Irish Golf News

Seafield Golf Club in Co Wexford

Birr's Billy Conlon enjoyed a three stroke victory in the Leinster Veterans Amateur Open Championship at Seafield. 

He closed with a three over 73 to win on 10 over 150 from Cork's Peter Cowley, who led after a first round 765 but took 78 in the final round.

Scotland's Brian Grieve was third on 156 after rounds of 79 and 77.

 

Leinster Veterans Amateur Open Championship 2015, Seafield Golf Club (Par 70)FINAL CSS: R1 74 R/O, R2 74

150 Billy Donlon (Birr) 77 73

153 Peter Cowley (Cork Golf Club) 75 78

156 Brian Grieve (Scotland) 79 77

159 Mervyn Eager (Lucan) 79 80

160 John Cuffe (Monkstown Golf Club) 83 77

161 Bert Burke (Moate) 82 79

163 Joe Crowley (Athy Golf Club) 79 84

164 William J O'Brien (Ballykisteen Golf Club) 82 82, Robert Edgar (Blackpool North Shore Golf Club) 82 82

169 John McCann (Co. Louth) 86 83, Hugh Donnelly (Lisheen Springs) 84 85

170 John O'Donoghue (Tipperary Golf Club) 88 82

172 John Bourke (Castle) 86 86

173 Tony McGlynn (Craddockstown) 92 81, John Houlihan (Dooks Golf Club) 89 84, Sean Lynch (Minchinhampton Golf Club) 88 85, T A Conway (Clandeboye) 87 86

175 Joe Llewellyn (The Heath Golf Club) 85 90

176 Alistair Smith (Blainroe Golf Club) 83 93

177 Sean F. Hosty (Galway Golf Club) 90 87, John Noonan (Grange) 89 88, Paul Hautz (Delgany) 88 89

180 Patrick Desmond (The Island) 93 87, Kenneth Burns (Lisburn) 90 90, Dick Croke (Portlaoise Golf Club) 89 91

182 Brian Williams (Grange) 87 95

183 Brian Campbell (Broadway Golf Club) 94 89, Michael Foley (Faithlegg Golf Club) 91 92

186 George Leech (Enniscorthy) 94 92

187 Tadg Mannion (Athlone) 91 96

188 Patrick Coyne (Dun Laoghaire) 98 90, Tom McLoughlin (Curragh Golf Club) 97 91

189 Nick Brittan (Carton House) 100 89

190 Gerry Mulholland (Antrim Golf Club) 97 93, Norman Bissett (Lisburn) 95 95

192 William Leggett (The Island) 96 96

204 John Derek McGilton (Clandeboye) 102 102

212 Dudley Coyle (North West) 108 104

NR/WD/DQ  Ken Newens (Castlerock Golf Club) 87 NR, Liam O'Hagan (Narin & Portnoo Golf Club) DQ 117, Arthur Bell (Greencastle Golf Club) DQ 100, Gerry O'Keeffe (Waterford) 79 DQ, Richard Cotter (Delgany) DQ 80, Joe Keegan (Courtown) 83 DQ, Peter O'Flanagan (Woodbrook) 87 DQ, Sean Mc Namara (Killorglin Golf Club) DQ 94, Frank Quinn (Galway Golf Club) DQ 96, Larry Cullen (Rush) 98 DQ, John Heverin (Narin & Portnoo Golf Club) 106 DQ, John Mulhall (Rush) 93 WD, Podge Dolan (Rush) DQ DQ, Sean Crudden (Greenore Golf Club) DQ WD

Gary Howie, head professional at Adare Manor

The wait is almost over for Adare Manor duo Gary Howie and John Horgan as they prepare to make their much anticipated bow in the Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge.

The duo had been planning on entering the £25,000 event ever since amateur Horgan became club captain earlier this year.

And now they will travel to Luttrellstown on September 10 in the hope of securing a slot in the grand final over the PGA Sultan Course at Antalya Golf Club in Turkey on November 25-26.

It is a rare competitive outing for PGA Professional Howie who focuses much of his attention on his role as director of golf operations at the Limerick resort.

But this event was a commitment he had long penned into his diary.

“I promised John we would play this right when he first joined as captain,” he explained. “It’s a good time of year for it to be honest, things are beginning to quieten down a little bit as we approach the close season so I can afford to take the time away to play.

“Normally I’m really busy at the club, running everything from management of the first tee, to looking after the membership and even a little bit of coaching.

“But I still love playing, and if we could make it to Turkey it would definitely go down as a real career highlight.”

Horgan, an entrepreneur with a handicap of six who picked up golf in his 30s, is prioritising a positive performance when the duo travel to the regional qualifier.

“It’s all about playing well for me,” he admitted. “As nice as it would be to get to Turkey, you just want to go out there and play as well as you can. I get more satisfaction from that than any prizes I could be awarded.

“I’m a streaky player, so I’m either playing well or I’m not! Hopefully I’ll be playing well when we go to Luttrellstown.”

Other players competing in the Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge qualifier at Luttrellstown include: Peter Jones and Paudie Doyle (a) (Coollatin), Noel Callan and Frank McCalintock (a) (Faughan Valley), Kevin McGivern and Tommy Hoey (a) (Mannan Castle) and Johnny Young and Paud O’Brien (a) (Rosslare)

The "Golf Supports Our Troops" veterans at Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort in Co Donegal

Keep an eye out for these US veterans as they play golf and head from Rosapenna to Carne, Mount Falcon Estate, Enniscrone, the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Galway and the Galway Bay Golf Resort, all with the support of Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, over the next few days. 

Golf Supports Our Troops, a New Jersey-based nonprofit, is celebrating a decade of giving back to disabled veterans with possibly its biggest contribution yet: a dream golf trip to Ireland, writes Jason Deegan. Since forming in 2006, GSOT has shipped thousands of donated golf clubs and balls to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, taken hundreds of vets to PGA Tour events and raised enough money to install six wheelchair-accessible synthetic putting greens at VA hospitals around the country.All those programs have been successful bringing the joy of golf to soldiers, but the trip to Ireland from Sept. 6-12 -- featuring 20 disabled vets and two PGA Professionals -- will be extra special."The vets wake up every day and pinch themselves," GSOT founder Brian Coleman says.Coleman has traveled extensively through Ireland, sometimes following arrangements made by Justin Farrell, a golf tour operator who founded Links of Ireland (linksofireland.com) in 2013. When Farrell offered to help organize a GSOT trip in 2014, Coleman was blown away by the Irish hospitality. Farrell says he has always been keen to give back, donating Irish golf vacations as fundraisers for The Tiger Woods Foundation and Self Help Africa."The veterans have given and sacrificed so much to help others," Farrell says. "It was an initiative Links of Ireland is hugely proud to be involved with."

Special first day on #SandyHillsLinks w/ #HeroestoIreland #whyilovethisgame

A photo posted by Jason Scott Deegan (@jasondeegangolfadvisor) on Sep 7, 2015 at 8:59am PDT

Farrell recruited a handful of key Irish partners. Kerry Coaches will drive the bus along a portion of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, a west coast tour stopping for golf and/or overnight stays at Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort; The Beach Hotel Downings; Carne Golf Links; Mount Falcon Estate; Enniscrone Golf Club; Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Galway; and the Galway Bay Golf Resort, all with the support of Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.Coleman worked to raise money for airfare and food and drinks on the tour. Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer -- who donate tickets to their respective PGA Tour events in Ohio and Florida to GSOT every year -- have signed letters of support."A lot of people are amazed that the Ireland people will do this," Coleman says. "I am not amazed. This is the way they are. There is a strong bond between the Irish and Americans. I always feel welcome when I am there."

#HeroestoIreland leave #Rosapenna for #MountFalconEstate #EnniscroneGC tomorrow. #whyilovethisgame #LinksofIreland pic.twitter.com/4Jm0JknOiv

— Jason Scott Deegan (@WorldGolfer) September 8, 2015 The veterans will travel from all parts of America, representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Some former soldiers have earned Purple Heart medals for their sacrifices and others have lost limbs, Coleman says. Florida-based PGA Professionals Dave Windsor and Ken Juhn regularly work with disabled veterans through the Adaptive Golf Academy."There is no rank on this trip," Coleman says. "The only (military) order is you have to have fun. This is a trip to enjoy. If you want to take a day off from golf, do it. This is not a competition. This is just a payback for your service. I'm interested to see how the group melds together. I'm sure they will."Editor's Note: Jason Scott Deegan will be traveling with the group. Follow him on social media @WorldGolfer (Twitter) and @JasonDeegangolfadvisor (Instagram) for updates.

West Waterford's Gary Hurley plays Walker Cup this week, followed by the First Qualifying Stage of the European Tour Q-School in Scotland next week.

Only Kevin Phelan and David Higgins have won full European Tour cards by going through Q-School over the past five years. No matter. No fewer than 12 of Ireland's 28 hopefuls will head to the starting line full of hope when the First Qualifying of the European Tour Q-School begins in Scotland and Germany next week.

