IT WAS A day to remember for Paul Dunne as he shot a hole-in-one en route to a share of the lead on his first round as a professional.
The Greystones man has gone into a three-way first-round lead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship alongside felloe pro debutant Jimmy Mullen
Dunne rose to prominence after heading into the last round of the The Open as leader at St Andrews – one of three courses, alongside Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, hosting the Alfred Dunhill – earlier this year.
This time around it was Kingsbarn where Dunne set the pace as he and Mullen signed for rounds of 64, while Kristoffer Broberg matched that effort at St Andrews to leave the trio on eight under par.
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Dunne, who alongside Mullen won the Walkers Cup last month, particularly delighted when he recorded a hole-in-one with a crisp five iron at the par-three 15th.
The 22-year-old also had eight birdies to go with two bogeys, leaving him in great shape after round one, sinking this big birdie on the 18th.
Mullen was equally impressive at Kingsbarns - his round included eight birdies, an eagle at the sixth and two bogeys.
Broberg is yet to win on the European Tour, but the Swede started with an unblemished round at the home of golf.
Soren Kjeldsen is on seven under par after going bogey free at Kingsbarns, he joined Richard Bland and Anthony Wall in a tie for fourth.
Carnoustie proved a particularly difficult course on Thursday, with scoring on average two shots higher than Kingsbarns . A cluster of five players – including Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer – produced the best score at the course with four-under 68 to leave them tied 16th.
Several names from the world of sport and celebrity were also in action at the pro-am event including the likes of former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan and 50 Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan, who finished his round at St Andrews in style.
And while the going got tough for several players at Carnoustie, It was another Irishman who stole the show on 18, Ronan Keating holing this excellent putt from 40 feet.
A hole-in-one and a share of the lead, it's been quite a pro debut for Paul Dunne
Updated at 21.30
IT WAS A day to remember for Paul Dunne as he shot a hole-in-one en route to a share of the lead on his first round as a professional.
The Greystones man has gone into a three-way first-round lead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship alongside felloe pro debutant Jimmy Mullen
Dunne rose to prominence after heading into the last round of the The Open as leader at St Andrews – one of three courses, alongside Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, hosting the Alfred Dunhill – earlier this year.
This time around it was Kingsbarn where Dunne set the pace as he and Mullen signed for rounds of 64, while Kristoffer Broberg matched that effort at St Andrews to leave the trio on eight under par.
Dunne, who alongside Mullen won the Walkers Cup last month, particularly delighted when he recorded a hole-in-one with a crisp five iron at the par-three 15th.
The 22-year-old also had eight birdies to go with two bogeys, leaving him in great shape after round one, sinking this big birdie on the 18th.
Mullen was equally impressive at Kingsbarns - his round included eight birdies, an eagle at the sixth and two bogeys.
Broberg is yet to win on the European Tour, but the Swede started with an unblemished round at the home of golf.
Soren Kjeldsen is on seven under par after going bogey free at Kingsbarns, he joined Richard Bland and Anthony Wall in a tie for fourth.
Carnoustie proved a particularly difficult course on Thursday, with scoring on average two shots higher than Kingsbarns . A cluster of five players – including Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer – produced the best score at the course with four-under 68 to leave them tied 16th.
Several names from the world of sport and celebrity were also in action at the pro-am event including the likes of former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan and 50 Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan, who finished his round at St Andrews in style.
And while the going got tough for several players at Carnoustie, It was another Irishman who stole the show on 18, Ronan Keating holing this excellent putt from 40 feet.
It really was an excellent putt, in fairness.
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Alfred Dunhill Links Championship day to remember European Tour Golf Paul Dunne Review