Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell got his bid for a third Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship title off to a flying start with a 68 at County Sligo Golf Club.
On what was a picture perfect morning at Rosses Point, Campbell took full advantage and is the current joint leader in the clubhouse with local favourite TJ Ford on three-under-par.
“Lovely start there ideal start getting out there in the second group was lovely and any day you can go around Rosses Point under par is always good regardless of the conditions,” said Campbell.
The four-time Irish major winner and reigning South of Ireland champion was level-par after nine holes but a clean back nine with birdies on 10, 15 and 18 saw him complete a fine morning’s work.
Conditions are set to be benign for the first three rounds and the Irish international knows he will have to remain aggressive for as long as he can.
“Coming to the West for a long time you are used to coming out in the wind and battling the conditions but it was lovely today from the get go.
“It’s still a tough golf course, the set up was superb so it’s difficult to know what the winning score will be because from 14 in you can make a bad score very quickly. If it stays like that around ten-under could be the winning score.”
A two-time Irish Amateur champion, Campbell isn’t getting carried away with his start and knows things can go against him very quickly around Rosses Point.
“This tournament has been good to me, lucky enough to have won it twice but there’s still a long way to go I’m around long enough to know that there’s a long way to go to get it done.
“I was out of position maybe once coming in which wasn’t terrible. I hit a great tee shot down 12 the par five and coming in with a. 2-iron I didn’t capitalise on it. I missed a great chance from 8 feet on 13 but I was very solid. Held from 35 feet on 15 which was a little bonus, but solid golf.
“When we started there was a club, club and a half wind which was fine and now the flags are hardly moving, the conditions were perfect and you couldn’t have got a better morning to play Rosses Point it was in superb condition.”
A lifelong Celtic fan and with a 54-hole cut, Campbell is set to miss the final instalment of the Old Firm derby on Saturday afternoon.
A title decider between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park kicks off at 12.30 and he will be hoping that when he checks his phone after round three the hoops will have beaten their bitter rivals and he will still be in contention to win a third Irish Amateur crown.
“As long as we win on Saturday that’s all that matters but look keep doing what I’m doing and we won’t be too far come Sunday.”