Over the next month, Walker Cup players Paul Dunne, Jack Hume, Gary Hurley and Gavin Moynihan and their former Irish team mates John-Ross Galbraith, Richard Bridges and Dermot McElroy will try their luck at making it to Second Stage, where they will be joined by more Irish players and the rest of the hardened veterans from the Challenge Tour, the European Tour and beyond.

Around 1,000 hopefuls pay a fee of €1,800 (or the sterling equivalent of £1,350) to enter the Qualifying School each year, all aiming for a European Tour card awarded to the top 25 and ties following the Final Stage, which will be held at PGA Catalunya Resort in Catalonia from November 14-19.

There they will mix it with experienced players who failed to finish in the Top 110 on the European Tour this year, not to mention other hungry raiders from all over the world — Australia, the United States, Asia and the Middle East.

A player progressing through all three stages will have to play 252 holes under the most intense pressure with the leading 25 players (plus those tied for 25th place) after the six-round Final Stage earning Category 15 Membership of The European Tour for the following season. (Those who get to final stage and make the four round cut get Challenge Tour cards)

West Waterford star Hurley will head straight from the Walker Cup to Scotland for his Stage One event at The Roxburghe.

He's one of seven players who played amateur golf this year to head for Q-School with the others being his Walker Cup team mates, Hume, Moynihan and Dunne and former Ireland team mates Galbraith, Bridges and McElroy.

Dunne and Hume tee it up at Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf in Austria from September 22-25 with Moynihan, who has signed with Chubby Chandler's ISM, scheduled to tee it up at Ribagolfe in Lisbon at the end of the month.

Other notable entries include Clontarf's PGA professional Eamonn Brady, 41 in October, who will be making his first appearance at Q-School for a decade.

The former Royal Dublin player is second in the Irish Region's Order of Merit behind Higgins thanks to six wins this year.

European Tour Qualifying School 2015 - Irish entries for Stage OneSep 15-18  First Qualifying Stage Section A The Roxburghe Hotel & Golf Course, Kelso, UK

1. Richard BRIDGES
2. Jonathan CALDWELL Clandeboye GC
3. Colm CAMPBELL JNR (AM)
4. Brian CASEY Headfort GC
5. Alan DUNBAR Team Ireland
6. Gary HURLEY (AM) West Waterford GC
7. Richard KILPATRICK Banbridge GC 
8. Dermot MCELROY (AM) Ballymena GC
9. Rory MCNAMARA La Cala Resort
10. Richard O’DONOVAN Lucan GC
11. Simon WARD Belvoir Park

Sep 15-18 First Qualifying Stage Section A Fleesensee, Germany

1. Stephen GRANT Mount Juliet GC

Sep 22-25 First Qualifying Stage Section B Collingtree Park, Northampton, UK

1. Ciaran BOGGAN Co Meath Golf Club
2. Eamonn BRADY Clontarf GC
3. JD GUINEY Ballybunion GC
4. Peter MCGIBNEY
5. Richard WELDON Killeen Castle GC
6. Reeve WHITSON Royal County Down G.C

Sep 22-25 First Qualifying Stage Section B Ebreichsdorf, Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf, Austria

1. Paul DUNNE (AM)
2. Jack HUME (AM) Naas GC

Sep 29-Oct 02 First Qualifying Stage Section C Golf d’Hardelot, France

1. Michael McGEADY Northwest GC

Sep 29-Oct 02 First Qualifying Stage Section C Ribagolfe, Lisbon, Portugal

1. David CAREY
2. Johnathan MALLON
3. Brendan McCARROLL Team Ireland
4. Gavin MOYNIHAN (AM) The Island GC
5. Tim RICE Limerick GC

Oct 06-09 First Qualifying Stage Section D Frilford Heath Red, Abingdon, UK

1. John Ross GALBRAITH (AM) Whitehead
2. David RAWLUK The Island GC

Oct 06-09 First Qualifying Stage Section D Circolo Golf Bogogno, Italy

1. No Irish

Shane Lowry, who played a round with Ireland's five Walker Cup representatives at Portmarnock last week

Walker Cup — Enjoy yourselves and don't forget to ask for help. That was the advice of world No 22 Shane Lowry to Ireland's five representatives ahead of this weekend's Walker Cup. And with four of them hoping to win their cards at Q-School—starting next week with Gary Hurley in the 11-man contingent at The Roxburghe—the winner off the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur reminded them that National Coach Neil Manchip is never more than a phone call away.

New caps for Women’s Home Internationals

New caps (left to right) Sarah Helly (Enniscrone), Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) and Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little) with ILGU President Valerie Hassett (centre) at Royal Wimbledon.

Women's Home Internationals — Four players who represented Ireland at the Ladies European Team Championships  will be joined by four new senior caps for the women's Home International Matches, which started at Royal Wimbledon today.LIVE SCORINGIrish Champion Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) proved her worth at the Irish Ladies Close at Rosapenna Golf Club and will be a welcome addition to the team. Three in-form members of the Irish girls team for the European Team Championships will make up the remaining spots: Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little), Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) and Annabel Wilson (Lurgan).  The team strikes the perfect mix of youth and experience and will be captained by Sinead Keane for the second consecutive year. Donal Scott will travel with the ladies as coach and Valerie Hassett will join as manager.  
 
Olivia Mehaffey (RCDL) has notably been the most dominant Irish player this season and will be looking to ignite that extra spark, which could spur the team to a winning performance.Mehaffey, recently crowned 2015 LGU Order of Merit winner will be fully focused on helping her team capture the Miller Trophy before jetting off to Germany to join her Junior Solheim Cup teammates ahead of the Junior Solheim Cup matches at St. Leon-Rot GC in Germany.The Irish Team face a tough battle from England, Scotland and Wales but will be seeking revenge after England very narrowly pipped them in the first round of matchplay at the Ladies European Team Championships earlier this year.
 
Irish Ladies Home International Team – Royal Wimbledon Golf Club, 9-11 September 2015

• Maria Dunne (Skerries)
• Paula Grant (Lisburn)
• Sara Helly (Enniscrone)
• Olivia Mahaffey (Royal County Down Ladies)
• Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little)
• Niamh McSherry (Lurgan)
• Chloe Ryan (Castletroy)
• Annabel Wilson (Lurgan)
• Team Captain: Sinead Keane. Team Manager: Valerie Hassett. Team Coach: Donal Scott.

Back row - (L-R) Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little),  Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), Sinead Keane (Team Captain), Sara Helly (Enniscrone),  Niamh McSherry (Lurgan). Front row (L-R) Olivia Mahaffey (Royal County Down Ladies), Paula Grant (Lisburn), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy), Maria Dunne (Skerries).

Good field for Munster Veterans

Munster Veterans Championship — Branch chairman John Moloughney, Lahinch legend Greg Young and Irish team captain Tony Goode are three of the entries for the Munster Veterans which takes place on the Castle Course at Lahinch on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September.  

Click here to download tee-times

The Championship is for players over 65 with 18 holes of strokeplay each day.  Prizes will be awarded to the Winner, Runner-up, Third, Best Nett 36 holes, 2nd Nett 36 holes, 3rd Nett 36 holes, Best Gross 1st 18, Best Nett 1st 18, Best Gross 2nd 18, Best Nett 2nd 18. 

Cowley leads Leinster VeteransLeinster Veterans Championship — Cork's Peter Cowley has a two stroke lead after the opening round of the Leinster Veterans Amateur Open at Seafield. He shot a five over 75 to lead from Birr's Billy Donlon (77).Results Round 1 CSS: 74 R/O Par: 7075 Peter Cowley (Cork)77 Billy Donlon (Birr)79 Joe Crowley (Athy), Mervyn Eager (Lucan), Gerry O'Keeffe (Waterford), Brian Grieve (Scotland)82 Robert Edgar (Blackpool North Shore), William J O'Brien (Ballykisteen), Bert Burke (Moate)83 Alistair Smith (Blainroe), Joe Keegan (Courtown), John Cuffe (Monkstown)84 Hugh Donnelly (Lisheen Springs)85 Joe Llewellyn (The Heath)86 John McCann (Co. Louth), John Bourke (Castle)87 T A Conway (Clandeboye), Peter O'Flanagan (Woodbrook), Ken Newens (Castlerock), Brian Williams (Grange)88 John O'Donoghue (Tipperary), Sean Lynch (Minchinhampton), Paul Hautz (Delgany)89 Dick Croke (Portlaoise), John Noonan (Grange), John Houlihan (Dooks)

90 Sean F. Hosty (Galway), Kenneth Burns (Lisburn)

91 Tadg Mannion (Athlone), Michael Foley (Faithlegg)

92 Tony McGlynn (Craddockstown)

93 Patrick Desmond (The Island), John Mulhall (Rush)

94 Brian Campbell (Broadway), George Leech (Enniscorthy)

95 Norman Bissett (Lisburn)

96 William Leggett (The Island)

97 Gerry Mulholland (Antrim), Tom McLoughlin (Curragh)

98 Larry Cullen (Rush), Patrick Coyne (Dun Laoghaire)

100 Nick Brittan (Carton House)

102 John Derek McGilton (Clandeboye)

106 John Heverin (Narin & Portnoo)

108 Dudley Coyle (North West)

DQ Liam O'Hagan (Narin & Portnoo), Arthur Bell (Greencastle), Sean McNamara (Killorglin), Richard Cotter (Delgany), Sean Crudden (Greenore), Frank Quinn (Galway), Podge Dolan (Rush)

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy plans to have the last laugh this year and end it as world No 1 and FedEx Cup champion, not to mention king of Europe.

