The opening round of the First Qualifying Stage – Section C at Dundonald Links was finally completed on Wednesday after the weather delays of the first day with Wallace Booth of Scotland leading the way after signing for a 74.
Booth, who turned professional during the 2009 Alfred Dunhill Championship, is making his first appearance since recovering from a shoulder injury that has limited his play this year and shot a two over par 74 in strong winds to lead by one from fellow Scot Chris Kelly and English Amateur Billy Hemstock. Birdies at the seventh and 11th helped take Booth into the lead.
Play had been disrupted throughout the morning finally getting underway at midday when the wind had dropped from gusts of 40mph to a more manageable, 17 mph average, but still with gusts of 22mph. Birdies at the seventh and 11th helped take Booth into the lead.
The best of the extensive Irish contingent after the opening round was Michael Collins of FORE Ireland carding five over par for a share of 6th place with Damien Mooney.
David Higgins, Noel Murray, Peter O’Keeffe, Tim Rice and Gareth Shaw all finished one shot adrift on 6 over par.
David Mortimer and Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland ended the day 7 over par and are joined by Noel Fox, Michael Lavelle and Barrie Trainor.
Gary David Cullen of Beaverstown joins Daniel Sugrue on 8 over.
Fergal Rafferty is 9 under for eighteen holes.
John G Kelly finished the first round on 11 over par along with Amateur Reeve Whitson.
Chris Hughes was 17 over par and is joined by James Monaghan.
