Nolan in good form as Irish take early lead

IRELAND CHEATED a mean, north-easterly wind to take the overall lead in the first qualifying round of the 20th Men's European Amateur Team Championship at Portmarnock yesterday.

Though it was only an opening step, it may yet prove to be a highly significant one in their attempt to become the first host country to capture the title.

The mood was set superbly by Keith Nolan who, with a magnificent 70, was the only player to break par. This was four strokes clear of his closest individual challengers, Steven Young of Scotland and Mikko Manerus of Finland, confirming Nolan's status as the country's top player on current form.

Given rising standards on the Continent, qualifying for the top flight was certain to be difficult. So, with a five-stroke gap over the holders Scotland in second place, the host nation can now relax somewhat today, as a result of solid performances from Peter Lawrie (75), Richard Coughlan (76), Noel Fox (76) and Garth McGimpsey (78). Jody Fanagan had a non-counting 85.

Over the years, Ireland's challenges in these tests have been regularly blighted by their near neighbours. And it is richly ironic that even the top qualifying position may not allow them to avoid the dreaded English insofar as first plays eighth tomorrow.

As things stand, England are struggling in 11th position - a place behind Iceland having had a top score of 78. "It was a difficult day but I have to be disappointed," said their skipper, Peter McEvoy. "Keitb Nolan's wonderful score proved it was possible and I have to believe my players can improve tomorrow."

Wales, the 1993 champions are in even greater difficulties in 13th position, after being forced to count an 84 from Mark Smith, a member of the Walker Cup training squad. Meanwhile, the Finns maintained their impressive progress in recent years by claiming eighth position at this stage, from an overall 14th in Antwerp two years ago.

As ambitious club golfers would be aware, Portmarnock is not the most inviting of venues in winds gusting to 30 m.p.h. And for the high-handicapper, it should be respectfully avoided. Alas, our Continental visitors were denied such an option and some of them suffered grievously.

Jan Balna of Slovakia had the unwanted distinction of finishing last of the 132 competitors with a 53-over-par score of 125 while compatriot Jugaj Zaris was second-last with 111. Given Zaris's handicap of 25, however, he would have scored 24 Stableford points - quite a respectable effort off the back tees on a course measuring 7,316 yards.

And the hapless Balna could take some consolation from the fact that his 12 at the sixth wasn't the highest score at an individual hole. That particular distinction went to Croatia's Drazen Slamar who had a horrendous 15 at the formidable fourth.

So, would their inclusion have done these players more harm than good? "Oh no," insisted 11-handicap Michal Oravec. Slovakia's best player. albeit with a 98. "I could see how much I need to practise." he said. "I need to hit the ball longer off the tee and try to be more accurate with my mid-irons."

Nor could the argument be sustained that they would cause intolerable delays, throwing matches way off schedule. Certainly there were delays, but conditions were difficult for all competitors. And the efficiency of the organisation overall, reflected enormous credit on the Golfing Union of Ireland.

In the circumstances, Nolan's effort was priceless, given that he was the first Irish player into action. And on this form he must be considered an automatic choice on the Walker Cup team to be finalised this weekend.

Having been accorded the honour of getting the championship under way at 8.0 a.m., Nolan proceeded to birdie the opening hole which he reduced downwind to a drive, pitching wedge and two- foot putt. His only other birdie was at the short, 185-yard seventh where a three iron was followed by a 30-foot putt.

Incidentally, the change in conditions from the practice rounds could be gauged from the play of this hole. Earlier in the week, Barclay Howard had reached it with an eight iron yesterday, the Scottish Walker Cup player needed a one iron.

The key to Nolan's score lay essentially in an admirably tidy short game. In fact he got up and down for pars on five occasions - at the fourth, 10th, 11th, 12th and 17th. And his recovery powers were also evident at the 404-yard eighth, where, after embarrassingly knocking down a three-wood tee-shot only 40 yards in front of him, he proceeded to hit a four-iron onto the green.

"I'm trying to fade the ball and I struggled a little off the tee, but I'm obviously pleased with the way I scored," said Nolan who had 29 putts - seven of them singles. He also identified the celebrated, short 15th as the most difficult hole on the course, given that the wind was coming strongly off the sea.

Fanagan's problems had the effect of imposing greater pressure on Coughlan, Fox and Lawrie, making their eventual scores all the more creditable. That's what pleased me most," said the Irish captain, Mick Craddock afterwards. "It made for a very solid team performance. I'm delighted with the lads."

Fox did particularly well, given the absence of a birdie from his card. And Coughlan - "I didn't know what I was doing on Monday and Tuesday" - acclimatised very successfully to card two birdies in his last four holes. Having started at the 10th, he hit a glorious five-iron third shot of 175 yards to four feet at the long sixth and holed a 45-footer for a two at next.

Lawrie, the national champion, was the last Irish player in. And he secured the team's position at the top of the leaderboard, meriting great credit for the effort, in view of recent illnesses involving chicken pox and `flu.

Given an average score of 83.23 strokes for the 132 competitors, he had reason to be well-pleased with his work.