Ryan best of Irish quartet in Colombia
Ireland's Jessica Carty, Stuart Grehan, Stephen Healy and Chloe Ryan at the opening ceremony.
Castletroy's Chloe Ryan is tied for 10th with Holywood's Jessica Carty 29th but it was a far more disappointing day for Stephen Healy - playing with borrowed club - and Stuart Grehan after the opening round of the IX South American Amateur Championship at a windy Barranquilla Country Club in Colombia.
"After a frustrating round with a few high numbers, this is the treatment...#relaxing" Picture: Stuart Grehan (https://twitter.com/Stewyy69) via Twitter
As UCD scholarship student Ryan posted an opening five over par 77 to trail leader Cynthia Diaz of Colombia by five shots and Denver University's Carty added an 81 in the women's competition, Claremorris talent Healy shot a seven over 79 with Tullamore's Grehan back in 45th after an eight over 80.
Out in two over par 38 with three bogeys and a birdie on his card, 2012 Irish Youths Close champion Grehan had a triple bogey seven at the 10th but followed a birdie at the next with a quadruple bogey eight at the 12th by before parring is way home to end the day tied for 41st.
England's Jimmy Mullen leads the IX South American Amateur Championship at the first round.
Healy had two birdies, five bogeys and two double bogey sixes in his 79 and trails England's Jimmy Mullen by 13 strokes having been forced to play with borrowed clubs after his own failed to arrive in Colombia.
Describing the set he was forced to use as "horrendously uncomfortable" as there is no professional's shop at the club, Healy felt he did quite well to shoot 79 considering the disadvantage.
Mullen, who finished 73rd in the Open Championship at Muirfield last year, defied stiff winds to fire an eagle, seven birdies and three bogeys in a six under par 66 for a three-stroke lead over Argentina's Santiago Bauni with England's Paul Howard in third after a 71.
Long faces were the order of the day all round as just three of the 66 men and none of the women managed to break par.
"Patience was the key," said Mullen, who plans to turn professional at the end of the year. "I'm used to playing in these conditions at home and that definitely helped me. You have to know which holes can catch you out, take things as they come and wait. You have to have patience, as I said, that's the strategy.
"The turning point of my round was the 11th, the eagle. I hit a drive and a three wood short of the green and my chip from arond 30 feet hit the stikc and went in. That gave me confidence again."In the women's section, Diaz leas by one from England's Gemma Bradbury (73).
Local dancers perform at the opening ceremony.
