ESSEX’S Todd Clements holds a one-shot lead after the weather-delayed second round of the Challenge Tour’s innovative ISPS Handa World Invitational with a separate men and women’s tournament being staged side by side for the first time in Europe.

Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow (pictured) and Manon De Roey are leading the way in the women’s section of the innovative tournament presented by Modest! Golf Management, being staged in Northern Ireland.

In a race to finish his round before nightfall, Clements posted four birdies in his opening nine holes at Galgorm Castle Golf Club before defying the challenging scoring conditions to come back in level par

That secured his place at the top of the leaderboard for the first time in the 2017 English Amateur Champion’s short professional career on seven-under.

Clements said: “I’ve played great over the last couple of days. The putts have been dropping and it’s the first time I’ve been out in the lead over the weekend.

“So it’s a new experience and I’m just going to learn,” said the Braintree GC member, who is coached by Surrey’s former teenage prodigy Zane Scotland.

“It’s been tricky with the weather, as everyone knows,” added Todd, who won the English Amateur title at The Berkshire two years ago.

“With the suspensions you’ve just got to stay patient and it’s a mental battle more than anything else for me.

“It’s wet, it’s soft and it plays to my strengths, which is great,’ said Clements.

“It was a bit of a rush at the end to get in before it got too dark. I had a six-footer for par on the last and it horseshoed on me.

“Will I regret that over the weekend? Who knows.

“I’m just going to keep learning, keep doing what I’m doing, it’s the same strategy and hopefully it all comes together for me.”

Despite bogeying his final hole, the 22-year-old will begin his third round at Galgorm Castle with a narrow advantage over four players.

That includes Scotland’s two-time European Challenge Tour winner Calum Hill, Spaniard Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez, Somerset’s Laurie Canter and Italy’s Francesco Laporta, who sit one shot back on six-under.

Canter, the winner of both the South African Strokeplay and Spanish Amateur titles, said: “Honestly, I had so much fun out there today.

“It’s been a tough few years where I’ve been struggling to find my game, so it’s great to be back in contention again.

“I wasn’t really thinking about too much out there. I’ve come into this event off the back of a three-week break and a trip to Ibiza and instead of getting bogged down in my thought process I just went and played golf.

“It was just really fun to be playing like that again and hoping for more of the same tomorrow,” added Canter, who is attached to Cumberwell Park, in Wiltshire and also won the Hampshire Hog at North Hants, and the West of England Strokeplay, as an amateur.

With nearly four inches of rain falling on the two co-hosting venues, Galgorm Castle and Massereene Golf Club, overnight and howling wind making for tough conditions, local star Meadow demonstrated why she is touted as one of Europe’s best talents with a two-under 70.

Meadow jumped ahead of overnight leader Ellie Givens, from Darlington, into a share of the top spot at the halfway stage on four-under.

Meadow, who represented Ireland in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, said: “My front nine definitely felt pretty tough.

“The wind was howling out there and the greens were a little firmer than I’d expected given how much rain we’d had so that was a bit of a learning curve throughout the round,” said Stephanie, who turned pro in 2014.

“The greens are rolling almost exactly the same at both venues so good job to the green staff for preparing the course that way.

“I’ve been close the last couple of days to doing something really nice, so I’m just going to go out tomorrow and keep doing more of the same stuff.

“It’s fantastic to be back in Northern Ireland, it’s actually my first professional event at home and the first tournament I’ve played in Ireland since 2013,” said Meadow who played in two Curtis Cups in 2012 and 2014.

“I can’t tell you how much it means for all these people to come out and watch me.

“I make a putt and there’s lots of claps and the lots of hugs at the end and just genuine joy from people to see me out here competing,” added the former University of Alabama golfer.

“It doesn’t matter if I win or don’t win they’re behind me so it’s very special and I’m very touched,” added Meadow, who secured his first win on the Symetra Tour in the USA, last year.

The Northern Irish player is joined at the summit of the leaderboard by De Roey, who added a one-under 71 to her opening round of 70 for a four -under total.

De Roey is looking to add the ISPSA Handa title to the LET Access Tour title she clinched earlier in the summer.

