Links knowledge came to the fore as Royal Portrush’s Adam Buchanan and Seán Downes of Royal Dublin fired six-under-par rounds of 66 to lead the Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship in Lahinch.
The pair lead by a shot from Westport’s Conor Stapleton and Castleknock’s Quentin Carew with the top-64 qualifying for the matchplay stages over the weekend.
Downes made a blistering start to his week with three birdies in his first four holes before adding four more on the 9th, 12th, 15th and 18th with his only blemish coming on the 8th.
Buchanan also made a quick start with three birdies in six holes before reeling off three in a row from the 12th. A bogey on 14 was cancelled out by a birdie on 17.
Scoring was good with 34 players in red figures at the end of day’s play including Ryan Griffin, Caolan Rafferty, Keith Egan and Mark Cadden.
Irish international Thomas Higgins is back in the pack on level-par alongside former South winner TJ Ford.
The projected cut mark is one-over.
Scoring HERE
