McGrane and Kelly share top spot

European Tour regular Damien McGrane, above, and John Kelly (St Margaret's GC) carded a pair of three-under-par rounds of 69 to share first place at the Royal Curragh pro-am.

McGrane, who won the William Flynn Memorial event at Shannon GC in May, went to the turn in three-under 34 with birdies at the first, fifth, sixth and ninth, offset by a dropped shot at the par-five seventh.

He added another birdie at the par-three 11^th but cancelled that out with a bogey at the 15^th as he came home in 35.

Kelly started in the afternoon wave from the seventh tee and got off to a great start with an early birdie. He dropped a shot at the par-four eighth but bounced back with birdies at the ninth and 10^th.

The reigning Order of Merit champion completed the back nine with a run of eight pars before adding a further birdie, his last of the round, at the par-five first.

David Foley (Dromoland Castle), the ever-consistent Michael McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown) and John Murray (Malahide GC) finished a shot back on two-under-par.

GUI head professional, Kenny Fahey guided his amateur partners to team success with 94 points. John Dignam (Slade Valley) was second with 90 points.

The Ballyliffin pro-am takes place this weekend, Saturday and Sunday July 25^th and 26^th.