Hostile weather, causing a two-hour delay, made for a protracted opening round to the North West of Ireland Open at Slieve Russell yesterday. But among those who coped admirably was the leader, Jesus Maria Arruti, who attributed a splendid, seven-under-par 65, to the inspiration of a distinguished Spanish compatriot.

There was also evidence that the Marshall plan could be set to deliver an early dividend. After selling 23 shares in himself at $500 each to finance his career, England's Andrew Marshall gave his investors a lift with an opening 67, which included a decidedly interesting finishing hole.

Having holed a three-footer for a birdie on the 17th, the 27-year-old was only two feet from another on the long 18th when the siren went to halt play because of lightning in the area. Two hours later, he returned to knock in the putt.

Of the 14 Irish challengers, David Higgins and Slade Valley professional John Dignam did best, with sensibly-crafted 69s. Dignam's round contained four birdies and a lone bogey, which might have been a double but for lessons well learned in Irish tournaments earlier this season.

"After missing the cut in the Irish Open and European Open, I realised I had to accept my medicine when things went wrong," said Dignam, who shared victory with Damian McGrane in the Tullamore Pro-Am last week.

"So, when my drive and second shot finished in rough at the long 13th, I resisted the temptation to go for the green."

But he birdied the other three par fives and also birdied the short 16th, where he resumed after the two-hour delay. There, a seven iron over water was followed by a 10-foot putt.

In the company of Roger Winchester and Trevor Immelman, Higgins had a round which spanned six hours 45 minutes. But it was being placed on the clock which really irked the Waterville player, who proceeded to miss from less than three feet for a birdie on the 16.

Peter Fowler was among those who finished, however, minutes before the enforced break. And we shouldn't have been surprised by the timing, given how kind the rain was to him back in 1989 when he and Wayne Grady captured the World Cup at Las Brisas, after the event had been reduced to 36 holes.

"There are about 120 guys who are going to lose money by coming here and I hope I'm not among them," said the 42-year-old who opened with a level-par which included birdies at the 17th and 18th.

"I'm scratching at the moment but I've got to keep at it; I've got to make a living." Arutti, 32, is in a similar situation. A native of San Sebastian, he plays at the same course as Jose Maria Olazabal.

"He gave me a lot of encouragement growing up and he still helps me a lot," he said. "When I don't have the chance of seeing him, I phone him a lot."