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| Irish PGA |
Michael McDermott set the pace at the Cassidy Golf 103rd PGA Irish Region Championship at Roganstown on Thursday to lead after the first round of the €30,000 tournament.
The Leopardstown pro shot a 65 course record to push early clubhouse leader Michael McGeady off the top of the leaderboard by one stroke, when it looked as if the latter was set for the overnight lead.
“I shot a three-under-par in the pro-am and that was good practice for me before the championship,” said McDermott.
“I am hitting the ball very well and I was pleased with the way I controlled the flight of the ball in the breezy conditions. It’s a good start but there are still three rounds to go and anything can happen.”
The leader explained that he is just getting used to a new set of PING clubs, particularly the irons and he feels the clubs are really suiting him. They have improved his iron play tremendously, he says.
On Thursday McDermott hit all but two greens in regulation and, after starting at 10, covered the back nine in four-under-par without loss. He was on in two at the long 10th and steered a six iron to 20 feet and then holed for birdie three at 11. Another birdie three at 13 got him to the turn in 32.
Michael McGeady’s was also in excellent form as he carded a mid-day 66.
“It is quite a few years since I played in the Irish Championship,” he reflected, “and this is a promising start. It leaves me in a nice position to make a challenge for the title but, of course, there is a long way to go.”
He disclosed that since taking a new putter out of the bag, his game has improved immensely. He used it first in the PGA Ulster Championship, at The Hilton, and Roganston was only his fifth round using the club.
“I’m just getting used to it but it seems to be working well. The shaft is a bit longer, but it’s not a broom handled putter, with a little more weight at the top and it feels good,” McGeady enthused.
Former championship winner David Mortimer posted a 69 in the evening to take third place overnight. Playing the back nine first, he birdied the par four 15th and short 17th but gave a shot back at long 18. However, he regained the lost ground with birdie three at the first hole before finishing with eight pars.
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