Just as Rickie Fowler crept up on the rails and took advantage of a late mistake by Henrik Stenson to win the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston last night, McIlroy hopes to win the last two Playoff events.

He is buoyed by a vastly improved putting performance at TPC Boston, where he closed with a five under 65 to finish tied 29th, 12 strokes behind Fowler on three under.

And while he admits that he is still short on match practice having played just two events since June’s US Open because of his football provoked ankle injury, he’s hopefull that he can do what others did to him in the past and take the FedEx Cup with a couple of late wins in Chicago and Atlanta.

Disappointed that his hot form fizzled out over the last six holes, which he played in one over, McIlroy was happy to show some improvement and apparently unconcerned that Jordan Spieth would overtake him and regain the world No 1 ranking this week before McIlroy recovers it next week.

“I holed some putts, finally,” McIlroy said after taking 27 putts and just 14 as he palyed his first 12 holes in six under. 

"I really got it going on the front nine and even sort of the first 12 holes. And then sort of the same old stuff I’ve been doing the rest of the week, giving myself opportunities for making birdie. 

"It really feels like it could have been a lot more. A lot of positives. It was nice to finish the week this way.

"Even on the way in I can't really fault my ball-striking. I gave myself a great look at 13, a great look at 15, another great look at 16. And one at the last, as well. And to play those holes in 1-over par was quite disappointing.But overall I can take the positives from it. It was a good score in tricky conditions. It was a little windy out there. All of this to take into Chicago.”

McIlroy got a phone tip from Dave Stockton earlier in the week and while his putting is still “a work in progress” he’s hopeful his game will click in time to give him a chance to win the FedEx Cup.

Focussing more on that than his position in the world rankings, the world No 2 said: "I’d love to play well next week and get myself into the top five going into Atlanta. That's still the goal. I'll probably need a win. But if I can do that then I know it’s possible. 

"I've had it done to me a couple of times before where guys have snuck into the top-5 then won The TOUR Championship and then the whole thing. I’m trying to do the same thing this year.”

The players have this week off to recharge their batteries before they head to Chicago and Atlanta.

McIlroy will be No 1 again for the BMW Championship given the vagaries of the rankings and when asked if he was a fan of the system, he said he couldn’t think of a better one.

“I don’t see any other way,” said McIlroy, who is now 17th in the FedEx Cup standings. "You can do it on a one-year point system. I think two years is a reflection of how you played. At the end of the day it’s just about playing and playing well.

“I don't know any other way we could determine the best player in the world, if you go on majors or number of wins in the season."

As for the Deutsche Bank Championship,  Fowlerrallied from two shots behind with five holes to play by making a 40-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole and then taking advantage of Stenson’s double ogey five at the 16th, where his tee shot came up short and bounced into the water.

“Just kind of hung in there today,” said Fowler, who shot 68 to finish in 15 under. "It’s pretty special."

The win moved Fowler to third in the FedExCup standings  behind Jason Day and Spieth. The victory was Fowler's second of the season (THE PLAYERS) and third of his career.

"I've been playing well the past couple of years," Fower said. "It was just a matter of time before I knocked down the door."

Stenson called the seven iron that balooned on the wind at the 16th and end up in the water, a “killer blow.”

“I obviously pulled the wrong club on 16 and was trying to get the most out of a seven-iron into the wind and ballooned that one a little bit and that was the crucial mistake, making double there was really a killer,” he said after a 70. "I tried to get those two shots back or at least one to force a playoff on the last two holes and couldn't manage to do it."

The top five in the FedExCup standings are Day, who was 12th in Boston on six under after a 69, Spieth, Fowler, Stenson and Bubba Watson.

Ireland's five Walker Cup players for the 2015 matches alongside Challenge Tour player Ruaidhri McGee, Irish team captain Tony Goode and National Coach Neil Manchip at Portmarnock last week

The Golfing Union of Ireland caught up with Gavin Moynihan, Gary Hurley, Jack Hume, Cormac Sharvin and Paul Dunne at Portmarnock last week to speak about this week's Walker Cup matches at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Mary Culliton (Board Member, ILGU) presenting Anne Marie Carroll (Lady Captain, Ballybunion Golf Club) with the Munster Region pennant after their victory in the 2015 Miele All Ireland Fourball Regional Finals at Tullamore. Also in the picture in front (from left) Margaret McAuliffe, Eileen Kenny Ryan (Manager), Nora Quaid, Margaret Crerar (Miele Ireland), Una Deneefe, Rose Molyneaux (Lady President, Ballybunion Golf Club) and Pat Joyce . At back (from left) Mary O'Donoghue, Georgina Keane, Bernie Maloney, Caitriona Corrigan, Deirdre Dillane, Ann O'Riordan, Geraldine Williams, Josette O'Donnell and Maeve Barrett. Picture by Pat Cashman

Players, panels and supports arrived to Tullamore Golf Club early on Monday morning to warm up and prepare for battle in the Miele Fourball Regional Finals.

All eight teams played steady and impressive golf to get to the regional finals but they had one last hill to climb before they could get their hands on the regional title.

They took to the beautifully manicured Tullamore golf course on a calm and dry day in search of success.  

The first rounds of the Miele Fourball began in April so it has been a long but enjoyable endurance test for the eight teams to get this far.

All eight teams put up a strong fight with the hopes of capturing the regional title and progressing to the all-Ireland semi-finals and final at Newlands Golf Club from October 3-4.

Region 3 - Ballybunion 3 East Cork 1

1. Caitriona Corrigan & Nora Quaid beat Sarah O'Brien & Mary B Walsh 4&3
2. Margaret McAuliffe & Ann O'Riordan halved with Lillian Harrington & Breda McCarthy (called in)
3. Pat Joyce & Geraldine Williams beat Emma Curtin & Ruth Evans 6&5
4. Una Deneefe & Maeve Barrett halved with Deirdre O'Brien & Paula Carey (called in)

Mary Culliton (Board Member, ILGU) presenting Sylvia Heggie (Lady Captain, Rathfarnham Golf Club) with the Leinster Region pennant after their victory in the 2015 Miele All Ireland Fourball Regional Finals at Tullamore. Also in the picture in front (from left) are Carol Loftus, Margaret Crerar (Miele Ireland) and Roz Burgess. At back (from left) Karen White (Manager), Miriam Doyle, Carol Cahill, Sandra Gray, Lynda Keartland, Jane Jones, Christine Richardson, Siobhan Cullen and Riorach Donlon (President, Rathfarnham Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman

Region 1 - Roganstown ½ Rathfarnham 3½ 

1. Brenda Craig & Jackie Flynn lost to Carol Loftus & Sylvia Meggie 1up
2. Aine Derham & Patricia Flood halved with Carol Camill & Jane Jones 
3. Kathleen Gleeson & Phil Keane lost to Lynda Keartland & Sandra Gray 5&3
4. Monica Flynn & Frances Arthurs lost to Christine Richardson & Roz Burgess 2&1

Region 4 winners, Enniscrone. Picture by Pat Cashman

Region 4- Enniscrone 2 ½ Portumna 1½ 

1. Rita McGoldrick & Louise Loftus beat Claire Callahan & Mary McElroy 3&1
2. Mimi Franklin & Josephine Gillespie halved with Kathleen Lynch & Carmel Cunningham 
3. Sophie Dodd & Cindy Hughes beat Anita Carey & Brid Kelly 3&2
4. Mary McNamara & Ann Marie Hughes lost to Alle Fahy & Mary Kelly 3&2

Region 2 winners, Rockmount. Picture by Pat Cashman

Region 2 - Rockmount 3 Co. Armagh 1

1. Jo Donaldson & Leonie Power halved with Lily McMullan & Paula McCrory (called in)
2. Maureen Entwistle & Noreen Mikhale halved with Ellen Brady & Valerie Gordon (called in)
3. Jan Lindsay & Rosie McCrea beat June Humphries & Flo McCall 3&2
4. Andrea Watson & Sue McDonagh beat Teresa McVeigh & Gail Steed &3

Rory McIlroy misses a putt during the US Open

Rory McIlroy was more concerned with implementing a putting tip from Dave Stockton than potentially losing his world No 1 ranking to Jordan Spieth today.

