Fanagan returns to form

The old adage that `form is temporary, class is permanent', is something with which Jody Fanagan might identify after his opening 67 in the first round of the Ulster Bank-sponsored Irish Amateur Open Championship at Royal Dublin yesterday. Fanagan finished one shot clear of Noel Fox and two ahead of Garth McGimpsey and Johnny Foster.

A Walker Cup hero at Royal Porthcawl in 1995 and for the best part of 10 years an outstanding talent in amateur golf, the past 18 months belied that ability. Poor form, the birth of his first child, an enforced three-month holiday from the sport as a result of a finger injury and a restricted schedule contributed to a string of disappointing results.

His rehabilitation, manifest in a glorious five under par 67 that included eight birdies, may partially be attributed to a slight change of grip on the advice of Paul Cuddy with whom the Milltown player has been working. "I've been having one or two lessons and my grip has improved so maybe it's down to that.

"That's the best golf I have played this year. I struck the ball well, missed a few putts, took six on the second and double bogeyed the 15th. It could have been scary." The 33-year-old was quickly into his stride, hitting a six iron approach at the first to eight feet and holing the putt. Despite a bogey on the next he struck a six iron to six feet on the fourth for a birdie and dipped further under the card at the seventh with a fine seven iron second shot.

A birdie on the 14th was followed by a double bogey on the 15th, but Fanagan mustered the perfect retort by registering birdies at the last three holes. "I chipped to five feet at 16, hit a nine iron to eight feet at the 17th and on the last knocked a four iron to 15 feet." The Irish international was adamant that this was only one good round in a poor season.

Walker Cup captain Peter McEvoy was a conspicuous spectator pounding the beautifully manicured Royal Dublin links but Fanagan just smiled when reference was made to the clash with the Americans at Nairn in September. "I'd have to do something spectacular at the British Amateur. This is just one round, but it's certainly a start."

Fox and McGimpsey, two members of the Walker Cup panel, offered a timely reminder of their ability. Fox managed an excellent four under par 68 that included five birdies and a dropped shot on the eighth. His score was all the more laudable considering he had considered retiring during the round because of a blister on his finger.

McGimpsey's round was blemish free, containing three birdies on 10, 14 and 18. Johnny Foster, winner of the recent Woodbrook Scratch Cup, also shot a 69 in a round which featured six birdies while Scrabo's Andrew McCormick joined him on the same mark after a round which included two eagles (11th, 16th), two birdies and two bogeys. Tipperary's Arthur Pierse completed the players on that mark.