The pair are one-shot clear of a seven-strong chasing pack which includes former World No. 1 amateur Leona Maguire, first-round leader Givens and Middlesex golfing legend Trish Johnson.

It was another day to remember for the Irish amateurs in the field, with Lauren Walsh carding a one-under par 72 at Galgorm Castle to head into the weekend of her first professional event just one shot off the lead.

Irish amateur Annabel Wilson said: “I’m not fazed by much, I made one poor swing off the first tee which led to a double.

“But I hit a lovely shot into two and then just moved on and didn’t think too much more about it.

“That’s just golf, it’s why you love it. My short game was great. I actually had chipped-in twice which is always helpful.

“I’m not much of a leaderboard watcher, maybe I’ll have a quick look tonight especially for the draw tomorrow and see who I might be playing with.

“It’s cool that Charley Hull is playing this week. We were on opposite ends of the draw so I haven’t seen her yet, I’d like to see her hit a ball before the end of the week.”

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Josh Hill showed plenty of guts as he fired a three-under par 67 at Massereene Golf Club, to sit in a share of 11th place.

That ensured Hill will contest the weekend at his home club alongside the stars of the European Challenge Tour.

For live scores click here

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SIX-under par was the score of the day at the ISPS Handa World Invitational Men | Women, as Scotland’s Craig Ross and Darlington’s Eleanor Givens wrote their names into the record books as first-round leaders.

Ross, who won on the EuroPro Tour last year, carded a 64 at Massereene Golf Club, while England’s Givens signed for her own six-under round with a 67 at the par 73 Galgorm Castle Golf Club.

The pair lead their respective tournaments by one stroke from two competitors.

Five of the top seven players in tied fourth or better in the men’s tournament were playing at Massereene, while 13 of the top 14 in the women’s tournament opened their tournament at Galgorm Castle, highlighting how the scoring contrasted at each set-up.

With heavy rain curtailing the pro-am on Wednesday, both courses were wet underfoot early on day one, with the majority of the low scorers playing later in the day.

Ross’s superb bogey-free 64 set the pace in the men’s tournament ahead of England’s Europro winner Richard Mansell, and Frenchman Gary Stal on five-under.

Ross, from Kirkhill Golf Club, who earned his Challenge Tour by making the cut at Qualifying School, in Spain, in November, said: “It was great to put a 64 together. I’ve had some poor performances to start the season, so it’s nice to be able to put a strong score together out there.

“I was missing a few greens early on but made some good up-and-downs over my opening nine, and then on the closing nine I was just able to slot in some birdie putts.

“It was obviously great to finish with five birdies in the last six holes.

“I was expecting the scores to be a lot lower, especially looking at the results in the Northern Ireland Open in the past.

“So I was little surprised to see four[under was leading after the morning although this course is a little tricky to master because the two nines play quite differently.

“I’m expecting Galgorm Castle to be a little tougher, especially because the weather’s not looking so good.

“But I’m just going to try and do more of the same stuff,” added Ross.

“I really enjoyed playing in the Jordan Mixed Open, where we were paired up with one woman and a senior.

“I know this event is a little bit different in that we are not playing directly against the girls, but it’s cool to see another format like this on the schedule and I’ve been really enjoying the experience so far.”

Meanwhile Calum Hill, who has won twice in his last three starts on the Euorpean Challenge Tour, is a shot further back among the pack on four-under in the tournament, which has been organised by Nial Horan’s Modest! Golf Management group that looks after many of the Tour’s up and coming young stars.

Cormac Sharvin was one of the strong contingent of Irish players hoping to give the crowds something to cheer – after Shane Lowry’s memorable win in The Open at Royal Portrush last month.

Sharvin, who is 26 and attached to Ardglass GC, said: “I played really nicely tee to green and it was probably as bad a score as it could have been.

“I gave myself good chances on practically every hole, drove it well and my iron play was very good.

“It was playing tricky, a lot trickier than I thought it was going to be so I’m pretty happy with two-under.

Sharvin, who won the Irish Amateur Championship in 2013, added: “The course has held up well considering the rain we’ve had – just that little bit of breeze made it tricky.

