Home 59 for Ruuska as Irish fail to fire in ISPS HANDA World Invitational
Lauri Ruuska. Picture: Getty Images
Finland's Lauri Ruuska showed no signs of suffering ill effects of home pressure when he fired a 12-under par 59 to lead the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge on the Challenge Tour.
But it was quite the opposite for the home players in the ISPS HANDA World Invitational, where not one of the 15 Irish players managed to break par on the opening day.
As Ruuska wrote his name into the record books by posting just the fourth sub-60 round in Challenge Tour history at Vierumäki Resort, level par rounds by Leona Maguire and Jonathan Caldwell on the links at Castlerock were the best returns by the Irish in an event tri-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA.
Caldwell made three birdies and three bogeys in his even-par 71 in the men's event, but that was only good enough for a share of 43rd place, seven strokes behind leader Dan Brown.
The Englishman made an eagle and six birdies against just one bogey in a seven-under-par 64 to lead by two strokes from a four-strong group that featured just one score from Galgorm Castle, the other course being used this week.
"I felt like this week, more than any other, was important to get off to a good start with some bad weather forecast tomorrow," said Brown (28), who leads from compatriots Alex Fitzpatrick and Callan Barrow, India's Manu Gandas and Italy's Gregorio de Leo, whose five-under 65 came at Galgorm.
"There's going to be times where you're grinding it out and battling to make pars. I've given myself a nice little buffer really ahead of that challenge tomorrow."
COLERAINE, NORTHERN IRELAND - AUGUST 17: Daniel Brown of England looks on on the 17th hole on Day One of the ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics at Castlerock Golf Club on August 17, 2023 in United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Royal Dublin amateur Max Kennedy is the next best of the Irish after he carded a two-over 73 at Castlerock with veteran caddie Ray Latchford on his bag.
The Dubliner (21), one of the Irishmen hoping for a Walker Cup call-up next week, was two-under through the turn before five dropped shots in his first five holes on Castlerock's front nine changed the complexion of his round.
Kennedy is tied 78th, two shots outside the cut for the top 60 and ties, but the rest of the Irish lie outside the top 100.
They include Galgorm's touring professional Tom McKibbin, the reigning European Open champion, who shot an eight-over 78 at the parkland course.
LPGA star Maguire started on the back nine at Castlerock and was two-under after nine but mixed three bogeys with just one birdie coming home to card a level par 73, taking 31 putts.
She's tied 33rd, four shots behind England's Gabriella Cowley, Sweden's Ellinor Sudow, Switzerland's Kim Metraux and Australia's Karis Davidson with Stephanie Meadow 62nd after a two-over 74 at Galgorm, where amateur Jessica Ross shot a 76 and Olivia Mehaffey an 81.
There was far better news for the Irish in Finland, where Ruuska's 59 gave him a four-stroke lead over compatriot Kristian Kulokorpi and Scot Jack McDonald.
"It feels quite amazing to shoot 59," said Ruusaka, who started with four birdies and went out in six-under 30 before following an eagle three at the first with four more birdies before narrowly missing for a 58 at the last.
"Where else would you want to shoot a 59? Maybe at a Major Championship, but to do it at home is really special… When the putts kept on rolling in, I felt like I couldn't miss today."
Conor O'Rourke and Paul McBride shot 68s to share 23rd with Rowan Lester and Conor Purcell just outside the cut mark after 70s.
