National College of Ireland’s Patrick Curran has raced into the first round lead at the R&A’s opening Student Series event of the 2025/26 campaign at Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden.
The Edmondstown clubman made two early birdies but followed with two bogeys to close out a level-par front nine, but when he clawed his way back to two-under with back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12, he was in no mood to give the shots back this time.
He followed up with a further three in succession on 14, 15 and 16, signing for a five-under 67 that gives him a one-stroke lead over Halmstad University’s own Karl Mikaelsson, with American Michael Crowley, representing the University of St Andrews in solo third at -3.
The Maynooth trio of Aodhagan Brady, Ben Cahill and James O’Rourke share sixth at one-under, with another Maynooth man in Thomas Abom tied for 13th at +2 and a further 11 Irish players lie further down the 53-man field.
In the women’s competition, two Irish women feature and both are Maynooth students. Anna Dawson shares fifth place on three-over, while Anna Abom is just outside the top 10 in solo 11th place at +5.
Swede Elice Fredriksson from the local university leads the way thanks to a four-under that gives her a three-stroke cushion over her nearest challenger, Australian Caitlin Maurice of St Andrews.
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