Hoey leads way as Irish quartet progress

Three of Ireland's fledgling professionals, Michael Hoey, Graeme McDowell and Stephen Browne, grabbed three of the four automatic places from yesterday's British Open pre-qualifying tournament at Co Louth. The triumvirate was joined by Waterville amateur Mark Murphy and now head for the final qualifying over 36 holes next Sunday and Monday.

Hoey shot a five-under-par 68 at Baltray to lead the way, a mark he was later joined on by Murphy. The former British Amateur champion heads for the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, hoping to avoid the final pre-qualifying ordeal by claiming one of the eight places on offer that guarantee passage to the British Open at Muirfield.

The top eight will not include all of those players who already have an exemption to the Open and so a top-15 finish could suffice. Having finished 11th at last year's Scottish Open, Hoey will be hoping for a repeat and therefore avoiding a trip to the Loughness new course.

He was pleased with his attitude as much as his performance yesterday. "I went out there and just didn't worry about anything. I've been hitting the ball well but my problem I have had is just getting frustrated. It was great to just get out there and enjoy it. That's the approach I going to take this week.

"I just need that little bit of confidence. It gives me an option for this week. If I don't make the cut (at Loch Lomond) then I will go to the final qualifying; if I do then I'll hang around and try to get one of those eight places. It's great to shoot a round that's under par because I haven't done that for a long time. I think the last time was the Memorial tournament in May."

Hoey managed three birdies and an eagle three at the par five 11th, hitting a drive and wedge before holing the putt, during a blemish free round. Murphy matched his former international team-mate's effort, registering four birdies, an eagle and just a single dropped shot at the par three 15th.

"It was all about putting well. I'm now just looking forward to final qualifying." He will be joined at North Berwick by fellow Waterville man David Higgins.

McDowell recovered from a shaky start to post a two-under-par, 71. "I three-putted the first (for bogey), hit a bad tee shot on the second, was buried and so hacked it out. I hit an eight iron to a couple of feet and made it for birdie." His round contained a further five birdies and three bogeys.

"I took my foot off the gas a bit in the middle of the round. Getting through though is all that matters."

McDowell had been hoping to get into Loch Lomond but as of yesterday evening had not managed an invite, the last one going to Nick Dougherty. Nick Faldo's continuing illness may offer him a belated opportunity.

Browne grabbed the final automatic qualifying place after a five way play-off with Colm Moriarty, Padraig Dooley, Danny Sugrue and Paddy Gribben. The latter was the first to be eliminated, at the first tie-hole, Browne winning his spot with a birdie on the second. Sugrue's bogey at the next, the ninth, saw him eliminated and it took a further four holes to separate Moriarty and Dooley, the Athlone man coming out on top.

DETAILS (Irish unless stated): 68 - M Hoey, M Murphy; 71 - G McDowell; 72 - S Browne (won last automatic place after five way playoff); 72 - C Moriarty (first alternate), P Dooley (second alternate), D Sugrue (third alternate), P Gribben (fourth alternate); 74 - G Finn; 75 - R Beames (Eng), T Rice, B Conser (USA); 76 - G Cullen, R Symes, S Quinlivan, J Langan; 77 - C Little; 78 - W Burnitz (USA), D Stevenson (Aus), L Perrins (SA), C Mallon, G Lunny, C Devlin; 79 - N Howley; 80 - A Dowling, R Whitford, P Geraghty; 81 - G Spring, D Thomson (Scot); 82 - S Mackie; 83 - I Moore, S Moore; 85 - M Gusrafson; 86 - D Carthy (Eng), G Hendley; 87 - P Collins, J Santiuste; NR - J Peters (USA), K Garvey, L Walker, J Dolan, G McShea, E Logue.

Final qualifying venues for the Irish players.

M Hoey (Loughness New); M Murphy (North Berwick); G McDowell (Dunbar); S Browne (Gullane No.1)