AFTER being mistaken for Jordan Spieth several times this week, Irish amateur Paul Dunne did a pretty good impression of the world number two on the course as well with an opening 69 at St Andrews.
Dressed in the same make of clothes as the Masters and US Open champion, Dunne shared the early lead in the 144th Open Championship after teeing off in the second group and making birdies on the first two holes.
The 22-year-old from Greystones also produced a superb pitch to birdie the fifth and holed from 45 feet for another across the ninth green, but dropped his only shot of the day on the 11th and parred the last seven holes.
Asked what he was thinking after his flying start, the University of Alabama student admitted: “My first thought was is anyone at home going to take a picture of it on the computer screen and send it to me later?
“It was cool to see my name on the screen. When I’m 70 years old sitting in a bar with a pint I can tell someone I led the Open. Hopefully I can do it a few more times in the future.”
Dunne, who came through final qualifying at Woburn for the second year running, added: “It was an early start but I got off to a nice start. I was really nervous on the first tee but once I got off the tee I felt quite comfortable and it was nice to birdie the first two holes and get the round off and running.
“As the day went on it was disappointing to bogey 11. I went out with a number in my head trying to shoot 68 so I came up just short, but I’m pretty pleased with a 69.
“I did not feel as much out of my comfort zone in the practice rounds as I did last year and got a strategy ready for the course. Last year (he missed the cut at Hoylake) I was a bit overwhelmed and more worried about who I was playing with. This time I got some nice compliments off a few people like Francesco Molinari and Graeme McDowell which settled me down.”
As for his resemblance to Spieth, Dunne added: “When I put my head down people just see the hat and I get asked for a few autographs. Then I lift my head and they are disappointed!”
Meanwhile, it was a ‘Beecher’s Brook day’ at Royal Portrush yesterday as favourites fell like snow off a roof in the Cathedral Eye North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship during the first and the third and quarter-final rounds.
In the morning play, leading qualifier Geoff Lenehan, Colin Campbell, who didn’t have to pass the 13th hole on Wednesday, Stephen Coulter and Leinster interpro Paul McBride were all sent packing.
The shocks continued in the afternoon as last year’s finalist Robin Dawson, Dermot McElroy and Rowan Lester bit the dust leaving this morning’s semi-final line-up as Gary Collins (Rosslare) against Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) at 7.30 and John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) against David Sutton (Lurgan) at 7.45.
Not a line-up that would have been anywhere near predicted at the beginning of the week.
Scottish-born Sutton was the story of the day as he proved that there is still a place in amateur golf for the player who holds down a regular job and plays his golf for fun, rather than a means to an end.
“I come up to Portrush with my wife and two children for a holiday and to play in the North each year without any pre-set ideas. It’s a holiday for the family and anything else is a bonus,” said Sutton (34) who reached the semi-finals before and this time beat Leinster men’s interpro Rowan Lester (19) on the home green.
That was the first time that Sutton, born in Lockerbie and a former Scottish Youths’ player, was ahead in a highly interesting tussle with teenager Lester who reached the final of the British Boys’ Championship last year.
Sutton had earlier ended the hopes of Lenehan in the morning, again with a one hole result.
His clash with Irish Close champion Galbraith (21) at sunrise will be a rare battle. Galbraith is the highest ranked player left and he dismissed Maynooth student Ronan Mullarney (Galway) by 3&2, having earlier beaten Colin Fairweather by one hole.
Caolan Rafferty (22) works at Greenlife Golf Range and can combine work with play. He eased through the Dunluce problems all week and took down favourite Dermot McElroy by one hole.
McElroy turned two up but Rafferty, who carries his own bag, stormed back with eagle from 10 feet at 10 and birdie at 11 to get level. McElroy lost a ball at the 16th hole which was the clinching moment in the game.
Gary Collins performed a giant killing act, also, as he tossed out last year’s finalist Robin Dawson by 3&2.
He was three-up when Dawson lost a ball at the 12th hole but lost the next to par. Collins then won 16 in regulation four when Dawson failed to get up-and-down.
