Paul Dunne and Jimmy Mullen impress at the Alfred Dunhill Links C'ship
Saturday 3 October 2015 15:05, UK
Recent Walker Cup stars Paul Dunne and Jimmy Mullen are part of a three-way tie for the lead after the opening round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Dunne, who shared the lead after 54 holes of the Open at St Andrews in July, birdied his final hole at Kingsbarns to join Mullen, making his professional debut, and Sweden's Kristoffer Broberg at the top of the leaderboard on eight under.
Beginning on the back nine, the Irishman recovered from a drop shot at the 10th to birdie the next before sandwiching further gains at the 14th and 16th by aceing the 205-yard 15th with a five-iron.
Having reached the turn three under, Dunne went on to pick up three shots in as many holes before adding gains at the seventh and ninth.
Broberg continued his recent impressive run by opening with four gains over the opening five holes, repeating the feat after the turn to card the lowest round of the day at St Andrews.
Mullen, who posted a perfect 4-0 record in Europe's record victory over the United States last month, carried on from where he left off at Royal Lytham by posting eight birdies and an eagle-two at the par-four sixth on his way in to a opening-round 64 at Kingsbarns.
"I didn't quite expect it obviously, to shoot eight under first time out," Mullen said. "But Pablo [Larrazabal] helped me along and the two amateurs we were playing with, Miguel [Duenas] and my partner, Pascal [Alfaro] are just really nice guys.
"I've got a lot of learning to do but what I did as an amateur worked, so I didn't see any reason to change it.
"I've only played Kingsbarns once. I've played St Andrews lots of times and played Carnoustie five times in a year in the British Amateur, so I know those well.
"I'm happy I'm playing it last so I can build some confidence up and hopefully play well again at St Andrews tomorrow, shoot a good score, and really to go to Carnoustie knowing I'm playing and swinging it well."
Soren Kjeldsen's blemish-free 65 at Kingsbarns, the venue for the majority of the low scoring during the opening day, leaves him in a tie for fourth alongside Richard Bland and Anthony Wall, with Australia's Marcus Fraser a further stroke off the pace.
Live European Tour Golf
Scotland's Marc Warren and Ryder Cup team-mates Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer are four shots off the pace after rounds of 68, the lowest of the day at Carnoustie.
Watch the Alfred Dunhill Championship live throughout the week onSky Sports 4 - your home of golf
