Former pro O'Hanlon roars back to lead East

Paul O'Halon after his maiden professional win on the Hi5 Pro Tour in 2010

Former professional Paul O’Hanlon fired an eagle and five birdies in a seven under 65 to take the clubhouse lead in the CityNorth Hotel East of Ireland Amateur Open at a pristine County Louth in his first event since regaining his amateur status.

Beaten by Rory McIlroy in the final of the 2006 West of Ireland Championship, the former Curragh player, now out of Carton House, played on the Europro Tour and other mini tours for several years before reapplying for amateur status.

Starting at the 10th, the former international opened with six pars, birdied the 16th to turn in one under and then came home in 31 by following birdies at the first, second, fourth and par-three fifth with a chip-in eagle at the sixth.

The Kildare native leads by four strokes in the clubhouse from Dundalk’s Aaron Grant with Irish Close champion Tiarnan McLarnon in a big group on two under after a 70.

Co Louth’s Thomas Mulligan, 17, had just one birdie as he signed for a three over 75 as Waterford’s Eanna Griffin had none at all as he tumbled to a 77.

CityNorth Hotel East of Ireland Championship, Co Louth (Par 720

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Round one - Clubhouse scores

 

65 Paul O'Hanlon (Carton House)

69 Aaron Grant (Dundalk)

70 Theo Coffey (Slieve Russell), Ben Best (Rathmore), Gary McDermott (Carton House), Gavin Smyth (Clonmel Golf Club), Stephen Watts (Cairndhu), Kyle McCarron (North West), Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene)

71 Andrew McCormack (Castletroy Golf Club), William Russell (Clandeboye), Eugene Smith (Ardee), Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club), John Hickey (Cork Golf Club), Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle), Jim Carvill (Banbridge), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park), Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin), Alan Dowling (Hermitage), Jack Pierse (Portmarnock)

72 Noel Anderson (South Africa), James Sugrue (Mallow), Fergal O'Sullivan (Tralee Golf Club), Alexander Wilson (Portmarnock), Ronan Mullarney (Galway Golf Club), Alec Myles (Newlands), Stephen Healy (The Royal Dublin), Roy Connolly (Carton House), Sean Flanagan (Co. Sligo), Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin)

73 Mark Collins (Killeen Castle), Gavin Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick), Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little.), Dwayne Mallon (Dungannon Golf Club), Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley), Keith Egan (Carton House), Kevin Stack (Dungarvan), Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle), Alan Lowry (Esker Hills), Dylan Brophy (Castleknock), Darragh Coghlan (Portmarnock)

74 Ian O'Rourke (The Royal Dublin), Noel Crawford (Mourne), Aaron Kearney (Castlerock Golf Club), Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.), Ross Steedman (Courtown), Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin), Cathal Butler (Kinsale), Peter Kirby (Dun Laoghaire), Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown)

75 Gavin Young (Nenagh), Paul McCarthy (Mallow), Stephen Kinch (Hollystown), Ryan Berkeley (Dun Laoghaire), Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay Golf Club), Michael Ryan (New Ross Golf Club), Jake Whelan (Newlands), Paul Coughlan (Moate), Thomas Mulligan (Co. Louth)

76 Daniel Holland (Castle), Daniel Brennan (Shannon), Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell), Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle), Mark Shanahan (Castlemartyr)

77 James Fox (Portmarnock), Christopher Moulds (Lisburn), Gary Collins (Rosslare), Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Shaun O'Connor (Luttrellstown Castle)

78 Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club)
79 Martin O'Toole (Lucan)

81 Thomas Hackett (The Royal Dublin), Michael Buggy (Castlecomer Golf Club), Thomas O'Connor (Athlone), Robert Neville (The Links Portmarnock)

82 Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam)

84 Brian Kelly (Spain), Matt McKnight (USA)

from News - Irish Golf Desk http://ift.tt/1UkliBu