Big names are frozen out

A Dublin freelance of my acquaintance once famously started a soccer report with the immortal words: "As expected, this match was full of surprises." In that context, he would have had generous material at Rosses Point yesterday, when the opening matchplay rounds of the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Close Championship produced the usual quota of notable casualties.

The weather was equally familiar. In fact the morning was so cruelly hostile that international Gary Cullen, who was three down at the time, felt obliged to concede defeat after the 13th hole, having lost all feeling in bitterly-cold hands.

Cullen made the mistake of not packing mittens - a forgivable omission in June. "I tried to keep my hands warm in a towel, but with the rain beating down, that became a waste of time," he said.

Yet with the resilience of youth, some players made light of the conditions, notably the holder, Graeme McDowell, who had approximate figures of two under par for the 29 holes he needed in reaching the third round. And there was some stunning scoring from Edenderry's Ger Hall in a morning win over Ryan Boal of Scrabo.

There were shock, morning departures, however, for Walker Cup aspirant Noel Fox, West of Ireland champion Michael McDermott, leading qualifier Gary Maybin and internationals Johnny Foster and Eddie Power. And in the afternoon, they were joined by the 1988 champion Garth McGimpsey, fellow internationals Andrew McCormick and Adrian Morrow and by the course record-holder, Stuart Paul. Meanwhile, the overall quality of play reflected the current strength of Irish amateur golf. This was exemplified by Stephen Browne, a new cap on the six-member line-up for the European Championship in Sweden next month.

One down with two to play in his afternoon match against Mervyn Owens of Mallow, Browne drew level at the 455yard 17th, one of the most difficult par fours in championship golf. Facing a south-easterly wind which had turned 180 degrees from Sunday, Browne hit a fine drive which he followed by a glorious four-wood shot of 225 yards.

"I couldn't have hit it any better," he said afterwards, of a shot which sent the ball into the heart of the green for a two-putt par which brought him all square. And he also won the last where Owens was in rough off the tee. Hall (22), couldn't have found inspiration in a bogey start to his morning match. But he proceeded to birdie the second and third before firing a nine-iron downwind and straight into the cup at the 165-yard fourth, for a hole in one. And he went on to birdie the long fifth.

Later in the day, when the rain eased but the wind remained, he gained an unassailable lead over Morrow, being four up after 11 holes which he covered in level par.

The Portmarnock veteran closed the gap to two, with wins at the 13th and 14th but Hall wrapped up the match on the short 16th. "This has to be the greatest day of my golfing life," enthused Hall, whose modest claim to fame is having been a panelist for the Leinster youth team.

McDowell is attempting to become the first player to successfully defend the title since Joe Carr did it at this venue, back in 1965.

In a morning win over Conor Waters of Athenry, he covered the outward journey in an approximate four under par to be five up and well on the way to victory. And in the afternoon, he was two under par and two up after six against Killeen's Niall Gorey.

"I'm pleased with the way I adjusted to the change in the wind," he said afterwards. "In fact I feel very good about my game." And well he might, especially after an exemplary four iron of 195 yards into the wind to set up a win at the 14th and a shot of 175 yards with the same club but from a different angle, when wrapping up the match on the next.

Locals swear the weather's going to change. After yesterday, it would be something of a treat to see the sun sinking in the west.