Veteran Des Smyth sparkled in the sun and left the big guns Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke in the shade at Fota Island.

The 49 year old fired a fantastic four under par 67 to lie just a shot behind leaders Nick Dougherty, Joakim Haeggman, Peter O'Malley, Fred Funk and Eduardo Romero.

Harrington and Clarke failed to draw inspiration from the galleries and shot level par 71s.

But the course proved to be no problem for Drogheda man Smyth as he rolled back the years once more to join Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Carl Pettersson and Gordon Brand Jnr on four under.

"I'm not a statistics man but I'm told that this is my 28th Irish Open and that this is one of my lowest rounds," said Smyth.

"But I haven't been playing well and to be honest I'm just trying to get my form back so that I can play well in the Open at Muirfield where I am exempt."

Smyth hit seven birdies in his round, one more than Harrington and Clarke combined.

But he knows that he isn't going to win the tournament.

"I just play for the fun and enjoyment of the competition and I feel for the big guys like Darren and Padraig because I've been there and felt the pressure and the desire of the Irish fans to see an Irish winner in this tournament," he said.

"Realistically I'm just here to try and make the cut and I won't be thinking of winning unless I have a chance coming down the back nine."

Out in one under, Smyth birdied the 10th, 12th and 13th and 15th and made just one bogey when he drove into the rough at the 14th.

But while Smyth was delighted there were no smiles from superstars Harrington and Clarke.

The Dungannon man was angry with himself for not taking his birdie opportunities.

"I hit 14 of the first 16 greens at only had two single putts, both of them from a foot and half," he said.

"The only good thing that happened was when I chipped in at the third and we'll just have to see tomorrow."

Clarke started on the back nine and was two over par after four.

His made his first birdie of the day at the first hole and got back under par with that chip-in at the third and a birdie four at the par five fourth.

But he was totally uninspired on the greens and a bogey at the eighth left him level and fuming.

Harrington's round wasn't as consistent and he did well in the end to match par after missing fairways and greens all afternoon.

"I was happy to birdie the last but what can I say, a 71 is boring. It felt like a tough day out there and it was tough to judge the wind. I certainly can't complain about taking 71 at the end of the day.

"It wasn't particularly satisfying and it would have been nice to finish a bit better. I got nothing out of the last six holes after scrambling nicely before that."

It was a better day for David Higgins who carded a two under par 69 in front of his local support and hopes to make the cut for the first time in five attempts.

"I got a lot of support out there," said Higgins. "It's a big occasion and there's a great buzz. Hopefully I can keep it up."

Stephen Hamill and Philip Walton joined Harrington and Clarke on level par.

Said Walton: "It was a good solid round. I could have been a couple better but I'm going to go out and give it a rip in the morning."

Amateurs Noel Fox and Colm Moriarty had two over par rounds of 73 as the rest of the Irish contingent failed to shine.


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© Brian Keogh 2002

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