Sport

Birdie blitz puts McIlroy on Dunluce record trail

Irish Close champion Rory McIlroy wrote another amazing chapter in his blossoming career as he shredded the course record on …

Wed Jul 13 2005 - 01:00

Irish Close champion Rory McIlroy wrote another amazing chapter in his blossoming career as he shredded the course record on Dunluce during the second qualifying round in the Magners North of Ireland Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush.

The Holywood 16-year-old carded a stunning 11-under-par 61 to trim three strokes off the existing record during a round that may never be matched. McIlroy pencilled in an eagle, nine birdies and eight pars without a bogey on his card.

The 61, added to his 71 on the Valley course, gave North debutant McIlroy a 10-under-par total of 132, just one stroke outside Darren Crowe's record low qualifying score of two years ago as he took the silver medal as leading qualifier.

He began his birdie run at the second hole, reaching the green with two blows. A two at the sixth was set up with a seven-iron to 20 feet and he turned three-under (33) after pencilling in a four at the long ninth hole.

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The golden eagle landed at the 10th where he was just eight feet from the pin with a drive and seven-iron and he then rattled off six birdies on the homeward spree, finishing with five in a row as he completed the birdie barrage with a superb 15 feet putt from the back of the green. McIlroy won by five shots from Robert Cannon (Balbriggan)

NORTH OF IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP (at Royal Portrush) Qualifiers (Valley score first): 132 - R McIlroy (Holywood) 71 61; 137 - R Cannon (Balbriggan) 66 71; 138 - A Pitcher (The Island) 70 68; D Vaughan (Ardglass) 67 71; G Shaw (Lurgan) 70 68; D Morgan (Mullingar) 67 71; C McAleavey (Banbridge) 65 73; 139 - A Wilson (Cairndhu) 67 72; B McCarroll (Ballyliffin) 71 68; 140 - A O'Callaghan (Douglas) 70 70; R Evans (Moyola Pk) 70 70; D Coyle (Co Louth) 69 71; M McGeady (North West) 68 72; 141 - B Cashman (Belvoir Pk) 70 71; P Graham (Galgorm Castle) 68 73; C Doran (Banbridge) 72 69; N Grant (Clandeboye) 71 70; C O'Malley (Westport) 70 71; 142 - C McNamara (Limerick) 69 73; A McCully (Banbridge) 67 75; B Fitzsimons (Downpatrick) 72 70 (withdrawn); J Turner (Royal Portrush) 69 73; L Reilly (Galgorm Castle) 66 76; R Leonard (Banbridge) 71 71; A McCloy (Ballymena/UUC); 143 - P Sheldon (Whitehead) 73 70; B Trainor (Warrenpoint) 72 71; D Rawluk (Island) 70 73; T Kearney (Ballyliffin) 70 73; D Crowe (Dunmurry) 70 73; 144 - J Lyons (Galway) 71 73; D Leathem (Lisburn) 71 73; C Murphy (Clandeboye) 69 75; B McAtamney (Carrickfergus) 73 71; K Fahey (Connemara) 67 77; D O'Brien (Laytown/Bettystown) 70 74; 145 - J Ponder (Burhill) 72 73; D Beattie (Whitehead) 70 75; E McAnoy (Knock) 69 76; A McKinley (Shandon Pk) 69 76; J Somers (Laytown/Bettystown) 71 74; C McClenaghan (Spa) 70 75; N Crawford (Mourne) 74 71; G Dickson (Holywood) 73 72; S Jeffers (Castletown) 71 74; A Morris (Belvoir Pk) 71 74; 146 - M McTernan (Co Sligo) 70 76; D Houlihan (K Club) 69 77; G Mallon (North West) 71 75; M Campbell (Stackstown) 77 69; A McCormick (Scrabo) 72 74; C Hughes (Royal Portrush) 70 76; 147 - J Caldwell (Clandeboye) 73 74; S Grant (Birr) 71 76; R Forsythe (Ballyclare) 71 76; K Condren (Greystones) 68 79; G Bowden (Hermitage) 72 75; P McCruddeen (Royal Portrush) 71 76; W McCully (Donaghadee) 71 76; S Paul (Tandragee) 73 74; D Baker (Downpatrick) 72 75; M Sinclair (Knock) 71 76; R Boal (Scrabo) 70 77; 148 - G Reynolds (Rothesay) 76 72; P O'Hanlon (Curragh) 73 75; Non-qualifiers on 148 - S Crowe (Dunmurry) 71 77; S Reid (Knock) 70 78; A Goodrich (Galgorm Castle) 69 79; N Boyd (Spa) 70 78; P Davidson (Dungannon) 73 75; G Morgan (Donabate) 72 76; W Telford (Rathmore) 72 76; J Clark (Cairndhu) 72 76.

MATCHPLAY DRAW - First Round: (7.00 and 8 min intervals): McNamara v Reynolds; Kearney v Rawluk; Shaw v McAnoy; McKinley v Campbell; Leonard v Caldwell; Dickson v Cashman; Graham v Crawford; Baker v Boden. 8.04 (and 8 min intervals) - Doran v Forsythe; O'Brien v A McCully; Wilson v Jeffers; McTernan v O'Hanlon; Sinclair v Hughes; Morris v McAleavey; Reilly v Leathem; W McCully v McGeady. 9.08 (and 8 mins interval) - Crowe v Boal; Lyons v Sheldon; Vaughan v McClenaghan; Mallon v D Morgan; McCarroll v Houlihan; Somers v Evans; McCloy v Murphy; McCrudden v O'Callaghan. 10.12 (and 8 min intervals): Cannon v S Grant; Fahey v Turner; Coyle v Ponder; Paul v N Grant; O'Malley v McCormick; Beattie v Pritcher; Trainor v McAtamney; Condren v McIlroy.