Spieth missed the cut but due to McIlroy's changing divisor, the Texan can still regain the No 1 spot later today if Jason Day doesn’t win this week and McIlroy finishes outside the top 10.

McIlroy had to finish with two birdies to shoot a level par 71 on Sunday in the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston.

But at two over par and far from fluid on the greens, he's making up the numbers, 15 strokes behind Henrik Stenson, who shot 65 to lead by one from Rickie Fowler on 13 under par.

“It’s not something I really worry about,” McIlroy said about the OWGR after another lacklustre round marked by average putting and another three-putt. “I’m just worried about trying to get my game in better shape so I can compete and try to win tournaments.”

McIlroy had one three putt and 32 putts in total on Sunday despite trying to fix a problem spotted by occasional putting coach Stockton, who texted McIlroy on Saturday and got a return call.

According to PGATour.com's Brian Wacker:

“He mentioned a couple things to me,” McIlroy said. “I probably putted a little better today ... I just need to go work on it. I just need to get back in the rhythm of it a little bit.”

That’s been easier said than done for McIlroy, who has played just seven rounds since returning from an ankle injury that caused him to miss more than a month of action.

What Stockton noticed was that McIlroy was moving his legs during his stroke.

“If you’re rotating, you’re going to come up and catch it low on the putter,” Stockton said via cell phone. “It won’t be a consistent stroke.”

The way Stockton fixed the problem in the past was by placing a club against McIlroy’s knee to prevent it from moving.

The rest of McIlroy's game mostly sharp, it’s a small fix that could lead to big results.

Last summer, McIlroy talked about focusing on two simple things: spot (basically getting the left hand to move toward a spot rather than focusing on the hole) and process (staying in the moment and making good mental decisions). The result? Two majors and a World Golf Championships title in the span of a month.

Still, the turnaround might take some time given the lack of competitive rounds under McIlroy’s belt the last two months.

“I went out there today and committed to them and putted a little better,” he said. “But there’s obviously a lot of room for improvement.”

McIlroy has lost six strokes to the field on the greens this week as Stenson, who made four birdies and an eagle two in an immaculate 65, has gained 1.5 shots.

Second placed Fowler, who shot 67, has gained six shots on the field, and 12 on McIlroy.

As for FedEx Cup leader Day, who can become world No 1 with a win, a two over 73 saw him slip to tied 25th, nine shots off the lead.

Gareth Shaw was the leading Irishman but Chris Selfridge may look back on the Cordon Golf Open as the maiden professional win that got away.

Shaw closed with a 67 to finished tied fourth and pick up, ironically for a player who has banked a six figure cheque on the main tour, his biggest ever Challenge Tour pay-day  — €8,400.

It was good enough to put the Lurgan man 60th in the Road to Oman Rankings, €5,000 outside the Top 45 who make the Grand Final and €36,000 short of the Top 15 who won promotion to the European Tour.

As for Selfridge, he bogeyed the fourth and 10th, rallied with birdies at the 11th and 14th but then bogeyed his last two holes for a 72 that left him four shots behind winner Scott Arnold of Australia, his room mate for the week.

Selfridge started the day a shot behind leader Daan Huizing (71) and tied for second with Arnold, who produced an impressive back nine performance to earn a two-shot victory.

The former World Amateur Number One entered the day one shot off Huizing’s lead but an impressive three under back nine earned him a two under par 68 and a first title on European soil.

The 28 year old was three shots back when he reached the turn but his playing partner from the Netherlands dropped three shots in the space of four holes and Arnold capitalised in ruthless fashion with back to back birdies at the 15th and 16th.

He finished two clear of Huizing and Englishman James Robinson, who signed for a four under 66 to equal the best round of the day and finish on seven under par for the tournament, earning his best Challenge Tour finish in the process.

The day was all about Arnold, however, who made the cut at this year’s Open Championship, and he was delighted to have finally lifted a trophy in his second full season on the Challenge Tour, having played The European Tour in 2013 after coming through Qualifying School.

“It my first win on Challenge Tour so it’s really exciting,” said the Sydney player. “It’s my birthday next week so it’s like an early present. I have a flight to catch this afternoon, I think it’ll only hit me then.”

Niall Turner made seven birdies in a closing 66 to share 14th on four under and earn €3,000 with Michael McGeady's 76 relegating him to tied 31st on one over and €1,400.

Scores

271 S Arnold  (Aus) 71 65 67 68,

273 D Huizing (Ned) 68 68 66 71, J Robinson (Eng) 69 69 69 66,

274 J Hahn (USA) 71 70 64 69, C Berardo (Fra) 73 67 65 69, Gareth Shaw (Nir) 70 69 68 67, S Walker (Eng) 67 73 68 66, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 67 68 70 69,

275 P Whiteford (Sco) 68 71 67 69, Chris Selfridge (Nir) 69 67 67 72, J Doherty  (Sco) 66 70 72 67, D Law (Sco) 64 69 70 72, H Joannes  (Bel) 68 70 69 68, 

276 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 68 71 67, J Dantorp (Swe) 67 73 67 69, J Sjöholm (Swe) 74 67 64 71, R Enoch  (Wal) 70 69 66 71, Niall Turner (Irl) 68 69 73 66, 

277 T Remkes (Ned) 68 69 70 70, R Fox (Nzl) 72 68 64 73, S Hodgson (Eng) 71 71 66 69, 

278 S Heisele (Ger) 71 70 70 67, N Bertasio (Ita) 70 71 66 71, J Fahrbring (Swe) 70 67 69 72, 

279 J Winther (Den) 70 71 68 70, D Stewart (Sco) 71 70 69 69, 

280 S Einhaus (Ger) 68 74 67 71, S Kim (USA) 74 68 67 71, R Coles (Eng) 68 72 70 70, N Geyger (Chi) 71 71 67 71, 

281 S Manley (Wal) 68 70 72 71, J Adarraga Gomez  (Esp) 67 72 69 73, T Anderson  (Eng) 70 72 68 71, D Nouailhac (Fra) 72 69 67 73, M Søgaard  (Den) 67 68 72 74, N Ravano (Ita) 67 70 72 72, A Saddier (Fra) 67 69 75 70, S Gros (Fra) 74 67 64 76, A Björk (Swe) 71 70 69 71, B Åkesson (Swe) 68 72 70 71, Michael McGeady (Irl) 67 71 67 76, 

282 M Orrin (Eng) 69 68 74 71, F Praegant (Aut) 70 72 69 71, 

283 N Lemke (Swe) 67 72 71 73, C Gloet  (Den) 69 69 70 75, L Gagli  (Ita) 73 68 70 72, P Tarver-Jones (Eng) 71 71 68 73, O Stark (Swe) 74 66 72 71, B Parker  (Eng) 69 71 71 72, M Delpodio  (Ita) 70 66 70 77,

284 W Harrold (Eng) 71 71 70 72, S Soderberg (Swe) 68 69 73 74, G Woolgar (Eng) 70 69 68 77,

285 C Ford (Eng) 74 68 66 77, G Houston (Wal) 71 71 70 73, P Relecom  (Bel) 70 72 70 73, A Widemann (Fra) 70 65 76 74, R Langasque (am) (Fra) 69 72 68 76, 

286 C Arendell (USA) 73 68 73 72, 

287 A Hartø  (Den) 68 73 72 74, S Fallon (Eng) 75 67 72 73,

289 A Bernadet  (Fra) 72 66 76 75,

291 C Sordet  (Fra) 72 70 74 75, C Aguilar  (Esp) 73 68 75 75, 

293 M Rocchi  (Fra) 67 74 79 73, 

297 C Tortuyaux (Fra) 76 66 79 76.

Lee Slattery, winner of the 2015 M2M Russian Open. Picture: Getty Images

Michael Hoey made a late charge for victory but even a magnificent 64 left him three shots shy of an emotional Lee Slattery in the M2M Russian Open.

Eight strokes behind Slattery with a round to go, the Belfast man birdied four holes in a row from the second and then added a birdie hat-trick from the 11th to the 13th to go seven under for the day and get to within a shot of the lead.

But he had to settle for five frustrating pars to finish, burning the edge several times to end the week tied for fourth with James Heath, a resurgent Pablo Martin and the Swede Oskar Henningsson on 12 under par.

Hoey bagged €39,350 for his efforts to move up to 75th in the Race to Dubai while Niall Kearney (69) earned €6,400 for his share of 40th on two under.

"I got off to a great start, four under after five, hit it close a lot," Hoey told European Tour Radio. "It could have been nine under really. Bailed out a little bit on 18 really but the wind was picking up and it was 240 to carry the water.  I played a really good chip and if it lands a little bit more it is down close. So I got a little bit unlucky there but still, I made a good par on 17. I needed to be maybe two better to make a playoff but wherever I finish, it is still a good week." 