“Quite a few par fours we were hitting longer clubs into. I can see why some people are going to struggle.

“You can’t win it on the first day, you can only lose it. Two-under has put me in a decent position.

“The format is good. To be honest, we struggled to keep up with the women in front. We got monitored at one stage. The women seem to be playing pretty quick and maybe they’re showing us how it’s done!”

Givens leads on six-under from American Beth Allen and Germany’s Karolin Lampert, who are two shots clear of Silvia Banon, Manon de Roey, Wentworth’s Annabel Dimmock and local star Stephanie Meadow on three-under.

Givens said: “I’m really pleased with how I played. I played really solid golf and was really happy with how it was.

“It’s actually my first time playing with some new clubs I have so it was nice to start with that – and I’m looking forward to the rest of the week.

“It’s actually been really nice weather and the greens are rolling really nicely, so there’s definitely a score out there to be had.

“I had a little bit of a slow patch towards the end of my first nine holes but then played really well on the back nine.

“There’s some interesting weather coming our way. We played in some interesting weather last week in Scotland as well, so I’ve had a lot of practice recently and I’d rather play in sunshine, but will see what comes.

“I’ll just stay really patient and try to play as steady as possible. Massereene is another really nice golf course, so I’ll just deal with whatever comes our way and keep going.

“It’s nice to play in the Northern Hemisphere in this format. I played in the Vic Open before so I was really excited to try and do that here and I’m glad I could come.”

Meadow, who represented Ireland at Olympics in Rio three years ago, said: “I started good, a little shaky in the middle, and then battled back towards the end.

“I hit a lot of good putts but nothing really fell, but overall it’s a decent start.

“I’m just happy I hit some really good iron shots on the way in and when that happens, that’s a good sign for tomorrow and the rest of the week.

“It was great to see some very old faces I haven’t seen in a very long time, so I’m sure it’ll be the same tomorrow. I’ll take it in and enjoy it.

“There were a good few Portrush faces around, one lady was lady captain when I joined and I was her junior prize winner.

“She brought the picture where I think I was 10. She was showing me on the first tee. It’s just little things like that that are pretty special and we’ll always remember that.

“I was a tiny bit nervous on the first tee, which is a bit unusual. I had a few sponsors here, including the CEO.

“It was more emotional than anything. Nervous isn’t the right word, just more emotional than normal.

“Obviously, I want to play well for everybody and give everybody a show who came to support me.

“It’s great so far, it’s been run really well. I enjoy being with the men, we do the same thing week in week out, 25 weeks a year.

“So to see some new faces and even hear the sound on the driving range of the guys hitting is a little strange. It’s nice, it’s a good change,” added Meadow, who has been playing in the USA on the LPGA and Symetra Tour for the past three years.

On Friday, players will switch courses so those playing at Galgorm Castle on Thursday will play at Massereene and vice versa, before the field is cut to 60 and ties in both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

For live scoring click here

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THE eyes of the world will be on Northern Ireland this week as the ISPS Handa World Invitational Men | Women gets under way in Northern Ireland, on Thursday.

The event – presented by One Direction star Nial Horan’s Modest! Golf Management group – takes place at Galgorm Castle Golf Club and Massereene Golf Club, from August 15-18.

The innovative event brings men and women together on the same courses as they compete in their respective tournaments for separate trophies – and equal prize funds – for the first time on European soil.

With alternating tee times between the men’s and women’s groups, fans can expect plenty of drama, with the two champions set to be crowned within moments of each other.

Galgorm and Massereene will share hosting duties across the opening two days, with the competitors completing one round at each of the two layouts,

Then all the action takes place at Galgorm over the weekend, where a cut will take place after the second and third rounds.

Some of the biggest names in female golf will tee it up this week, including Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew – who named her team for the biennial showpiece earlier this week – and Charley Hull, the World No. 29, who will play in her fourth Solheim Cup next month.

Hull, who is attached to Woburn and played at Kettering Golf Club as a junior said: “It’ll be a really interesting week.

“I played a similar event like this that was also sponsored by ISPS Handa in Australia and that was good fun.

