Kinsella Jnr heeds some words from the wise

THOUGH hardly Shakespearian in delivery, its simple wisdom would have rivalled the advice of Polonius to Laertes. "Keep your head and hit her straight," said Skerries professional Jimmy Kinsella to his son Bobby, as he departed for Slieve Russell. And the 24 year old responded by shooting 71 to claim a share of the first round lead in the Smurfit Irish Professional Championship yesterday.

The former junior international, making his debut in an event which his father won twice, matched the one under par target set by Raymond Burns and later equalled by Eoghan O'Connell.

Meanwhile, one stroke adrift came the formidable trio of Darren Clarke, Des Smyth and Eamonn Darcy, while defending champion Philip Walton suffered on the greens with a 75.

Conditions were more bearable than Wednesday in that the rain stayed away. But a bitterly cold north wind persisted, making it a physically demanding challenge. I had my full wet suit on for the whole round - and that's unusual for me," said Burns, who is attempting to improve on his second place finish to Clarke at Galway Bay two years ago.

The wickedly inviting 13th hole inflicted much pain, notably on Vivian Teague who had a quadruple bogey nine there. And there were eights from Roy Skillen and Graeme Wilson, while no fewer than seven players carded double bogey sevens. Notable among these was Jimmy Heggarty, who was two under par on the tee and departed the green on level par having had a second in the water, followed by three putts.

It was all too much for veteran Norman Drew who quit after six holes. But contemporary, Christy Greene, in the same three ball as Kinsella, had a special reason for battling all the way. "This is my 50th successive appearance in the championship," said the 69 year old. And there was obvious professional pride in his determination to return a score, even if it happened to be 90.

Referring to his young partner, the former Milltown professional said mischievously: "He's a better player than his dad." But young Bobby, who became assistant at Skerries two years ago, gently sidestepped such comparisons. "I drove the ball well with the result that I didn't get into any serious trouble," he said.

In fact he was the lone player to card only one bogey, the product of a bunkered approach at the fifth. And it was more than offset by birdies at the long sixth, where he chipped to five feet, and at the long 18th, where a nine iron third shot was followed by a 10 foot putt.

His pleasure at such a promising start was enhanced by the manner of his qualifying at Seapoint last week: he got through on the limit by holing a bunker shot at the 18th for a closing eagle three.

O'Connell, who has been in Florida for the last two months remodelling his swing, admitted that he wasn't expecting very much this week. "I believe it's necessary to keep my hand in from a competitive standpoint, but I have to be wary not to revert to my old ways," he said.

His round contained more fluctuations than Kinsella's, and he might have taken the outright lead but for a bunkered approach at the 17th. Earlier, there was considerable encouragement in a beautifully struck three iron into a wind from the right at the 220 yard seventh, where he sank a 15 foot putt for a birdie.

Darcy might also have taken the lead, but for three putting the short 16th. The fact was that most of the leading players had problems on greens into which the course architect, Paddy Merrigan, built some devilish undulations.

Smyth, who is attempting to complete a notable double having won the Irish International Matchplay title last October, had a sparkling birdie, birdie finish. He hit a seven iron approach 12 feet past the flag at the 17th, and overcame a pushed drive at the next by hitting a wedge third shot to 10 feet. Again, the putt went down.

An even more impressive finish, however, came from Headfort's Brendan McGovern whose short game was admirably tidy as he covered the last six holes in three under par.

Which contrasted sharply with the fortunes of Clarke, who three putted four times and had repeated problems with his chipping.

"It's very frustrating after all the work I've been doing," he said, before heading to the practice green for another lengthy session with the wedge. In common with the rest of the field, he knows that his recovery powers will be critical on a course that is giving precious little away.