Set to take a few weeks off now to prepare for the Alfred Dunhill Links and the British Masters, Hoey added "Considering I have not played my best this week, it is a good finish. Yesterday (71) was poor. I just couldn't focus and with the first round  I have thrown away maybe five shots. So if I can take confidence from that, I will be in good shape for the rest of the year." 

Headfort rookie Brian Casey completed an excellent European Tour debut, adding a 70 to previous rounds of 72, 68 and 73 to finish on one under and earn €5,500 for his joint 42nd place finish.

Six under par through 12 holes and former #RussianOpen champion @MikeHoeyNI is looking dangerous. #Onthecharge pic.twitter.com/4E0dH8Y6Uo

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) September 6, 2015

Damien McGrane was joint 55th on one over after a 70 and €3,225 did nothing for his battle to avoid Q-School, leaving him 167th in the Race to Dubai and with €84,205, some €95,000 short of the Top 110 who keep their cards.

As for Slattery, he held his nerve with a crucial par putt at the final hole to emerge from an enthralling finale with a one shot victory.

The Englishman entered the final day with a two stroke advantage and started in impressive fashion with a birdie at the first hole, but he soon found himself over par with bogeys at the second and sixth holes.

The 37 year old dug deep, however, and as a host of challengers began to emerge, he picked up three shots on the way home - including a hugely important holed chip at the 17th – before sinking a knee-jangling three footer at the 18th for a par which earned him a two under 69, a 15 under total and a first win since the 2011 Madrid Masters.

Slattery was visibly emotional in a post-round interview and dedicated the win to the ill father of his wife Faye.

Argentinian Estanislao Goya, playing alongside Slattery, held the lead for large portions of the final day but even a birdie at the last was not enough as he finished in outright second place on 14 under following a three under 68.

Last year’s champion of this event, David Horsey, finished in third place on his own on 13 under after a three under final round 68 while the 2013 winner Hoey was one of four players a shot further back on 12 under par, sharing fourth place.

Congrats @Slatts777 & @gerrybyrne63 brilliant result for 2 of the nicest men in golf!

— Michael Hoey (@MikeHoeyNI) September 6, 2015

“It’s funny, the thing that’s been letting me down most has probably been my short game in the last few months, so I’ve worked so hard at that,” said Slattery, who made a point of giving Reeve Whitson some words of encouragement at the Irish Open. "To chip one in at such an important time meant so much and it shows that practice pays off eventually.

“At 18, I had 123 yards into a slight breeze and I just tried to chip a wedge and, as you can tell it flew a little bit further, and I pulled it a fraction as well, which is quite easy to do.

“It wasn't the way I wanted to finish but it's always nice to know you can hole a three foot putt on the last to win a tournament, so that meant a lot.

“Holing the long putt at 14 was crucial. I know that Tano (Estanislao Goya) bogeyed 13 and the other two guys hit good shots into the next and I thought, 'if I can hole my putt on top of these two here, I'll have a chance', and I managed to do that and I just pushed on really. That chip in was massive.

“Going back over the last year and a half off the golf course, I've got married, had a kid and moved house. My wife's dad is very ill as well, so this is for him.

“It's just nice to be able to finish the year off like this with a win, knowing that I can plan next year now and hopefully get myself going again to where I belong, I feel.”

M2M Russian Open, Skolkovo GC, Moscow (Par 71)

269 L Slattery (Eng) 66 67 67 69 (€166,660)

270 E Goya (Arg) 68 67 67 68, 

271 D Horsey (Eng) 67 70 66 68, 

272 O Henningsson  (Swe) 69 68 67 68, J Heath  (Eng) 70 66 71 65, P Martin Benavides (Esp) 68 67 70 67, Michael Hoey  (Nir) 71 66 71 64, 

273 C Lee (Sco) 67 69 66 71, J Roos (RSA) 68 74 68 63, B Evans  (Eng) 67 68 71 67, 

274 D Vancsik (Arg) 69 68 70 67, M Kieffer (Ger) 68 69 71 66, B Dredge (Wal) 66 66 72 70, 

275 R Santos  (Por) 74 67 69 65, D Drysdale (Sco) 68 69 69 69, J Scrivener (Aus) 70 66 70 69, 

276 C Doak (Sco) 71 67 70 68, S Jamieson  (Sco) 65 71 71 69, J Edfors (Swe) 71 68 70 67, D Kemmer (USA) 71 69 68 68, L Jensen (Den) 70 69 68 69, 

277 A Pavan (Ita) 70 69 68 70, 

278 D Van Tonder  (RSA) 69 69 68 72, K Horne (RSA) 67 70 70 71, S Wakefield (Eng) 69 68 75 66, M Southgate  (Eng) 68 69 69 72, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 69 68 71 70, 

279 T Murray (Eng) 67 74 68 70, J Blaauw  (RSA) 71 66 73 69, D Gaunt (Aus) 65 69 74 71, J Smith (Eng) 69 68 74 68, M Tullo (Chi) 69 72 68 70, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 73 69 68 69, 

280 O Farr (Wal) 71 67 72 70, A Da Silva (Bra) 72 69 69 70, 

281 T Chuayprakong (Tha) 67 71 70 73, K Richardson (Aus) 74 68 69 70, C Bouniol (Fra) 68 69 72 72, J Janewattananond (Tha) 73 69 74 65, 

282 Niall Kearney (Irl) 70 71 72 69, R Lynch (Aus) 69 70 74 69, 

283 N Johansson (Swe) 70 70 70 73, Brian Casey  (Irl) 72 68 73 70, S Griffiths (Eng) 68 71 69 75, M Bremner (RSA) 69 71 70 73, D Frittelli (RSA) 71 70 73 69, M Nixon (Eng) 68 70 73 72, J Randhawa (Ind) 68 73 68 74, 

284 B Stow (Eng) 69 71 74 70, J Colomo  (Esp) 69 68 72 75, S Norris  (RSA) 70 72 73 69, P Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 69 72 73 70, R McGowan  (Eng) 71 69 72 72, M Brown (Nzl) 72 70 73 69, 

285 P Meesawat  (Tha) 68 71 73 73, J Knutzon (USA) 73 69 71 72, Damien McGrane (Irl) 70 72 73 70, J Ahlers (RSA) 72 70 74 69, 

286 R Gangjee (Ind) 68 73 74 71, C Lloyd (Eng) 69 68 76 73, 

287 E Espana (Fra) 68 72 75 72, 

288 P Erofejeff (Fin) 73 66 77 72, S Hansen (Den) 69 73 72 74, A Summers (Aus) 68 74 75 71, P Pittayarat (Tha) 67 71 79 71, 

289 S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 70 67 72 80, T Wiratchant (Tha) 69 71 78 71, A Curlewis (RSA) 72 70 75 72, 

292 M Mamat (Sin) 70 72 77 73, 

296 P Karmis  (RSA) 73 69 78 76, 

297 A Pavlov (Rus) 73 69 77 78

Naas' Jonathan Yates, pictured during the Irish Close at Tramore, equalled the course record of 66 to win the Midlands Scratch Cup at Carlow. Picture: Pat Cashman

Jonathan Yates is one of the most improved players in Ireland this year and he got his reward at Carlow on Sunday when he closed with a course-record equalling 66 to win the prestigious Midlands Scratch Cup.

His four under par closing 66, which equalled the course record held by Carlow's John Greene,  helped him finish on two over 282, four shots clear of Slieve Russell's Seamus Cullen.

Cullen was going for a hat-trick of wins but even a magnificent 68 was not enough to stop Yates, whose fellow Naas clubman Liam Ashby was third on 286.

Best of the home club players was Andrew Harte with a four round total of 299.

Midlands Scratch Cup 2015, Carlow Golf Club (Par 70)Overall Position R1 R2 R3 R4 Total

1. Yates, Jonathan Naas 70 72 74 66 282
2. Cullen, Seamus Slieve Russell 72 73 73 68 286
3. Ashby, Liam Naas 69 71 71 75 286
4. Mullarney, Ronan Galway 72 74 74 67 287
5. O'Rourke, Conor Naas70 74 74 69 287
6. Murphy, Daniel Portarlington 74 70 71 73 288

Ross and David Kinsella at Clontarf Golf Club with the FBD Barton Cup after Castle’s victory over the home club. Photo: Ronan Quinlan

   

On the day he retired after 50 years as club professional at Castle, David Kinsella celebrated with his son Ross, who was on the winning team in the final of the FBD Barton Cup against Clontarf.

David is familiar with this magnificent trophy as he was on the winning Skerries Golf Club Barton Cup team in 1965.

David has been with Castle for almost fifty years as a professional, having started there as an assistant professional straight from the amateur ranks in 1966. He is a former Captain of the PGA and was Leinster Coach to the GUI for over twelve years.

Castle beat Clontarf 3-2 in the second lead on away turf on Saturday to win the FBD Barton Cup 6-4 overall.

