£1.00 The Links Times Daily News & Order of Play Round 2 Friday 6 October, 2017 PRO LEADERS after Round 1 Paul Dunne -5 Dunne’s glorious return Nicolas Colsaerts -5 Ryan Fox -4 Two years after leading The Open on the Old Course at St Andrews as an Shane Lowry -4 amateur, the Irishman shares the lead as he chases a second straight victory Joël Stalter -4 Oliver Fisher -4 Paul Dunne returned to St Andrews, he will go out at Carnoustie today in Belgian Colsaerts’ 67 at Kings- Tyrrell Hatton -4 the scene of one of his most unfor- a positive frame of mind. barns proved eventful. He had a triple TEAM LEADERS after Round 1 gettable moments, to share the first He said: “Life is pretty good at the bogey seven at the 3rd but fought Price / Desmond -11 round lead in the Alfred Dunhill Links moment. The Open was great because back with seven birdies. Fox / Warne -11 Championship with Nicolas Colsaerts. it opened so many doors. How many The Team Championship is In 2015, on the Old Course, Irish times are you going to lead The proving thrilling with a three-way tie Detry / Louw -11 star Dunne became the first amateur Open at St Andrews with one round on 11-under-par involving Ryan Fox since 1927 to lead The Open after to go? It was a situation I wasn’t used and Shane Warne, Aron Price and 54 holes. to and it overwhelmed me a bit. It Ross Desmond and Thomas Detry Now he has given himself the was one that slipped away, but I’m in and Rob Louw. perfect start in his attempt to win his a better place to deal with it now.” Cricketer Warne said: “We’re trying second straight professional tour- Dunne had four birdies and an to have fun, even though we’re a nament, following his success in the eagle at the 9th, where he drove the Kiwi and an Aussie. It was a pleasure British Masters last week. green and sank a 30-foot putt. His only to watch Ryan play his brilliant After his five-under 67 yesterday, blemish was a bogey at the 17th. round of 68.” @dunhilllinks @alfreddunhilllinks Getty Images and Ian McIlgorm Photographs courtesy of Vampire act makes Goode cover up It’s not easy being a vampire. Yesterday, standing on the first tee, Downton Abbey’s Matthew Goode turned to his playing partners, Australian Shane Warne and Ryan Fox of New Zealand and asked for sunscreen. “In Scotland? In October? No, mate.” Goode then asked: “Are there no South Africans here?” and sure enough, one was on hand with some sunscreen. As the actor covered his face, he explained to the crowd: “I need this because the role I’m playing Changes pay off for at the moment is a vampire – I can’t go back with a suntan!” The actor is filming A Discovery eagle-powered Ben of Witches, a supernatural series adapted from the novels of Deb- After bouncing between tours, a new coach and a orah Harkness. Despite his pallor, revamped swing put Evans in top form at Carnoustie there was plenty of life in Goode’s game as he finished at 8-under Ben Evans tamed Carnoustie in has made an immediate impact. I'm with David Howell in the Team some style yesterday, hitting two playing a lot, lot better. Championship. eagles on the back nine for a 69 that “It's been difficult to play well was unbeaten on the course and left enough to earn enough money on him two shots off the lead overall. the main tour, to keep a category The 30-year-old from Maidstone out there. But since Denmark, I've has been in form leading up to the tried to concentrate more on the Championship, with a third-place main tour but then last week, I fin- finish in Denmark six weeks ago and ished fifth on The Challenge Tour, a fifth-placed on the Challenger which played my way into China. So Tour in his last outing. I'm going to go to China on Monday. Evans plays on both tours but Doesn't matter where you play; if believes changes to his game can make you play well, it sorts itself out. weeks like this a regular experience. “Today I had short irons in [for “I've kind of had some swing the eagles] and the pins are quite changes,” he said. “I've changed accessible, so gives you a chance of coach and done a few things, which making some.” Redknapp recalls dream day on the Old Course Former football star insists playing with Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald is one of his sporting highlights Jamie Redknapp played in some “I knew what that meant - ‘I’m massive football matches, yet he going to be out in the last group with rates a unique round on the Old Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald in the Course in the Alfred Dunhill Links final round on the Old Course!’ Championship in 2009 as one of the “I’ve had some real sporting highs best experiences in his sporting life. in my life, but that was up there with Former England international my best. Playing for my country at Redknapp, now a TV and newspaper football was my highlight, but this football analyst, played with this was one of the best days of my life. year’s partner Luke Donald, left, and “Rory was playing with his dad made the cut. Gerry, who is a great guy. It was He said: “It was something very, brilliant. I’ve been lucky enough to very special, and I’ll never forget it. play at Wembley and at St Andrews, “I remember looking up at the these are special places in the history leaderboard after the third round. of sport. You keep thinking back Luke was leading the tournament to all the great things that have and Rory McIlroy was second. happened there.” Colsaerts on top after seaside rollercoaster Nicolas Colsaerts shares the lead with back-to-back birdies for a after a first round that couldn’t have 5-under-par 67. started worse, and couldn’t have The big-hitting Belgian said: “I finished much better. kept very much composed. It could A triple-bogey seven at the third have been a lot lower but I pressed it would have blown many golfers off till the end. course at a blustery Kingsbarns but "I birdied 17 which is not really a Colsaerts birdied four of the next birdie hole and finished it off with five holes and finished his round the longest putt of the day on 18.” Yesterday Donald and Redknapp Southampton and England. ended their first round at the Old He said: “It filled a massive void in Course on 6-under. my life. When you play football, you Redknapp has twice made the have that buzz and passion. I think cut in the six events he’s played, that’s why so many sportsmen turn both with Donald. He also partnered to golf. with professionals Justin Rose, Simon “I can’t get enough, though the Khan, Thomas Bjorn and last year first time I played the Alfred Dunhill with Rikard Karlberg. Links Championship I was so nerv- He added: “It’s a great format and ous I didn’t think I was going to get I think the pros enjoy it. Back in the ball on the tee. I still get nervous, 2009, Luke and Rory were trying to it’s ridiculous.” win, so Gerry and I kept out of the And he revealed what his targets way, but Luke was a real gentleman. are this year. Even if he hit a bad shot, he would He said: “I would love to make the come and give me some advice, cut again, but I just go there to have about maybe the club I was taking. a great week, meet some fantastic, He was the perfect partner.” interesting people, hopefully hit Redknapp played golf as a some good shots and just enjoy it. youngster with his famous football “Though once the competitive manager father Harry. However, he juices are flowing, you certainly get only really fell in love with the game interested on the last day if you are when he retired because of injuries in sight of making the cut. Alan aged 31 after a glittering career with Hansen and I always used to have a Hello baby! Ronan Keating and his wife Storm proudly show off baby Cooper Liverpool, Tottenham, Bournemouth, bet on who would finish higher.” to his pro partner Lee Westwood and his girlfriend Helen Storey The Alfred Dunhill Links ...and another Championship celebrates links golf at its finest and is played Kelly with a over the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship winning habit Course at Carnoustie and Kelly Slater isn’t just the greatest Kingsbarns Golf Links. The surfer the world has seen – he’s also final round, after the cut is a lucky charm for professional made on Saturday, is played golfers at the Alfred Dunhill Links over the Old Course. Championship. With a total prize fund of US$5 million, there are two In 2009 Slater was Simon Dyson’s separate competitions - an indi- amateur partner and in 2015 he was vidual professional tournament paired with Thorbjorn Olesen, left. and the Team Championship, And both England’s Dyson and in which each professional is Denmark’s Olesen won the individual paired with an amateur.