Jack's the lad in Slovakia - Hume matches Dawson with pure 65
Jack Hume. Picture: Pat Cashman
Jack Hume is a modest lad despite his major achievements and he quietly reminded everyone that he's a Walker Cup prospect worth serious consideration when he carded an immaculate, seven under par 65 in the opening round of the International European Amateur Championship in Slovakia.
On a day when the average score for the 144-strong field on the par 72 on the Legend Course at Penati Golf Resort was 71.1 and six of Ireland's eight-strong entry shot in the red, Hume's effort was one of just three bogey-free rounds recorded, bettered only by Haraldur Magnus' eight under 64.
The Icelander's effort was good enough for a share of the lead with Marcus Kinhult — the Swede who held off Cormac Sharvin for the Lytham trophy in May — the Czech Republic's Vitek Novak and England's Scott Gregory.
But like Faithlegg's Robin Dawson, who celebrated his late call up for the Home Internationals with a 65 featuring eight birdies and just one bogey, Hume is tied for fifth in an event that may have a bearing on Nigel Edwards' thinking when the time comes to pick his 10-man team to face the USA at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Dawson birdied the third, fifth and sixth and followed his lone bogey at the 10th with five birdies in the next seven holes.
Hume made no mistakes, however, and followed birdies at second, fourth, sixth, eighth and 11th with an eagle three at the 15th.
No fewer than 80 players broke par and West Waterford and Maynooth University's Gary Hurley shot a 68 worth a share of 20th with the only cloud on his horizon coming in the shape of a bogey five at the 17th.
No doubt Hurley has been trying to ignore the whispers that he's in trouble when it comes to Walker Cup selection and there may never be a better time for him to throw down he gauntlet and reward his undoubted talent with a piece of silverware.
Open Championship hero Paul Dunne, who received a special exemption to join Hurley and Sharvin in the US Amateur in a fortnight, made five birdies in a 69 worth a place inside the top 30 with Gavin Moynihan (70) and Alex Gleeson (71) in the top half of the field.
Ballymena's Dermot McElroy had a the veritable rollercoaster 72.
After a par-eagle-birdie start, the West of Ireland champion bogeyed his nest five holes to turn in two over only to birdie the 10th and 11th and round off a strange day with seven consecutive pars.
Sharvin, who is Ireland's leading player at 15th in the world since he won the Brabazon Trophy, went out in four over 40 before pulling back a couple of shots with three birdies and a bogey on the back nine.
The field will be cut to the top 60 and ties after Friday's third round. To see the venue live, there are webcams here.
Meanwhile in the Boys Home Internationals at Conwy, Ireland fell in the singles and lost 8.5 to 6.5 to England and now face Wales for third place today.
International European Amateur Championship, Penati Golf Resort; Legend Course; Slovakia (Par 72)
T1 KINHULT, Marcus Skaftö Gk -8 64
T1 NOVAK, Vitek Golf Club Karlovy Vary -8 64
T1 MAGNUS, Haraldur Golf Club Reykjavik -8 64
T1 GREGORY, Scott Corhampton -8 64
T5 ARNAUS, Adria Can Cuyas Golf -7 65
T5 DAWSON, Robin Faithlegg -7 65
T5 DETRY, Thomas Royal Golf Club Of Belgium -7 65
T5 MAZZOLI, Stefano Monticello -7 65
T5 HUME, Jack Naas -7 65
T5 CIANCHETTI, Luca Modena Golf -7 65
T20 HURLEY, Gary West Waterford/Nuim -4 68
T29 DUNNE, Paul Greystones -3 69
T48 MOYNIHAN, Gavin The Island -2 70
T63 GLEESON, Alex Castle -1 71
T81 MCELROY, Dermot Balymena Par 72
T116 SHARVIN, Cormac Ardglass Golf Club +2 74
