Ilonen Sets Pace in Irish Open


Mikko Ilonen set a course-record 7-under 64 to soar to the top of the leaderboard in the Irish Open. The European Tour event started Thursday at Fota Island Resort in County Cork.

The 34-year-old Finn, a three-time winner in Europe, posted eight birdies and a bogey for a two-stroke lead over German's Marcel Siem and Swedes Robert Karlsson and Magus A. Carlsson.

The 64 was the fifth time Ilonen has established a course record. He hopes the great start carries over into the next three rounds. "I lost out in a playoff to Sergio (Garcia) in the Qatar Masters this year, and recently in the Nordea Masters I felt my game was good despite finishing 32nd, which is still a mystery how I finished 32nd that week as I was hitting my best shots of the week there," Ilonen told reporters.

"Maybe the good golf is there but then we still have a long way to go."

Three back after 67s are Italy's Edoardo Molinari, England's Matthew Baldwin, Denmark's Anders Hansen and the Netherlands' Daan Huizing.

Defending champion Paul Casey of England started with a 69, while sixth-ranked Rory McIlroy shot a 74. The 25-year-old Northern Irishman, who on Wednesday committed to play for Ireland in the 2016 Rio Olympics, had a tough day, hitting eight of 14 fairways and needing 30 putts en route to six bogeys and three birdies.

"I've still got a little bit of jet lag, for sure, coming from the U.S. Open," the 25-year-old said. "I wasn't able to do much the Monday, Tuesday, because the clubs didn't arrive until yesterday, as well, so that was a little bit frustrating more than anything else.

"But I did a really good practice session on the range last night after the pro-am, and was feeling good going out this morning. However, I just couldn't really put it together as I was very sloppy with the scoring clubs, wedges, the short game, the putting. All that was just a little off. Hopefully, that is my poor round for the week."

Other scores included a 68 by Graeme McDowell and a 72 by Darren Clarke, both major winners from Northern Ireland. Ireland's Shane Lowry, who won the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur, opened with a 71.

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014048/leaderboard/index.html.