Donegal man Ryan Griffin would like to play the Walker Cup at Lahinch in 2026 and he can stake an early declare this week after topping the qualifiers within the Pierse Motors-sponsored South of Eire Championship.
The highly effective Ballybofey and Stranorlar man (24) added a one-under 71 in demanding early situations to his opening 66 to guide the 64 qualifiers for at present’s matchplay levels on seven-under.
The winner of this season’s R&A Pupil Collection and now set to do his Masters at Maynooth College, Griffin didn’t look out of his depth taking up a number of the high People within the latest Arnold Palmer Cup match at Lahinch and he could possibly be the person to beat this week.
“I’d have taken 71 earlier than I went out,” he stated after making 5 birdies in a stiff westerly breeze that acquired up for the later starters. “There are some troublesome holes on the market, and it’s taking part in fairly robust, so I used to be delighted to make my pars and sprinkle in a number of birdies and attempt to preserve the errors off my card.”
The Walker Cup involves Lahinch in 2026 and whereas it stays to be seen what number of Irishmen will likely be in competition for a spot on Dean Robertson’s group, Griffin is aware of it will likely be a special day although he admitted he has one eye on the skilled ranks and will return to the LIV Promotions Occasion.
“After seeing how implausible the Arnold Palmer Cup was at Lahinch final month, I do know the Walker Cup could be much more unbelievable,” he stated as he topped the qualifiers by 4 strokes American Patrick Adler and Castleknock’s Quentin Carew on seven-under-par.
“I attempt to play in all of the occasions they take a look at for Walker Cup choice and I do know Dean very effectively. He has my quantity anyway. Subsequent 12 months, the Walker Cup is at Cypress Level, however Lahinch could be implausible.”
Chicago native Adler, who’s an abroad member of Lahinch, made 5 birdies in a 69 to share second on three-under with former Irish Shut champion Carew, who shot 70, whereas Ardee’s Evan Farrell, veteran Pat Murray (53) and Co Sligo’s younger gun Aodhagan Brady have been joint fourth on two-under.
Castleknock’s Ian O’Connell, the joint first-round chief, crashed to an 81 however nonetheless made the six-over minimize with three pictures to spare, whereas the defending champion, Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell, cruised into the knockout levels on stage par regardless of a 74.
In the meantime, Pádraig Harrington and Peter Lawrie opened with one-under 71s that left them tied for seventh, simply three pictures behind chief Stephen Ames, within the Senior Open at Carnoustie.
“I feel 71 is okay; it is effectively in there,” stated Harrington, runner-up for the previous two years.
Lawrie (50) adopted three birdies in his first 5 holes with three bogeys within the subsequent 4 earlier than making eight pars and a birdie on the again 9.
“I’m delighted with that begin,” Lawrie stated. “I used to be very nervous beginning out; it’s a really robust course, and something below par could be very acceptable.”
Ames shot 68 to guide by a shot from KJ Choi, Peter Baker, Richard Inexperienced and Paul Broadhurst as Darren Clarke shot 74 and Paul McGinley an 80 in a uncommon tour look.
Within the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, Seamus Energy fought again from two over after 4 holes to open with a two-under 69 that left him six pictures behind American Jacob Bridgeman, whose 63 gave him an early one-shot lead over Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes.
Nevertheless it was a harder day for Leona Maguire and her new caddie, Verner Tess, as her two-over 74 left her six pictures behind early chief Lauren Coughlin within the LPGA’s CPKC Ladies’s Open at Earl Gray in Calgary.
Within the Problem Tour’s Black Desert NI Open offered by Tom McKibbin, Conor Purcell was fifth after a four-under 66 and Gary Hurley ninth after a 67 as Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren shot 63 to move the sphere by two pictures.
