Ireland's Senior British Open challenge was blown off course at windy Royal County Down.

Not one of the 10-strong home challenge could match par with Ulstermen Paul Leonard and Kenny Stevenson the best of the bunch with one over par rounds of 72.

Banbridge-born Stevenson ­ who has had spells as a snooker hall manager and shoe salesman in a varied career ­ was looking good when he stood at three under par on the 13th tee.

But it all went wrong over the closing holes. A bad tee shot at the 13th led to a bogey and he went on to drop three more shots over the last five holes.

He said: "The wind made it really tricky on the back nine. I was through the green at the 14th and then three putted the 16th for bogeys. Then I hit it into heavy rough at the last and dropped another one."

Hotly fancied Denis O'Sullivan crashed to a five over par 76 in the company of Gary Player, but he was philosophical afterwards.

"I played awful but there are 18 birdies out there tomorrow. I must have thrown away six of the easiest shots you ever saw, which is not like me but there's still a lot of golf left to be played," he said.

Raymond Kane, Paddy McGuirk and Eddie Polland shot 75s, Peter Cowley and Joe McDermott 78 and big-hitting Liam Higgins a 79.

Amateur Arthur Pierse put up a gutsy performance. Out in seven over par, he hit a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th to get his round back on track but undid all his good work with a double bogey seven at the last for a 77. ends

Top

© Brian Keogh 2001

Back