It was a double Bangor blast at stormy Royal Portrush yesterday as the Carlsberg North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship teed off once again. Leading the charge from the Valley course was the ever present Garth McGimpsey, while his stablemate from Bangor, Michael Jones, proved best of the higher handicap players on the big and difficult Dunluce links with a 74.
McGimpsey, winner of a record five North titles, was the only player to break par on either course as he posted a one-under 69 with a pair of eagles highlighting his card.
The Bangor plus-one handicapper was one shot ahead of former youth internationals Ciaran McMonagle and Peter Martin, while Bryan Omelia, one of the short-priced contenders, finished in a bunch on 71.
That group included local Ricky Elliott, the current Leinster Youths Champion. Elliott had three birdies on his homeward run but suffered double bogey six at the 17th.
Michael Hoey and Tim Rice, who played with Elliott in the European Youths Championship which finished on Sunday in Belgium fired 73 and 77 respectively.
The players swop courses today after which 64 go through to the matchplay stages tomorrow.
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