ENGLAND’S ROBERT ROCK has carded an incredible round of 60 to take the lead at the Irish Open.
42-year-old Rock came agonisingly close to recording the second 59 in European Tour history in today’s third round at Lahinch, within inches of hitting the elusive number.
He narrowly missed his eagle attempt from 30 feet on the par-five 18th, but tapped in for his sixth birdie in-a-row to settle for an impressive course record of 60.
“It’s disappointing not to do it but 60 is a good score,” the Staffordshire man told Sky Sports afterwards. “I’ve played rubbish this year.”
Having stormed into the clubhouse lead, Rock — who was beaten in an Irish Open play-off by Shane Lowry in 2009 — sits one shot ahead of Rafa Carera Bello on the leader board after the Spaniard matched Padraig Harrington’s original course record of 63, clocked of day one.
Inches from a 59, but Robert Rock will finish with SIX straight birdies and a round of 60 to lead the #ddfirishopen on -13 #RTEgolf https://t.co/9MxQvvQZoR pic.twitter.com/uDXrKakZfB
— RTEgolf (@RTEgolf) July 6, 2019
Waterford’s Robin Dawson grabbed the headlines as he carded a suprb 64 earlier today while Cormac Sharvin will begin the final day as the highest-placed Irish golfer.
Elsewhere, Lowry finished up on 70 with Seamus Power and Padraig Harrington both recording a round of 73 to sit in joint 50th.
Leaderboard available here>
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Come on Limerick
Great second half from Limerick, but they’d want to sort out those wides.
Kiely very slow to take Hickey off, Mike Casey should be already in
@Gaaonthefence: or Richie McCarthy. Either way get Hickey out of there asap.
Limerick going to regret all these wides
@Kevin Shortall: they sure are Kevin.
@Shane Doherty: as a Kilkenny man I’m delighted
Take nothing away from Limerick, I think the whole country would like to see them do well. But as a Tipp supporter, how James McGrath can officiate at this level concerns me. He is getting even the most basic decisions wrong and is so inconsistent to how he applies the rules. Just rid of Kirwan after years of bias and now we have to watch this clown ruining games.
@Dave Russell: I think the standard is poor across the board but i suppose it is a thankless job. Is there a case to look at two referees on the pitch at either end.
Here we go again, ref doing his best to ruin it, major boo boo in this lad yet ..
@Gerry Campbell: or the fact that Limerick can’t stop giving away stupid frees
@Tom49: they are all frees alright….and thats coming from a limerick man
@Tom49: well undeniably true Tom .
Very poor referee? Compliments to both teams that the game didn’t boil over?
Killing ourselves with the wides but great to see some discipline in 2nd half, great start to the campaign and something to build on now! Hon Luimneach
Well done mike ryan
Great day. The RESSURECTION started that day