Stuart Grehan and Paul McBride before their 2015 Home International debuts at Royal Portrush. Picture by Pat Cashman
Ireland are in position to challenge for a medal after the opening round of the World Amateur Team Championship in Mexico.
The three-man team of Paul McBride (66), Stuart Grehan (70) and Jack Hume (75) are tied for fourth on six under par with Thailand and Poland on six under, four strokes behind Scotland, who lead by one from Australia with Spain a shot further back in third.
`The United States team of Scottie Scheffler (73), Brad Dalke (67) and Maverick McNealy (70) is tied seventh on five under with France, Switzerland and Japan.
A team is only as strong as its weakest member and Irish skipper Tony Goode hinted that Ireland would rally around world No 6 Hume, who has been struggling a little for form lately and whose four over par round was discarded.
“You have to take one day at a time, each round at a time,” Goode said. "You can’t expect three players to play right every day. It’s a team event and it is very important that they support each other.”
On his team’s camaraderie, he added: “We put a huge emphasis on team spirit and being together. And togetherness off the golf course, not just on the golf course. It’s important that they work for each other. It’s great to see that.”
McBride, who is in his third year at Wake Forest, wasn’t getting carried away after he followed six birdies with a bogey on the 18th at Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club.
“I didn’t really do anything crazy,” the man from The Island said. "I didn’t hole many long putts. The distance-control on my irons was really good.”
On Ireland’s team spirit, he said: “There’s a good feeling around the camp. (Around dinner) everyone will be chirping and happy. It’s just nice.”
He’s certainly feeling good about his game and if Ireland are to win a medal for the first time, matching the women’s team, McBride’s strong run of form may be hugely important.
“We play the so-called easier course tomorrow,” said McBride, was tied third in the individual standings, a stroke behind co-leaders Connor Syme of Scotland and Adrian Meronk of Poland.
"We will go in there pretty confident. There’s nothing in my game that I am worried about which is always a great feeling.”
Tullamore and Maynooth University talent Grehan had four birdies and three bogeys in a one under 70 while Hume had a hugely erratic round.
Out in four over 40 — he started double bogey, bogey, bogey, then went birdie two, bogey, bogey, bogey, birdie two par before stringing together nine consecutive pars on the back nine.
Scotland’s discarded round was a three 69 for Robert McIntyre as Grant Forrest shot 68 to with Syme’s 66.
Ireland’s best finish since the breaking with the GB&I model in 2002 came in 2010 when Paul Cutler, Kevin Phelan and Alan Dunbar tied for sixth in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ireland in the World Men's Amateur Team Championship (Eisenhower Trophy)
- 2002 T28 Saujana Golf & Country Club (Palm and Bunga Raya Courses), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Moriarty, Kehoe, Fox
- 2004 T16, Rio Mar Country Club (Ocean and River Courses), Rio Grande, Puerto Rico — Crowe, McTernan, McElhinney
- 2006 T9, De Zalze Golf Club and Stellenbosch Golf Club, Stellenbosch, South Africa — McIlroy, Shaw, Ward
- 2008 22nd, Grange Golf Club (West Course) and Royal Adelaide Golf Club, Adelaide, Australia — Caldwell, Lowry, Cutler.
- 2010 6th, Olivos Golf Club and Buenos Aires Golf Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina — Cutler, Phelan, Dunbar
- 2012 T27, Antalya Golf Club and Cornelia Golf Club, Antalya, Turkey — Phelan, Moynihan, Dunbar
- 2014 11th, Karuizawa 72 East Golf Club – Iriyama and Oshitate Course, Japan — Moynihan, Dunne, Hurley
from News - Irish Golf Desk http://ift.tt/2cRM4pZ
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