McIlroy just two off the lead at Portmarnock
Holywood's Rory McIlroy is within two shots off the lead entering the final 36 holes of the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Portmarnock.
The 17-year-old Holywood teenager rolled in a 25 footer for birdie at the last to card rollercoaster one under par 71 in the second round at the north Dublin links.
Clandeboye's Jonny Caldwell and Finland's Antti Ahokas lead the way on two under par 142 after rounds of 73 and 71 respectively.
But McIlroy will join them in the final threeball over 36 holes today as he bids to become the first player since Tom Craddock in 1959 to hold the Irish Amateur Close and Irish Amateur Open titles at the same time.
The reigning West of Ireland and Irish Close champion finished the day in a share of third place on level par with England’s Danny Belch.
But while he carded six birdies, he was frustrated by three bogeys and a costly double bogey at the par-five 16th.
“With six birdies I should be shooting at least 68,” McIlroy said.
“It is so frustrating and to be honest it’s pretty surprising to be only two off the lead.
“If I play smartly tomorrow and don’t make so many stupid mistakes all will be well. Two behind is nothing at all with two rounds to go and I hit the ball a lot better off the tee today.”
A closing birdie eased his frustration somewhat but he knows he will have to keep silly mistakes off his card if he is to outshine the likes of Bonallack Trophy team mate Ahokas today.
The 21-year-old Finn went to the turn in three over par but eagled the 13th and then birdied the 14th and 16th for his 71.
AIB Irish Amateur Open, Portmarnock (par 72)
After 36 Holes
142 A Ahokas (Finland) 71 71, J Caldwell (Clandeboye) 69 73
144 R McIlroy (Holywood) 73 71, D Belch (England) 72 72 145 C Cousins (Wales) 77 68 146 P Murray (Limerick) 77 69, G Murray (Scotland) 75 71, A Ulvio (Finland) 72 74, P Maddy (England) 72 74
147 B Evans (England) 78 69, B Fotheringham (Scotland) 74 73, T Dykes (Wales) 72 75, R Leonard (Banbridge) 72 75, G Mallon (North West) 72 75, R Harris (England) 71 76, A Wainwright (England) 70 77
148 C Mills (Wales) 75 73, D Morgan (Mullingar) 73 75, G Bowden (Hermitage) 73 75, A Rosado (Portugal) 73 75, J Lyons (Galway) 72 76
149 P O'Hara (Scotland) 76 73, S Van Duyn (Netherlands) 76 73, S Ward (Co Louth) 75 74, B Westgate (England) 73 76, K Bornemann (Douglas) 73 76, J King (Scotland) 71 78
150 J Cameron (England) 76 74, J Smedley (England) 75 75, J Van Hoof (Netherlands) 75 75, A McAllister (Portmarnock) 75 75, C Doran (Banbridge) 75 75, S Jamieson (Scotland) 74 76, D Houlihan (K Club) 74 76, T Remkes (Netherlands) 73 77, S Lowry (Esker Hills) 73 77, J
Morris (Mullingar) 72 78
151 P McGrath (Dromoland) 78 73, R Maunder (England) 78 73, P Figueinedo (Portugal) 76 75, N Edwards (Wales) 75 76, L Collins (England) 75 76, M Gaynor (U.S.A.) 74 77, T Sistonen (Finland) 73 78, H Leon (Chile) 71 80
Non-qualifiers
152 K Crowley (Lee Valley) 78 74, S Power (West Waterford) 77 75, A O'Callaghan (Douglas) 76 76, R Wilson (England) 76 76, S Henry (Scotland) 76 76, Z Gould (Wales) 75 77, M Campbell (Stackstown) 75 77, J Gallagher (Scotland) 74 78, J Pernaa (Finland) 72 80, D Antonelli (France) 72 80, J Savolampi (Finland) 71 81
153 D Seaman (England) 78 75, C Martin (Nenagh) 77 76, H Mantyla (Finland) 75 78, J Carvill (Warrenpoint) 74 79, A McCormick (Scrabo) 74 79
154 A Dultzin (France) 78 76, B McCarroll (Ballyliffin) 78 76, D Perrett (England) 78 76, R Evans (Moyola Park) 77 77, T Pollari (Finland) 76 78, M Salminen (Finland) 73 81
155 M O'Sullivan (Stow Acres) 80 75, G O'Flaherty (Cork) 77 78, D Robertson (Australia) 77 78, D Kelleher (Portmarnock) 77 78, Z Saltman (Scotland) 75 80, P McGibney (Elm Park) 73 82
156 H Joannes (Belgium) 78 78, G Hall (Edenderry) 77 79, T O'Neill (Rathsallagh) 77 79, M Sinclair (Knock) 76 80, E Saltman (Scotland) 75 81
157 N Grant (Knock) 81 76, B Kruze (England) 80 77, M Poucher (Castle) 80 77, W McCully (Donaghadee) 80 77, E McAnoy (Knock) 79 78, D Finn (Mallow) 79 78, P O'Keeffe (Douglas) 78 79, B Sigl (Germany) 78 79, A McCloy (Balymena) 78 79, R Cannon (L'town & B'town) 78 79, S
Kirstein (Germany) 78 79, M Collins (Sutton) 77 80, E McIntosh (Scotland) 76 81, C Geraghty (England) 76 81, D Carroll (Grange) 75 82 158 M Baroche (France) 81 77, N Kearney (Royal Dublin) 79 79, M Hart (England) 79 79, M Searle (England) 76 82, C Hughes (Royal Portrush)
74 84
159 R McCarthy (The Island) 80 79, A Hogan (Newlands) 78 81, M Horan (Birr) 78 81, C Collin (Finland) 77 82, D Van Doren (Belguim) 74 85 160 J Fox (Portmarnock) 81 79, D McInerney (Lahinch) 80 80, R Boal (Scrabo) 80 80, R Thomas (Wales) 77 83
161 M Hamm (Germany) 81 80, I Korvenmaa (Finland) 78 83, J Somers (L'town & B'town) 78 83
162 E McCormack (Galway) 82 80, R Zwahlen (France) 82 80
163 D O'Brien (Laytown & Bettystown) 87 76, J McGinn (L'town & B'town) 83 80, S Moloney (Castletroy) 79 84, C Housden (England) 79 84 167 V Depret (France) 85 82
NR M Brett (Portmarnock) 80 NR
RTD S Grant (Birr) 78 RTD, S Keenan (Galway) 78 RTD
