Portstewart, Northern Ireland ….
Borders David Drysdale led a very timely Scottish revival with four Tartan flags flying high inside the top-2o on day one of the Irish Open at Portstewart.
Drysdale, and again with wife, Bev happily carrying the clubs, capped his round holing a 2o-footputt for eagle at the par five, seventh hole along with three birdies in succession from the 13th, in a six under par 66.
The effort handed the 41-year old a share of sixth place and just two shots behind the leading duo of American Daniel Im and Frenchman Benjamin Herbet, and with the duo sharing a new course record with their eight under efforts.
Drysdale, and like most in the field, contested the 2o12 Irish Open at close-by Royal Portrush and also the 2o15 tournament at Royal County Down, but he an instant liking to Portstewart.
“The first time I saw the course on Tuesday I liked what I saw”, said Drysdale.
“I then walked through the clubhouse and sat on the first tee and thought, wow, looks amazing”.
Just a shot further back was Stephen Gallacher and Duncan Stewart with five under 67s. Gallacher, who was out in the very first group, produced his second lowest score in 45 rounds this year and helped by just 27 putts after managing to find a handful of fairways.
“The course was a bit soft after the rain we’ve had earlier in the week, so there was a score to be had out there this morning,” he said.
“The great thing is that golf course is just an old-fashioned links and the way the holes are set-up among the big high sand dunes is amazing and a joy to be playing a golf course like this.
“The key today was very much my putting and while I did not hit it my best, I rolled in a good few putts which was since including a few 25-footers, and along with a good par save at the last five under is a good score to build on”.
And greatly assisting Gallacher is locally-born Coleraine caddy, Ryan McGuigan who is a member of nearby Castlerock and has been on Gallacher’s bag since last September.
Stephen Gallacher had just 27 putts in his round on day one of the Irish Open.
Edinburgh-based Stewart is contesting the richest event of his pro career and is determined to make the most of his opportunities in the 33-year old’s first full season on the main Tour.
However, in the 17 events Stewart has contested this year he had made the cut in just seven and lying 153rd on the Race to Dubai.
“I am very pleased with five under as there was some good but some very awful out there and I found some parts of the golf course that maybe I did not want to see”, he said.
“Overall, it was good and I putted very well, and the key also was that I hit is close a lot with my wedges and did not miss much when inside five feet.
“So, anytime you can walk off with eight birdies in a round you have to feel good”.
Richie Ramsay birdied his closing two holes in a four under 68 and delighted to return to form after the shock of shooting five over a week ago in Versailles.
Duncan Stewart delighted after signing for a round of 67. Image … Golfbytourmiss.com
“I had so many chances out there today and to finish off holing two good putts for birdies is something that stays long in your memory,” he said.
“I had played well last week in France but shot five over, so it was nice to get my round started by hitting two chip shots stiff and that kept the momentum going”.
And Marc Warren recovered from losing his opening tee shot in taking a bogey to then, and thanks to a 12-foot eagle at the 14th, to complete his closing seven holes in five under on route to a 69.
“It was a good 5 off the first after losing a ball right and then made 1o pars before a birdie at 12 and a nice eagle at 14, so it was a good recovery after the first”, he said.
“The good thing also I came over here a couple of weeks ago and played the course and that helped today.
“But then having played County Down and also Royal Portrush in an Irish Open this course is the best of the three”.
