Barry Fitzpatrick leads by two in Irish Boy’s Amateur

Barry Fitzpatrick, the only player in the strong international field to break par in both rounds, takes a two-shots lead into the third round of the Irish Boys’ Amateur Championship at Tuam GC.

Fitzpatrick, who opened with a one-under-par 71, added a second round two-under-par 70 for a halfway total of 141. The Castle player carded birdies at the third, fifth and a hat-trick from the 10th in halves of 36 and 34.

Fitzpatrick leads from Rory Williamson from Holywood who raced up the leaderboard with a best of the day six-under-par 66. An eagle at the eighth and birdies at the sixth and ninth took him out in 32 and two more birdies at the 12th and 14th saw him home in 34 for 66 and a total of 143. Sharing third place on 144 are Mark McKinstry from Cairndhu, Antoin Auboin from France, Gian-Marco Petrozzi from England and Harry Gillivan from Westport.

Thomas Mulligan from Co Louth, who won the Dundalk Scratch Cup earlier in the season, looked at one stage to be on for a course record when he reached the turn in five-under-par 31 with an eagle and three birdies but with a back-nine of 40 he is back on three over 147.

The three first round leaders failed to match their opening rounds of 70 with Cameron Raymond from Newlands and Max Martin from England shooting 75s for 145 and Laird Shepherd carding a six-over-par 78 for 148.