It's tough playing in the States. I am looking forward to the weekend here. It is nice to shoot a good opening round," added Darcy.
Scotland's Bill Longmuir, winner of last weekend's Scottish Seniors Open, came in with a 72 while Carl Mason from England, a three time winner this season on the Seniors Tour, fired a 75.
CHALLENGE TOUR: Austria's Markus Brier roared into the lead at the BA-CA Golf Open in Austria by equalling Johan Kok's one day old course record of eight under par 63 at his home course, Fontana Golf Club just outside Vienna.
Brier played some great golf during his second round to take a four shot lead from Welshman Mark Mouland and the English trio of John Mellor, Lee Slattery and Sam Walker with his halfway total of 14 under par 128 - equalling the lowest 36 hole total of the 2004 Challenge Tour season so far.
David Higgins is on five under par 137 after a second round 69. Stephen Browne recovered from his opening 75 to shoot a 66 for 141 while Philip Walton (146) and Michael Hoey (148) missed the cut.
ILGU SENIOR CUP: Holders, Royal Portrush eased their way into the semi-finals of the Suzuki sponsored Irish Senior Cup with a 3½-1½ win over Roscommon in yesterday's quarter-final at Athlone. The Northern champions will now Co Louth in this morning's semi-final while Killarney take on Kilkenny in the second match.
MIXED: Enniscrone Golf Club won the BMW sponsored Irish Mixed Foursomes at Hollystown Golf Club. In the final they beat the Munster champions, Woodstock 3-2 to win the title for the first time.
This was the fifth time in the past eight years for the Connacht champions to reach the All-Ireland finals, and the first time to win the green pennant.
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