Mick Collins : [Photo FORE Ireland]
Birdies on five of the first seven holes along with further ones at the 12th, 14th and 15th helped him to an early lead, although he later dropped a shot at the 17th.
Clark of Doncaster GC has enjoyed great success on the tour having won at Marriott Tudor Park in August 2009 and collecting three victories during 2007 as he finished top of the Order of Merit. With £10,000 going to the winner, a victory here could catapult Clark up the Order of Merit as he bids to reclaim a place on the Challenge Tour after an unsuccessful season there in 2008.
Scotland’s Paul Doherty, Vale Hotel, had an eventful day as nine birdies and three bogeys left him on six-under and in second place.
James Busby of The Shropshire, Neil Walker of Rotherham Golf Club and Ireland’s Brendan McCarroll of JFG Acadamie are all a shot further back on five-under.
Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool), a winner at Castle Dargan earlier this month, is well-placed as he is one of a host of golfers on four-under along with Michael Lowe of Wentworth, Michael
Collins of FORE Ireland, George Woolgar of Capitalservices.com, Colin Goudie, seeitnowsports.com and James Freeman of Worksop GC.
Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland signed for one over par 73
Michael Lavelle is 2 under
Brian McElhinney of Team Ireland is +1 along with Jonathan Mallon and Neil O’Briain.
Paul O’Hanlon is +2
Noel Fox +7 after carding a 79
The second round starts at 7.30am on Wednesday and at the end of which the top 50 players plus ties will qualify for the final round on Thursday.
Michael Collins previews:
“This week we are near Colchester which is about 90 minutes north of London. The course staff have made a huge effort to keep the course reasonably soft, so with the greens receptive, it’s set up for low scoring. The highlight of this week is the house we are renting which can only be described as superb, about 15 minutes from the golf club.”
“An early start this morning turned out to be a quick one as even though I lipped out from 6 feet on the first for birdie I, I birdied the next 3 in a row and the 7th to go to 4 under. Bogeys on 9 and 10 were nullified by birdies on 11 and 14. 68 was about as bad as it could have been today as I missed a good few decent chances.”
“The most frustrating part was that I left 4 putts 3 inches short or less which drives me around the bend. However, I didn’t want to start forcing the putts as I started to get the pace of the greens late on. Hopefully tomorrow they will start to fall.”
