Finland’s Roope Kakko put together a magnificent display of golf to produce a stunning nine under par 63 to take control of the European Challenge Tour’s Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.
Kakko flew out of the blocks with a birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie start and then continued in that vein, showcasing his undoubted talent with a further six birdies to lead by two from Norway’s Peter Kaensche and Scotsman Peter Whiteford.
Indeed, there was an all round display of talent from the Challenge Tour field, with three players – Sweden’s Kalle Brink, Australian John Wade and Welshman Craig Williams – on six under par, five players on five under and a further six on four under par.
A total of 68 players broke par during round one, a statistic which underlines the wealth of ability currently on display on the Challenge Tour.
Kakko was the pick of the current crop at the end of the first round in Killarney. He dropped his only shot of the day after that fantastic start, but was soon back on the birdie trail, picking up a shot at the ninth to turn in five under par 31.
The 23 year old, who won the Challenge Tour’s Volvo Finnish Open as an Amateur last year, came home in similar fashion, putting together four birdies on the spin between the 11th and 14th to complete his excellent opening 63.
“I wish I knew the secret to that round – if I knew I would do it every day!” smiled Kakko. “It was a bit weird today because I didn’t feel as though I was playing that well, I could feel a bit of tension in the air, but all of a sudden I was five under through five holes and the birdies just kept coming.
“I made a few long putts, which you have to do to score like that, but there were also points when I felt that I was playing golf in another man’s body!
“I love coming to Ireland though, it is a fantastic country. I played here in the Irish Amateur Championship last year and finished fifth and I just loved the country and the people who are unbelievably friendly.”
Colm Moriarty may have been the last man to finish the first round of the Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge but he was by no means the last man on the leaderboard as he carded a four under par 68 to join Peter Williamson in leading the Irish charge at this, the first Challenge Tour event to be staged in Ireland.
Six birdies and two bogeys saw Moriarty draw level with Williamson to lead the 33 Irishmen in the field, who have some way to go to catch Kakko.
Padraig Dooley is the next best Irishman in the field after a three under 69, with Challenge Tour Number Two and local hero David Higgins alongside Shane Franklin, Mark Murphy, Leslie Walker and the Amateur, Mervyn Owens on two under par.
“I’m happy with how it went today,” said Moriarty. “It could have been better – I would have been very happy with six under today – but if I can play the same way tomorrow and make the score a bit better then I will be in with a shout.
“It was a bit hard being in th last game out today but somebody has to be last out and if I am in that position come Sunday afternoon then I certainly won’t be complaining!”
