*Shane Lowry is mobbed by supporters in Doonbeg. Photograph: Joe Buckley
SHANE LOWRY carded a course record of 62 in Doonbeg while also moving three shots clear to lead the Amgen Irish Open after the second round.
At the halfway mark, Lowry is on eleven-under par after producing a storming front nine. He also landed a course record of 62 which included nine birdies and one bogey at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Ireland, Doonbeg
Nearest challengers on eight under include Haotong Li of China, who shot a round of 63 including an eagle at the fifth, and Danish pair Jakob Skov Olesen and Niklas Norgaard. Six shots adrift of Lowry is Tom McKibbin.
A second consecutive 69 has Rory McIlroy ten shots behind Lowry. Not since Fred Daly and Harry Bradshaw in 1946 and 1947 has there been back-to-back Irish Open winners from the island of Ireland.
Sixty nine players made the cut on 141 (+1) for the third day of action in Doonbeg which tees off at 10:07.
Pádraig Harrington who made history when competing in his thirty first consecutive Irish Open was among the casualties, he slumped to a 77, so too was Séamus Power who opened with successive bogeys and three birdies but bowed out as did Max Kennedy (+4), Cormac Sharvin (+5), Thomas Higgins (+5) and Mark Power (+10).
With a strong home support behind him at the par-70 venue including a spate of Offaly jerseys, Lowry has been boosted by the backing, Setting the course record in Doonbeg “was nice,” Lowry admitted. “It was real fun out there. I got off to a nice start and then I just kept going. I felt great out there. Just kept my foot on the gas and tried to keep hitting good shots and keep holing putts and it was a nice day”.
He added, “I’m sure this place looks amazing on TV. The crowds were amazing out there today. They support me along the way and it was nice to give them something to shout about”.
Activity has increased in Doonbeg with the arrival of Eric Trump who conducted an in-depth interview with Katie Hannon for RTÉ’s Drivetime.