FBD Barton Cup Final 2015, Clontarf v Castle Golf Club. The winning Castle team, back (l to r): Harry Gleeson, Jack Walsh, Eamon Duggan, Tommy Smyth, Michael Wilson, Fred Shackleton, Rob Stanley, Neil Bourke, Eoghan McKeever, Donal McAuliffe, Barry Fitzpatrick, Peter McKeever, Brendan Meaney and Ken McKervey. Centre: Ross Kinsella, Liam Reynolds, Richard Lenehan, Team Manager, Derry Byrne, Captain, John Ferriter, Chairman of Leinster Golf, John Read, FBD, Brian Gleeson and Jim Mulready. Front: Colm Gleeson and Thomas Harte. Photo: Ronan Quinlan

Runners up, Clontarf.  Front (l to r): Michael Kellett, Stephen Kealy, Sean Kellett and Turlough Considine. Centre: Tony Duffy, Sean Carroll, President, Dave Henry, Team Manager, John Ferriter, Chairman of Leinster Golf,  Peter Mulvey, Captain, John Read, FBD, Brian Mooney and Ian Maguire, Vice-Captain. Back: Stephen Walsh, Padraig Rice, Sean Stone, Greg Kelly, Michael Fahy, Paul Congdon, Gerry Keevey, Philip Duffy, Paul O’Brien, Patrick Byrne and Conor Murphy. Photo: Ronan Quinlan

Irish Seniors Home in Triumph

European Senior Men's Team Champions for three years in a row. Irish Seniors Team Captain Sean O'Leary with the 2015 European Senior trophy and team members (clockwise) Maurice Kelly, Tommie Basquille (Team Manager), Tom Cleary, Adrian Morrow, Garth McGimpsey, Arthur Pierse and John Mitchell on their return to Dublin Aiport this evening (06/09/2015) after their victory in Bulgaria. Picture by Pat Cashman

European Senior Men's Amateur Team Championship — Three wins in a row and five in 10 editions is a testament to the strength in depth of Irish Seniors golf and it's little wonder there were joyous scenes when the team and officials arrived home on Sunday.Team Captain Sean O'Leary and manager Tommie Basquille were greeted by supporters as the team of Maurice Kelly, Tom Cleary, Adrian Morrow, Garth McGimpsey, Arthur Pierse and John Mitchell returned with the trop following their tense, 3-2 win over Italy in Saturday's final at Pravets Golf Club in Bulgaria.

 Irish Seniors Team Captain Sean O'Leary (left) and Tommie Basquille (Team Manager) with the 2015 European Senior trophy. Picture by Pat Cashman

Irish Senior International John Mitchell (Tramore) with his wife Jenny. Picture by Pat Cashman

Irish Seniors International Maurice Kelly (Naas) with his wife Ann with the 2015 European Senior trophy. Picture by Pat Cashman

Rory McIlroy got up and down nicely from sand for birdie at the 18th to ease his fears of not making the cut but the world No 1 may not be able to stop Jason Day or even Jordan Spieth from taking his world No 1 crown in Boston on Monday.

As a jaded looking Spieth missed back to back cuts for the first time in his pro career, carding a 73 to miss out by three shots on six over par, McIlroy’s three over 74 was good enough to survive by just one shot on two over.

He is now tied 59th and 14 shots off the pace and there wasn't much else in the way of good news in just just second start since June's US Open.

"I think it shows that I haven't really played much competitive golf," McIlroy said. "When I've given myself opportunities to get it close, then I'm not making putts.

"And I think I've had three or four three-putts in two days and just haven't really made anything. So it's been a bit of a struggle, more mentally, because I've just been trying to get something going. And there's nothing happening."

FedEx Cup leader Day posted a second successive 68 to share 10th spot but he’s six shots adrift of halfway leader Charley Hoffman, who shot an eight under 63 early in the day to lead by three shots on 12 under from Brendon de Jonge.

Day needs to win on Monday and hope McIlroy isn’t second alone to become No. 1 for the first time.

But there’s also a chance that Spieth could return to No 1. That will happen if McIlroy finishes worse than solo 11th and Day does not win.

Put that down to the vagaries of the system which will see McIlroy’s divisor increase this week from 44 to 45.  

If you are interested in who is world No 1, the odds actually appear to favour Spieth over the two players who made the cut.

Playing just his second event since June because of his ankle injury, McIlroy had another poor day on the greens — 34 putts with two three-putts — as he dropped four shots in five holes from the 13th before than late, tap in birdie eased some of the pain.

As for Spieth, he admitted his mental game let him down and that he needs to work on his attitude as much as his game before he reappears in a fortnight for the BMW Championship in Chicago.

"I've done a lot of things I've never done positively this year. This is something I've never done that's negative," Spieth told AP. "Whatever is going on ... normally my mental game is a strength of mine. And it's something I feel like I have an advantage over other players on. These past two weeks it was a weakness for me.

"I need to walk with some cockiness in my step these next two tournaments," Spieth said. "I don't think I have to fix much in my game other than really work hard on my putting into Conway and then mentally I can control that. I can control walking with the cockiness, whether things are going good or bad, and that's what you have to have inside the ropes. And I'll bring it when we get to Chicago.”

Daan Huizing/Getty Images

Challenge Tour — Chris Selfridge is just one shot off the pace as he chases down Daan Huizing for his maiden pro title in the Cordon Golf Open in France on Sunday.The Castledawson rookie shot a three under 67 to get to seven under but he will also be looking out for his room mate this week, Aussie Scott Arnold (67), as they go into the final round tied for second with Scotland’s David Law (70).Selfridge and Arnold both made eagle at the long 11th on Saturday.“I didn’t even play great but I played good enough,” said the Northern Irishman. “I took my chances when I get them so it’s a good score.“Scott and I are good friends, actually we’re roommates this week so it’s good fun. It’s nice to share the game with a friend, and even better because he played quite well.”Arnold added: “We had a good day today, everything was nice, it always feel good to play with someone that you know quite well, we could chat about few things.“I saw ‘Foxy’s’ name on the leaderboard and he will be pretty dangerous tomorrow!”After opening with a bogey at the par four first, 24 year old Huizing bounced back with five birdies en route to his four under par effort, good enough for an aggregate score of 202 at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André in Brittany.In-form New Zealander Ryan Fox is a further shot adrift heading into Sunday’s final round following a joint best-of-the-day 64.Selfdridge isn’t the only Irishman in with a shout as Derry’s Michael McGeady also shot 67 to be just three behind on five under.Gareth Shaw’s 68 left him five adrift on three under with Muskerry’s Niall Turner back on level par after  disappointing 73.

• 202 D Huizing (Ned) 68 68 66,
• 203 D Law (Sco) 64 69 70, Chris Selfridge (Nir) 69 67 67, S Arnold  (Aus) 71 65 67,
• 204 R Fox (Nzl) 72 68 64,
• 205 R Enoch  (Wal) 70 69 66, Michael McGeady (Irl) 67 71 67, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 67 68 70, S Gros (Fra) 74 67 64, J Hahn (USA) 71 70 64, C Berardo (Fra) 73 67 65, J Sjöholm (Swe) 74 67 64,
• 207 Gareth Shaw (Nir) 70 69 68,
• 210 Niall Turner (Irl) 68 69 73

Lee Slattery/Getty Images

European Tour — Michael Hoey shot a level par 71 to slip eight shots behidn England’s Lee Slattery heading into the final round of the M2M Russian Open.

A four under par third round 67 moved Slattery to within touching distance of a first European Tour title in four years at Skolkovo Golf Club, two shots clear of Scot Craig Lee (66) and Argentinian Estalinslao Goya (67).

David Horsey, meanwhile, boosted his chances of a successful title defence as he moved to within three shots of the summit in outright fourth place, courtesy of a five under 66.

Brian Casey (73) and Niall Kearney (71) are tied 48th on level par but Damien McGrane fell back to two over after a 73.

200 L Slattery (Eng) 66 67 67, 

202 C Lee (Sco) 67 69 66, E Goya (Arg) 68 67 67, 

203 D Horsey (Eng) 67 70 66, 

204 B Dredge (Wal) 66 66 72, O Henningsson  (Swe) 69 68 67, 

205 P Martin Benavides (Esp) 68 67 70, 

206 J Scrivener (Aus) 70 66 70, D Van Tonder  (RSA) 69 69 68, M Southgate  (Eng) 68 69 69, B Evans  (Eng) 67 68 71, D Drysdale (Sco) 68 69 69, 

207 A Pavan (Ita) 70 69 68, K Horne (RSA) 67 70 70, D Vancsik (Arg) 69 68 70, L Jensen (Den) 70 69 68, J Heath  (Eng) 70 66 71, S Jamieson  (Sco) 65 71 71, 

208 Michael Hoey (Nir) 71 66 71,

213 Niall Kearney (Irl) 70 71 72, Brian Casey (Irl) 72 68 73,

215 Damien McGrane (Irl) 70 72 73

Simon Thornton

Simon Thornton fired a second round two under par 68 to complete a wire-to-wire victory at the Cairndhu Pro-Am on Saturday.

