Flogas Irish Amateur Open Royal County Down

Views back down the par four 5th at Royal
County Down at sunrise

I have been extremely fortunate to play Royal County Down twice in the past month. Both times it was a fine day and the gorse was in full bloom. I took photographs by the dozen - if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you'll have seen numerous shots - and played some half decent golf. This is, after all, not a course where you want to be playing anything less than half decent golf because balls disappear into deep rough and gorse in the blink of an eye, and blind shots will bamboozle you.

On the other hand, if you're the No. 37 ranked amateur in the world you're unlikely to be worrying about losing balls and be far more concerned with making birdies.

On Tuesday, I played with Kristoffer Reitan, from Norway. Accompanied by Marcus - his caddie, coach and former Pro golfer himself - they are aiming for big things by year end. Kristoffer is 19 years old, is long off the tee (he drove the par four 16th, 337 yards) and has the short game to make it if his ambitions bear fruit. It was a privilege to play with such a talented young man. He made three birdies and few mistakes... and those he did make he recovered from. His first visit to one of the dreaded bunkers was followed by a 150 yard shot from the sand onto the green.

Kristoffer Reitan tees off on the par four 2nd at Royal County Down

And after Round 1 of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open he's in a strong position. A 2 under par 69 has him in joint 4th. A certain Robin Dawson, from Tramore, blew the course away with a 65, but there's a long way to go yet... starting today. (All Round 1 scores are below.)

Kristoffer tees off on the par three 4th.

Round one scores 

Flogas Irish Amateur Open

Royal County Down

65 R Dawson (Tramore)

68 A Fitzpatrick (England); A Gleeson  (Castle)

69 J Skov Olesen (Denmark); M Saulez (South Africa); D Hague (England); M Jordan (England); D Rauch (Germany); R Cannon (Balbriggan); K Reitan (Norway); A Wilson (England)

70 G Collins (Rosslare); J Hapgood (Wales); B Gill (England); S Watts (Cairndhu); C Thornton (England); N Bachem (Germany)

71 P O'Keeffe (Douglas); C Woollam (South Africa); R Mullarney (Galway); G Bloor (England); A Hill (Athenry); J Fox (Portmarnock); J Gough (England); T Nel (South Africa); G Chevalier (France); J Wilson (Scotland); D Langley (England); P Brennan (Belvoir Park); P Melching (Netherlands)

72 L Sanges (Wales); E Walker (Scotland); L Shepherd (England); M Hammer (Germany); C Barrow (Scotland); C Strickland (England); E McIntosh (Scotland); M Mitchell  (South Africa); J Sugrue (Mallow)

73 C Mansfield (South Africa); T Carter (England); J Brady (Rosslare); T Vaillant (France); Q Debove (France); J Cope (England); R Williams   (England); R Brazill (Naas); J Yates (Naas); J Mc Donnell (Forrest Little); N Poppleton (England); D Brophy (Castleknock); B Hutchinson (England); F Hanisch (Germany); C Denvir (Elm Park); B Chamberlain (Wales); J Schaper (South Africa); J Pierse (Portmarnock)

74 C Lamprecht (South Africa); F Carr (Kirkistown Castle); R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); M Norton (Belvoir Park); J Mis (England); A Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown); T Vahlenkamp (Germany); A Edwards-Hill (England); A Petit (France); C Rafferty (Dundalk); J Sundborg (England); S Done (England); B Anderson (The Royal Dublin); K Cantley  (Scotland); S Easton (Scotland); T Clements (England); J Davies (Wales); B McKenzie (England)

75 B Jones (England); M Waite (England); C Farr (England); R Williamson (Holywood); D Germishuys (South Africa); J McMahon (England); D Howie (Scotland); J Johnston (Scotland); G Lenehan (Portmarnock); R Foley (Switzerland); A Flanagan (England); A Grant (Dundalk); M Martin (England)

76 S Locke (Scotland); A Plumb (England); O Huggins (England); R Moran (Castle); D McAleenon (Edenmore); J Glenn (England); R Pierse (Grange); T Thurloway (England); D Brown (England); J de Bruyn (Germany); H Goddard (England)

77 J Madden (Royal Portrush); J Whelan (Newlands); P Coughlan (Castleknock); M Ryan (New Ross); N Muller (France); W Nienaber (South Africa); J Bolton (England); M Power (Kilkenny)

78 A McDougall (Scotland); A Laussot (France); K Egan (Carton House); T Plumb (England); J Gaunt (England); H Foley (The Royal Dublin); L Abrial (France); R Dutton (Tandragee); G Petrozzi (England); E Farrell (Ardee); P Mullins (Wales); T McLarnon (Massereene)

79 R Black (Hilton Templepatrick); D Coghlan (Portmarnock); J Fletcher (Warrenpoint); D Mary (France); T Sloman (England)

80 E Smith (Laytown & Bettystown); O Crooks (Bushfoot); D Kitt (Athenry); W Porter (Scotland)

81 J Walsh (Castle); W Small (Tandragee); G Frimodt (Denmark); M Lamb (England); T Shin (England)

82 D McNeill (Scotland); J Paterson (Scotland); C Woodroofe (Dun Laoghaire)

83 R Knightly (The Royal Dublin)

86 M d'Harcourt (France)