Joshua Hill posted a five-under 67 to set the pace in the East of Ireland Amateur Open at County Louth. He made six birdies and one bogey while playing in a stiff westerly wind, taking a three-shot lead over Stuart Grehan, Dylan Keating, Jonathan Keane, and Nicolai Rosli. Hill birdied the second and third, then after a bogey at the fifth added birdies at the sixth, 12th, 14th, and 17th. Only seven players broke par in the 132-man field due to thick rough and 25 mph gusts at Baltray. Grehan and Keating both described missed chances and smart, conservative course management as they moved into contention.
"Joshua Hill fired a five-under 67 to set the pace with a host of proven champions hot on his heels in the Arnotts-sponsored East of Ireland Amateur Open at County Louth."
"The South Alabama University-based Irish international (22) made six birdies and a bogey in a stiff westerly wind to lead by three shots from County Louth's Stuart Grehan, Seapoint's recently-crowned North of Ireland champion Dylan Keating, Lahinch's reigning South of Ireland champion Jonathan Keane and Norway's Nicolai Rosli."
"Ballymena star Hill, who won the Mullingar Scratch Trophy in 2022, birdied the second and third and followed a bogey at the fifth with birdies at the sixth, 12th, 14th and 17th to take a three-stroke lead on a day when just seven players in the 132-man field broke par."
"With thick rough making Baltray a tough test in 25 mph gusts, Hill faces stiff competition from a quality chasing pack that includes 2015 winner Grehan and fellow Walker Cup star Gavin Tiernan from the host club, who shot 71 to share sixth with Royal Dublin's Jack McDonnell."
Read at Irish Independent
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