Galway bank manager Ken Kearney gave a thoroughly classy display to lead the Irish challenge in the first qualifying round of the European amateur team championships over the Monticello course in Italy yesterday.
The 31-year-old East of Ireland title holder tamed the long, tree-lined course with its unforgiving rough to fire a three-under-par 69 to help Ireland into a highly respectable fifth place as they chase a spot in the top flight for the match-play phase.
Kearney's round could have been even better. With three holes to play he was five-under-par, but he three-putted the 16th and a wayward drive at the 17th led to another bogey. "It was pleasing to play like this but I just wish the last three holes had been as good as the first 15," said Kearney, who played in the inaugural Europe v Asia Pacific International last year.
Kearney is not a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup squad, but he still harbours hopes of making it into the team for the match against America at Nairn in September. `That's the goal," beamed the Irishman.
With five of the six scores counting yesterday, Ireland recorded an aggregate of 361 to lie in fifth place, some 17 strokes behind runaway leaders France, but only five adrift of second placed Germany.
At one stage in the day it looked as though Ireland would occupy an even more lofty position, but the last two players struggled badly: Michael Hoey shot 77, and that had to be counted when Eamon Brady came in with a 78.
Brady, from Royal Dublin, was only called into the side when European individual champion Paddy Gribben had to withdraw due to a hand injury.
Yesterday was a special day for 43-year-old Garth McGimpsey, who teed off first in his 10th consecutive European championship. His first event was at St Andrews in 1981, and he said last night that this time he was "equally nervous - perhaps more so".
Beaverstown's Gary Cullen had a fine 71, while new Irish Close champion Ciaran McMonagle took 72.
After today the top eight nations will form the championship flight.
