Nolan brings a touch of class

THE prodigal son returned and jokingly quipped, a la the Tiger, that he had left his "A" game behind, but Keith Nolan, the defending champion, brought a touch of class to the Irish Amateur Open Championship at Fota Island Golf Club yesterday.

Nolan, The 24-year-old Eisenhower Trophy player from Bray, who has just completed a four-year scholarship to East Tennessee State University, was the only competitor to produce two sub-par rounds, firing 68 69 for a half-way total of five-under-par 137, three shots clear of his closest pursuer Noel Fox of Portmarnock.

Generally, quality did come to the top - much to the satisfaction of the Irish selectors who finalise the six-man team for the European Championships at Portmarnock afterwards - with Garth McGimpsey, Richie Coughlan and Bryan Omelia, all strong contenders for places, lying joint-third on the 141 mark, and very much within striking distance.

But Walker Cup player Jody Fanagan withdrew from the championship after suffering a recurrence of his back injury in shooting a second round 80, eight shots worse off than his opening effort, while Irish Close champion Peter Lawrie struggled somewhat and slumped to a 36-hole total of 152.

Nolan, though, played extremely consistently throughout and his playing partner Paddy Gribben, back in the amateur ranks after a flirtation with the professional game, remarked: "It was a pleasure to play alongside him, if only to observe his course management."

Indeed, Nolan expressed himself "happy" with his driving, adding: "If I can just get my putting going, I'll be fine." Nolan featured an eagle three at the eighth hole, when he holed out with a 50-yard chip on his way to a first round 68, which counted as a new course record (later equalled by Fox) because of the changes to the course.

Meanwhile, Fox, last year's East of Ireland champion, had to be satisfied with an afternoon round of 72, as the wind freshened, to add to his opening round 68.