The Team Ireland professional finished the 36-hole event on five under par, four strokes ahead of nearest rival David Higgins from Waterville.

The 38-year-old from Newcastle began Saturday's second and final round with a one-shot lead over Massereene's Noel Murray. He dropped a shot at the second but birdies at the sixth and eighth saw him to the turn in one under 33. 

A further dropped shot followed at the 11th but once again he responded well and birdies at the par five 14th and par five 17th eased him to the clubhouse in one under par 35.

Murray's challenge faltered over his opening nine holes leaving the way clear for Order of Merit leader, David Higgins (Waterville) to come through and secure second place with a second round 69.

Higgins also won the team prize, edging out pre-event favourite Damian Mooney from Ballyliffin, courtesy of scoring 89 points on Saturday.

Cairndhu Pro-Am, Cairndhu GC (Par 70)

Detailed scores

1 S Thornton (Team Ireland) 67/68 (135)

2 D Higgins (Waterville) 70/69 (139)

T3 N Murray (Massereene GC) 68/74; J Quinlivan (Mullingar GC) 69/73 (142)

T5 E Brady (Clontarf GC) 73/70; C Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance Ltd) 72/71; C Molloy (Blackwood GC) 73/70 (143)

T8 B McGovern (Headfort GC) 74/70; D Mooney (Ballyliffin GC) 73/71 (144)

T10 N O'Briain (Old Conna GC) 78/68; G Wardlow (Spa GC) 72/74 (146)

Team Pro-Am

1 D Higgins (Waterville) 172

2 D Mooney (Ballyliffin) 172

3 G Dunlea (Monkstown GC) 171

Liam Ashby

Liam Ashby has a two-stroke lead over fellow Naas man Jonathan Yates and three shots to spare over Colm Crowley at the halfway stage of the Midlands Senior Scratch Cup at Carlow.

The former Carson Newman player took advantage of perfect greens to card rounds of 69 and 71, in sunny but breezy conditions to lead on level par as the in-form Yates added a 73 to his opening 69.

Daniel Murphy, Robbie Pierse and Conor O’Rourke are lurking on 144 while local hope John Greene is 10 shots back.

Midlands Senior Scratch Cup, Carlow Golf Club3rd & 4th Round tee times1st Tee 10th Tee 

1. 7.30 12.30 Brian Cox (158) Brian Healy (159) Enda Downes (159) 
2. 7.40 12.40 John Conroy (157) Colm Hughes (158) Andrew Boyle (158)
3. 7.50 12.50 Michael Downes (157) Jamie McDonald (157) Eoghan O’Donovan (157)
4. 8.00 13.00 Brian Doran (156) Jack McDonnell (156) Robert Farrell (156)
   8.10 13.10 David Coughlan (155) Paul O’Hara (155) Brian Timlin (155)
5. 8.20 13.20 Richard Finn (154) Paul O’Sullivan (154) Colin Woodroofe (155)
6. 8.30 13.30 Paul Coughlan (153) Rhys Clarke (153) Liam Whelan (153)
7. 8.40 13.40 Ronan O’Callaghan (151) David Dowling (152) Stephen Kinch (152)
8. 8.50 13.50 John Greene (150) Kevin Collins (150) Cian Doyle (151)
9. 9.00 14.00 Michael Ryan (148) Andrew McCormack (148) Harry Duggan (149)
10. 9.10 14.10 Seamus Cullen (145) Ronan Mullarney (146) Andrew Harte (147)
11. 9.20 14.20 Daniel Murphy (144) Robbie Pierse (144) Conor O’Rourke (144)
12. 9.30 14.30 Liam Ashby (140) Jonathan Yates (142) Colm Crowley (143)

Maurice Kelly in action in Bulgaria

Ireland ralled to win the European Senior Men’s Team Championship for the third year running and the fifth time in ten years on Saturday.

Italy took an early lead and looked ready to pull off a shock victory at Pravets Golf Club in Bulgaria.

But Ireland turned things around with Maurice Kelly’s one hole win over Vincenzo Sita proving crucial before Garth McGimpsey delivered the winning point with a 3 and 2 win in the anchor singles. European Senior Men's Team Championship

Tom Cleary and John Mitchell fell in the foursomes but while Adrian Morrow also lost in the singles, wins for Arthur Pierse, Kelly and McGimpsey gave Ireland a hard fought 3-2 win.

In the European Senior Ladies’ Team Championship at The National Golf Resort in Lithuania, Ireland beat Germany 4-1 to finish third. European Senior Ladies' Team Championship

France, who beat the Irish ladies in the semi-finals, claimed the title with a 3-2 victory over England.

(Left-right) Pat Reddan, (sponsor, Maldron Hotels) Pat Murray (Limerick) and Peter English (GUI Munster Golf) at the Munster Mid Amateur Championship.

Local favourite Pat Murray closed with a 69 to romp to a six-shot win and his fourth Munster Mid-Amateur title at Limerick on Saturday.

The former Irish Close and South of Ireland champion, runner up for the last four years, finished on eight under par 208 with Killeen Castle's Mark Collins his nearest rival on 214 after a 72.

Murray, who is Secretary-Manager of the club, won the title three times in a row from 2008 to 2010.

He opened with a 70 to be one behind Carlow's Pat Bevins but then made six birdies in a second round 69 to lead by three from Collins and by four from Bandon's David McCarthy and Dungarvan's Alan Thomas.

Vice-captain Frank O’Mahony welcomed all the players to the club and thanked the course staff for the preparation of the course, Pat Reddan on behalf of the sponsors, Maldron Hotels, and congratulated all the participants, and wished Limerick Golf Club all the best in the finals of the Senior Cup at Carton House later on this month.

Peter English on behalf of the Munster Branch, thanked Limerick Golf Club and the championship committee for all the work they did over the weekend, he also thanked a number of players who travelled from afar for number of years to support the tournament.

• Winner Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club) 208 
• Runner Up  Mark Collins (Killeen Castle) 214
• Third  Alan Thomas (Dungarvan Golf Club) 217
• Fourth Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club) 218
• Fifth David McCarthy (Bandon Golf Club) 220,
• Sixth Jim Carvill (Banbridge Golf Club 220
• Overall Gross Dermot O'Donoghue (East Clare) 214

Winner Pat Murray (Limerick) with Frank O’Mahony (Vice Captain, Limerick Golf Club) and Peter English (GUI Munster Golf).

Munster Mid Amateur Open Championship 2015, Limerick Golf Club (Par 72)
Sponsored by Maldron Hotel (CS R1 72, R2 73, R3 73)

Detailed scores

208 Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club) 70 69 69

214 Mark Collins (Killeen Castle) 72 70 72

217 Alan Thomas (Dungarvan Golf Club) 72 71 74

218 Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club) 72 75 71

220 David McCarthy (Bandon Golf Club) 72 71 77, Jim Carvill (Banbridge Golf Club) 70 75 75

223 Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club) 72 78 73

224 Pat Bevins (Carlow Golf Club) 69 74 81

225 Kevin Condren (Greystones Golf Club) 74 79 72, Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay Golf Club) 71 73 81

226 Paul Burke (Mullingar Golf Club) 76 76 74, Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club) 73 76 77

227 David Hunt (Nenagh Golf Club) 76 75 76

228 Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club) 78 77 73, Paul Flynn (Tramore Golf Club) 77 77 74, Tony McClements (Holywood Golf Club) 73 80 75, Dermot Morris (Limerick Golf Club) 73 75 80

229 Peter Meaney (Cahir Park Golf Club) 80 77 72, Colm McIlroy (Holywood Golf Club) 77 76 76

230 Alan Doherty (Corrstown Golf Club) 76 78 76, Eoghan O' Loughlin (Spanish Point Golf Club) 74 76 80

231 Dermot O'Donoghue (East Clare Golf Club) 75 81 75

232 Eamonn Haugh (Castletroy Golf Club) 80 74 78, Lewy Halpin (Shannon) 79 75 78, Conn O'Driscll (Cahir Park Golf Club) 77 78 77

233 Michael M Murphy (Castletroy Golf Club) 84 74 75, Gerard Vaughan (Limerick Golf Club) 79 75 79, Peter Hennessy (Lahinch Golf Club) 76 79 78

234 Mark Coleman (Limerick Golf Club) 78 74 82

235 David Kelleher (Portmarnock) 81 73 81, Michael Kemmy (Limerick Golf Club) 78 73 84, Billy Donlon (Birr Golf Club) 77 78 80, Frank Flynn (Laytown & Bettystown) 77 77 81

236 Joe Crangle (Cliftonville Golf Club) 78 80 78, Ronan Maher (Mullingar Golf Club) 75 83 78

237 Fergus Harrold (Castletroy Golf Club) 79 79 79, Bryan Dore (Newcastle West Golf Club) 76 79 82, Randal Cross (Enniscrone Golf Club) 76 76 85

