Irish trio struggle at start

World Amateur Team ChampionshipIreland were struggling to make an impression in the first round of the Eisenhower Trophy, the men's World Amateur Team Championship, at the Rio Mar Country Club Ocean Course and River Course in Rio Grande, in Puerto Rico, yesterday.

Former European champion Brian McElhinney of the North West club was out of sorts as he got to the turn in two-over-par after bogeys at the third and the fifth holes. He dropped another at the 10th, but a further bogey at the 14th was sandwiched between birdies at 13 and 15. He then bogeyed the 16th but responded with a stunning eagle two at the next to get back to one-over-par.

Co Sligo's Seán McTernan parred the first two holes but didn't register another until the 10th. He dropped a shot at the third, birdied the next two, gave them both away with a double at the sixth, bogeyed the seventh, birdied the eighth and bogeyed the ninth.

He then settled down to par the next five to lie at two over.

In comparison, Dunmurry's Darren Crowe was a model of consistency, dropping only one shot, at the second, and adding birdies at the fourth and 12th to be one under.

With the best two scores to count, Ireland were tied for 25th place after 15 holes on level par, 11 strokes behind the US, chasing a third consecutive victory.

Early starters Wales and Scotland both set down a marker, posting aggregates of three-under- par 141, while England, made a good start and were six under par with three holes to play.

James Heath had got off to a blinder, grabbing birdies on each of the first three holes.

Wales' Walker Cup hero Nigel Edwards went round in 70.

Irish captain Mark Gannon realised his team had to pick things up in the closing holes to stay in contention. "The competition is so tough that you can not let any countries get too far in front," said the skipper.