“I’m looking forward to enjoying the experience this time around and taking it all in,” said the former LET Rookie of the Year.

“I’m going to have to play Massereene blind as I’ve had a busy few weeks, with back-to-back Majors and also Solheim Cup selection and practice at Gleneagles on Monday.

“But I’m looking to forward to getting back out there and competing,” added Hull, who was the youngest player to appear in a Solheim Cup in 2013, aged just 17.

Calum Hill, who has two victories in his last three European Challenge Tour starts, returns to the scene of his maiden victory after the Gleneagles pro triumphed at the Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open, in 2018.

The Kircaldy golfer will have top spot in the Challenge Tour rankings in his sights with current occupant Antoine Rozner not in the field, in Northern Ireland.

Hill, who won last week’s Made in Denmark Challenge, said: “It’s really nice to be back here. I’ve got a lot of good memories coming into this week, so hopefully I can have another good week.

“It’s just a lot busier this week. I don’t think having the men and women here will change much about the golf, although the field is quite big. It should be really good fun.

“They always do a good job here. I remember last year it was really well run and there is a nice tented village for the spectators too.

“It’s a busier week and there are a few more crowds for a bit more support.

“I feel good at the moment. Hopefully I can keep the run going, but I’m just entering every week with the same mindset, which is just to play as well as I can,” added Hill, who would earn automatic promotion to the European Tour if he can record a third win in the remaining weeks of the season.

“My mum and dad are here again this week. It is the last week of their holidays before they go back to teaching so hopefully I’ll have another good week with them here.”

A plethora of storylines are emerging from the innovative tournament on the Challenge Tour schedule.

Husband and wife duo Scott and Kylie Henry again tee it up in the same tournament after playing in the Jordan Mixed Open in the spring, while sisters Leona and Lisa Maguire and German siblings Moritz and Karolin Lampert will also compete at Galgorm and Massereene.

Former World No. 1 amateur Leona Maguire, who hails from Cavan, will relish the Irish crowd’s support, on her debut as a professional in Ireland, off the back of her first Symetra Tour win in California, ealrier this year.

Maguire, whose parents like Hill’s are both teachers, said: “I’m really excited to be playing in front of the home fans this week.

“The first event I ever played in was the Northern Ireland Open and to be back here as a pro is a really special thing.

“Irish golf fans are always fantastic to come out to support us, it doesn’t really matter what it is.

“There’s set to be lots of crowds out there this week, so hopefully I can give them plenty to cheer,” added Maguire, who was born 15 minutes after twin sister Lisa, who has been playing on the LET Access Series this year, having played on the Symetra Tour, in the USA, in 2018.

The sisters became the youngest Curtis Cup players when selected to play for Great Britain and Ireland against the USA, at Massachusetts’ Essex Country Club, in 2010.

The 2001 Amateur Champion Michael Hoey is another Northern Ireland based pro looking forward to teeing it up this week

Hoey, whose last of five European Tour wins came in 2013, said “This event has grown quite a lot over the years.

“It’s quite chaotic now as there’s 600 people but the atmosphere is great.

“You’ve got Niall Horan, who is so important for European golf, a great sponsor in ISPS Handa and you have a lot of celebrities who have turned out for the pro-am.

“You’ve got Jimmy Nesbitt, Tommy Bowe, four-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea and it’s a great commitment from Northern Irish people to be involved.

“It’s going to be good to see the scoring. Hopefully the rain passes but I think it’s going to be target golf for the next few days.

“I played in the Vic Open which was the same format. On Sunday you get a winner from one group and then potentially another winner from the next group so that’s good from a spectators’ point of view.

“You will hopefully have a winning putt and then another winning putt 20 minutes later… that’s the thinking behind it.”

The drive for inclusivity continues apace with men and women competing together this week.

And Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor, the winner of the inaugural EDGA Scottish Open last month, is also set to compete alongside Challenge Tour professionals for the first time.

The action will begin on both courses at 7.30am on Thursday and live updates of the men’s and women’s action from both courses can be found by following @Challenge_Tour on Twitter or by clicking here

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