Returning Carvill takes imposing lead

East Of Ireland Championship: The former professional Jim Carvill holds a commanding five-shot lead at the halfway stage of the East of Ireland championship after the Warrenpoint golfer shot a new amateur course record at County Louth yesterday.

Carvill, 38, regained his amateur status earlier this year after competing on the minor tours all over the world for the past 14 years.

Yesterday's seven under 65 contained no less then eight birdies with just one dropped shot at the par four eighth. Added to his opening 70, for a 135 two-round aggregate, it left the Co Down golfer five clear of Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney, who shot 71 yesterday.

"It felt good to be out there competing again and I didn't feel any pressure," explained Carvill, who last played in the East back in 1989 when Darren Clarke won.

Not only does Carvill possess a wealth of experience of his own he also has European Tour senior professional Kenny Stevenson on the bag this week. Carvill checked with GUI officials to ensure a professional was allowed to caddy for him in an amateur event. Only at boys' level are professionals prevented from caddying by the GUI.

"Kenny and I know each other's games so well, he's a great reader of greens and I fully trust him on the course," explained Carvill, glad to have his work colleague and regular golf partner for assistance.

Kearney, who will play alongside Carvill for the final two rounds at Baltray, is only 17 and playing in his first East of Ireland, but the Royal Dublin player has shown maturity beyond his years.

He took on board putting advice given to him by Butch Harmon at a recent Red Bull Masterclass at Druids Heath. "Butch told me to accelerate through the putts and that has certainly helped my putting on these tricky links greens," he said.

Richard Kilpatrick from Banbridge is third on his own after rounds of 72 and 71 but Carvill's main threat could come from the chasing Irish international trio who share fourth on level par.

Sligo's Seán McTernan (70), Dunmurray's Darren Crowe (71) and North West's Michael McGeady (71) are all close enough to mount a serious challenge.

West of Ireland champion Rory McIlroy still has a slim chance after a 71 left the 16-year-old 11 behind Carvill's lead.

Defending champion Mark Campbell from Stackstown found himself at four over after yesterday's 73.

The cut fell at 152 for the top 50 players.