239 Gerry Reeves (Limerick Golf Club) 76 81 82

245 Adrian Lonergan (Cahir Park Golf Club) 80 78 87

NR  Alan Condren (Greystones Golf Club) 72 73 NR, Cathal Walsh (Limerick Golf Club) 80 75 NR, Damian Gleeson (Limerick Golf Club) 83 74 NR, Gary Purtill (Dromoland Golf Club) 75 82 NR, Denis O'Brien (Limerick Golf Club) 87 NR , Michael Barrett (Slievenamon Golf Club) 78 76 WD, Nicholas O'Riordan (Cobh) 79 79 WD, 

Non-qualifiers

154 Peter Kane (Ashbourne) 76 78

155 Gerard Ahern (Youghal Golf Club) 80 75

157 Diarmuid Linehan (Muskerry Golf Club) 83 74 , Bob Loftus (Lahinch Golf Club) 76 81

160 Mike Whelan (East Clare Golf Club) 80 80 , Damien Coyne (Tuam Golf Club) 78 82 , Thomas Hogan (Headfort Golf Club) 77 83

161 Peter Rogers (Dundalk Golf Club) 80 81

162 Joe O'Keeffe (Muskerry Golf Club) 81 81 , Rory Timlin (Galway Golf Club) 78 84

163 Donncadh Nagle (Kilrush Golf Club) 80 83 , Conor Williams (Adare Manor Golf Club) 76 87

164 Nicky Duggan (Dromoland Golf Club) 85 79 , Robert O' Donoghue (Castletroy Golf Club) 83 81

165 Steven Murray (Tipperary Golf Club) 82 83 , David Donnelly (Ashbourne) 81 84 , Joe Hammond (Craddockstown Golf Club) 77 88

166 Daniel Mc Grath (Tuam Golf Club) 86 80 , Declan O'Carroll (Castlegregory Golf Club) 82 84 Paul Reilly (Co. Louth Golf Club) 81 85 , Darran Walsh (Limerick Golf Club) 81 85

169 Aidan Mulcahy (Woodstock Golf Club) 83 86

175 John O'Neill (Rathbane Golf Club) 94 81

176 William O Brien (East Clare Golf Club) 86 90

178 Mark Barry (Limerick Golf Club) 87 91

WD Robert J Cotter (East Cork Golf Club) 94 WD

Rory McIlroy sets up a birdie with a fine iron shot but he was less clinical on the greens.

Jason Day summed it up best — “Putting is the biggest equaliser,” he said after a 68 allowed him to outscore world No 1 Rory McIlroy by two and a struggling Jordan Spieth by seven in the opening round of the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second leg of the FedExCup Playoffs, at TPC Boston.

No matter that Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge shot a six under 65 to lead by two from nine 68 shooters in Luke Donald, Colt Knost, Kevin Chappell, Ian Poulter, Matt Jones, Harris English, Charlie Hoffman, Henrik Stenson and Rickie Fowler.

This week is all about the new Big Three and it was the in-form, PGA champion Day who used his blade to steal a march on his rivals for the FedEx Cup and the world No 1 crown.

After a birdie-birdie-birdie start, the Aussie picked up two more shots on TPC Boston’s front nine to get to minus five, then dropped few shots coming home in treacherous, breezy conditions on ice-rink slippery greens.

“I'd like to say big, but it isn't,” Day said when asked how big the hole looks to him right now. “I'm putting some good rolls on it and then reading the putts is obviously key.

“Over the last seven weeks my speed has been fantastic, that's why I'm rolling putts in. I can go in and fully believe and trust that the line I'm picking is correct.”

“I didn’t drive today as good as I should have, but I hit a lot of greens,” said Day, who hit nine fairways and 14 greens in regulation. “Putting is the biggest equaliser. If you’re putting well you can turn a bad hitting day into a fantastic round. If I had to choose one, putting is helping me the most with the confidence.”

Spieth, unusually, had a nightmare on the greens to contrast with a dream day from the tee. 

He hit 12 fairways but missed seven greens and took 33 putts, opting not to speak to the press afterwards after missing all seven of his attempts to scramble for par.

It all added up to a four over 75 featuring four birdies and eight bogeys with three of those coming in his first five holes.

If it was a frustrating day for Spieth, it was equalling trying for McIlroy, who is hitting the ball superbly despite his lack of competitive practice.

Still, his rustiness on the greens was evident and he three putted twice, incuding his final hole, finishing bogey-bogey to take much of the gloss off a one under 70 wirth a share of 22nd.

“I felt like I hit a lot of good putts today that didn’t go in, and that probably had to do with the speed,” said McIlroy after 31 putts.

“I think my driving the ball, I think my short irons are pretty good,” McIlroy said. “I think my mid-to-long irons, especially my long irons, I had a couple of iffy ones out there today. I can sharpen that up a little bit. And obviously on the greens.”

Asked how you rebuild confidence (or knock off rust) after a lenghty layoff, McIlroy said: " I think the more that you see good shots and you have committed, solid shots to your targets, that builds confidence in itself.

"I took quite a lot of positives from the PGA a couple of weeks ago. And I've kept going here. I felt like I hit the ball very well. These greens are probably the fastest I've putted on in a while. The greens at Whistling weren't too quick, and before that I was putting on -- I don't know if you call them greens at Chambers Bay. So these are a bit of an adjustment. 

"I was hitting the ball a little bit too hard at times and under reading them, which you can do on fast greens. The more pace the green has the more it's going to swing. I just need to adjust to that.”

He’s not chasing Day just yet.

"Not really, not when it's the first round. I obviously saw that he got off to a great start. But it really doesn’t change how I play or how I think out there. 

“At that point I think it was 1-over par, so I was just trying to get it back into red numbers for the day and finish there. 

"It would have been nice to play the last few holes a little better. But it’s still a solid score in these conditions, and I don't think I'll be too far behind at the end of the day."

Bradley Dredge. Picture: Getty Images

Michael Hoey is lurking dangerously as he tracks his sixth European Tour win but perhaps even more impressive was Brian Casey’s back nine charge in the M2M Russian Open.

The 24-year old Headfort rookie and Europro Tour regular is making his European Tour debut and fter slippting to two over par for the tournament with nien hoes to go, he stormed home in four under 32 for a 68 that was good enough to make the weekend with two shots to spare on two under par.

Hoey was even more impressive, carding four birdies in his last seven for a five under par 66 that catapulted him from the cut line to tied 11th, just five shots behind leader Bradley Dredge on five under.

Happy, Hoey said: “I need to play really well at the weekend but I am not too far away and I can still win. I am just enjoying the course.”

Dredge carded a second successive five under par 66 to move one shot clear of Englishman Lee Slatter, who struggled with dehydration and faintness throughout his round but still managed a four under 67 for a nine under total.

Four of the six Irish in Moscow made the cut with Niall Kearney adding a 71 to his 70 to make the cut on one under with Damien McGrane (72) squeaking in on the mark.

Peter Lawrie (72), who like McGrane is in danger of a visit to Q-School, birdied his 17th but then bogeyed his final hole to miss the cut by one.

Kevin Phelan (75) fought back after a terrible start only to undo all his good work with some late bogeys.

M2M Russian Open

• 132 B Dredge (Wal) 66 66, 
• 133 L Slattery (Eng) 66 67, 
• 134 D Gaunt (Aus) 65 69, 

—

• 137 M Hoey  (Nir) 71 66, 
• 140 B Casey  (Irl) 72 68, 
• 141 N Kearney (Irl) 70 71, 
• 142 D McGrane (Irl) 70 72, 

CUT

• 143 P Lawrie (Irl) 71 72,
• 146 K Phelan (Irl) 71 75.

David Law. Picture: Getty Images

Challenge Tour — All four Irish players are within striking distance of the lead in the weather-delayed Cordon Golf Open in France.While Scotsman David Law shot a 69 to lead by two shots on seven under, Ireland's challengers are all inside the Top 25 and within six of the lead.Chris Selfridge, 57th in the rankings, can make the move he needs to challenge for his card after 67 left him just three off the pace on four under in tied fifth with Muskerry's Niall Turner (69) a short further back.Michael McGeady (71) is tied 17th on two under with Gareth Shaw well in touch on one under after a 69.Cordon Golf Open133 D Law (Sco), 135 B Virto Astudillo (Esp), M Søgaard (Den), A Widemann (Fra), 136 D Huizing (Ned), Chris Selfridge (Nir), J Doherty (Sco), S Arnold (Aus), M Delpodio (Ita), A Saddier (Fra), 137 M Orrin (Eng), N Ravano (Ita), S Soderberg (Swe), J Fahrbring (Swe), Niall Turner (Irl), T Remkes (Ned), 138 S Manley (Wal), A Bernadet (Fra), H Joannes (Bel), Michael McGeady (Irl), J Robinson (Eng), C Gloet (Den), F Andersson Hed (Swe), 139 J Adarraga Gomez (Esp), R Enoch (Wal), P Whiteford (Sco), Gareth Shaw (Nir), N Lemke (Swe),