Local hope Anderson just one adrift of McCormick

WEST OF IRELAND:THE WEATHER was the real winner on the opening day of the Radisson Blu-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship yesterday at Rosses Point with England's James McCormick the only player to break par with a one-under 70.

“It feels good ,” McCormick said in the immediate aftermath of his round, played in consistent drizzle which hampered scoring at the illustrious Co Sligo venue.

The Styal (Cheshire) clubman summarised his display: “It was very tough out there but I holed a few very nice putts to keep me going. It’s just nice to have come in and shot a decent score.”

With the conditions meaning the average round time was five hours and 25 minutes for each of the strokeplay threesomes, the final groups ended their rounds in semi-gloom.

The dampness, however, didn’t affect local man Barry Anderson – a quarter-finalist in this competition for the previous two years – who fired his way to a three-way share of second overnight with a level-par 71 on the famous links course.

Anderson, aiming to become the first winner of the West from the host club since 10-times winner Cecil Ewing’s last triumph 62 years ago, produced a polished all-round performance.

“It got nasty there from seven through to 12 so it was nice to get through them,” the Co Sligo man opened. “I got off to a nice start and it gave me a cushion there,” continued Anderson. “The first day is always about keeping yourself out of trouble and not really taking on too much.”

Tied with Anderson on 71 are Rory McIlroy’s best pal, Harry Diamond (Belvoir Park), and Richard O’Donovan (Lucan).

Diamond (28) observed of his performance: “I had a decent start and played pretty good in that weather but three-putted 9 and 17 for my only two bogeys.

McCormick will find it hard to hold onto his early lead but – should he do so over the next four days – he will join a gold-plated band of previous winners of this prestigious title which includes Pádraig Harrington (1994) and, more recently McIlroy (2005-6) and Shane Lowry (2008).

LEADING SCORES: 70 – J McCormick (Styal (UK); 71 – R ODonovan (Lucan), H Diamond (Belvoir Park), B Anderson (Co. Sligo); 72 – A Hogan (Newlands), J Galbraith (Malone), D Loftus (Castlebar), E Arthurs (Forrest Little), K Lovelock (Hindhead (UK), S Grehan (Tullamore); 73 – D Byrne (Athenry), E McCormack (Galway), T McLarnon (Massereene), K McDonagh (Athlone), N Grant (Knock), A Kearney (Castlerock); 74 – D McCusker (Moyola Park), B Walton (The Island), S Healy (Claremorris), M Durcan (Co. Sligo), T Harris (Castletown (IoM), J Waldron (Muskerry); 75 – D Morgan (Mullingar), S Doherty (Ballyliffin), P OKane (Moyola Park), A Gleeson (Castle), G Lenehan (Portmarnock), J Greene (Portmarnock), G Bohill (Co. Louth), S McCarthy (Black Bush), G McDermott (Co. Sligo), M Brett (Portmarnock); 76 – G Brett (Ballinrobe), K Dunne (New Ross), R Leonard (Banbridge), G Hurley (West Waterford), D Downie (Sutton), M Buggy (Castlecomer), C Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint), D McElroy (Ballymena), K Shannon (Greenore), R McKinstry (Cairndhu), S Moran (Carton House), J McGinn (Laytown Bettystown), P McCrudden (Royal Portrush), W Hanna (Kilkeel), R Whitson (Mourne); 77 – S Sloman (Taunton Pickeridge(UK)), M Shanahan (Castlemartyr), K Egan (Carton House), D Barry (Mahon), A Dunbar (Rathmore), T Cleary (Dromoland), M Sinclair (Knock), G McKenna (Fortwilliam), A Thomas (Tramore), W Shucksmith (Alwoodley UK), C Doran (Banbridge), G Dunne (Seapoint), D Callister (Mount Murray (IoM)), N Gorey (Muskerry), C Sharvin (Ardglass), D Murphy (Portarlington); 78 – C Fairweather (Knock), S Crowe (Dunmurry), S Carter (Stackstown), E Smith (Ardee), J Pierse (Grange), S Miskelly (Knock), T Sloman (Taunton Pickeridge, UK), J Lyons (Birr), D OSullivan (Strandhill), S Walsh (Baltinglass), J Hume (Rathsallagh); 79 – S Dwyer (Lucan), C Martin (Kilkenny), G Moynihan (The Island), A Kelly (Charleville), S Brady (Co. Sligo), S Ward (Co. Louth), B McSweeney (Woodbrook), T McGowan (Strandhill), R McNamara (Headfort), L Ainsworth (West Middlesex (UK)), J Hopkins (Skerries), Sean OConnor (Skerries); 80 – A Kiernan (Forrest Little), S Cannon (Loughrea), D Crowe (Dunmurry), B Casey (Headfort), D Holland (Castle), D Lally (Mullingar), S Bryan (Delgany), S Ryan (The Royal Dublin), J ONeill (Lee Valley), S OHara (Co. Sligo), S Underwood (Co. Sligo).