Portmarnock's Noel Fox came within a foot of a fantastic 59 in the Friends First Mullingar Scratch Cup yesterday.

The 27-year-old Dubliner fired a 12 under par 60 in the second round yesterday to lead the event on 13 under par, three ahead of Stephen Browne and Colm Moriarty.

His score broke the course record of 63, set by Philip Walton in his event in 1982, by three shots. And it could have easily been more had it not been for a couple of short putts missed.

In the end the Walker Cup panellist fired four eagles and eight birdies for just two bogeys on a day of low scoring all round.

With start delayed by morning fog, Fox shot a one under par 71 in the morning to trail Limerick's Tim Rice by six shots as he started his afternoon round. Birdies at the opening two holes set him on his way and when he chipped in for a birdie two at the par three 5th, Fox sensed it could be his day.

He was proved right at the very next hole, where drove the green 330 yards away and saw his tee shot strike Michael McDermott, putting out in the match ahead.

The ball finished six feet away to set up an eagle two and when the Dubliner pitched into the hole from 60 yards for another eagle at the 343 yard 8th to go seven under, a 59 looked on the cards. He then birdied the ninth from 12 feet to go out in 27, eight under par, before stumbling on the back nine.

Bogeys at the 10th, where he three putted, and the 12th, where he was bunkered, set him back although he did manage to birdie 11th with a neat pitch to three feet.

Then he caught fire again. Eagles came at the par five 14th and 16th holes where he holed from 20 feet and seven feet respectively to get to 11 under par. Needing a birdie-birdie finish for a 59 he pulled his drive badly at he 17th and did well to get up and down from the back of the green, holing a nasty four footer for par.

The par five 18th was reachable in two, but having avoided the fairway bunker on the right off the tee, Fox found himself almost stymied by a tree and had to cut a four iron 200 yards just short and right of the green from where he came to within a foot of chipping in for yet another eagle.

Said Fox: "I would swap this for a place in the Walker Cup side. It's a very special feeling and I'm pleased the way I kept it going towards the end. I got a bit tight around the turn but then played really well. The best I've done before is a 65 in medal play at Portmarnock."

Limerick's Tim Rice had a morning 65 but then slumped badly in the afternoon, taking a 78 to drop down the field.

Fox leads by three strokes from Stephen Browne of Hermitage and Athlone's Colm Moriarty, both of whom followed morning rounds of 68 with afternoon 66s. Reigning champion Johnny Foster is a shot further back after rounds of 67 and 68 yesterday.

Top

© Brian Keogh 2001

Back