Wind-beaten players trooped in from the gales at Royal Portrush yesterday to post unbelievable scores from the first qualifying round in the Carlsberg-sponsored North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship.

One player handed in a 100 with others only a stroke or two better but the host club captain Ian Patterson steered his ship through the storms in remarkable fashion. Patterson, a four-handicapper, was on the Dunluce course and went round in six-over-par 78 to set the pace.

"It was real tough out there - the stormiest conditions I ever played in and I have played in this championship for over 20 years, I'm sure. Balls were blowing around on the greens and it was impossible to reach some of the par fours with two shots," said Patterson.

He laid the foundations with a birdie-eagle-birdie run around the hook. His four iron was his ace in the bag as he used it each time. He got down from 15 feet at the 8th, from 10 feet for his eagle at the 9th and planted the ball on the heart of the green at the long 10th.

The shorter Valley links was no less daunting yesterday. The exposed sixth and seventh holes caused problems but not to former Irish youth international Peter Martin who made two solid pars. "Those pars were as good as birdies," he said.

He carded a three-over-par 73, which included birdie fours at the fourth hole where he chipped dead and the 13th, which he reached in two. Martin was joined on 73 by Steve Ellis from Castletown who is making his second attempt to take the `North' title to the Isle of Man for the first time. Ellis was deadly on the greens and included five birdies in his round, featuring a hat-trick from the eighth hole as he lowered putts between 10 and 15 feet. His other birdies were at the fourth and 10th holes after which he was one under but lost four shots in the last seven holes.

In a group on 77 from the Valley are Irish Close Champion Graeme McDowell, South African Champion Ciaran McMonagle, Michael Hoey who is holder of the Emerites Championship and five-times winner Garth McGimpsey.

The title is vacant just now, as Paddy Gribben, winner in 1998 and 1999, has since joined the professional game. The players switch courses today after which the leading 64 go through to the matchplay.