Irish Golf News

Jordan Spieth

Shane Lowry might find himself in Augusta earlier than planned after he opened with a 72 in the Shell Houston Open.

As for Pádraig Harrington, who needs to win in Humble to earn another trip down Magnolia Lane, a 32-putt, one over 73 leaves him nine strokes off the lead held by 64-shooter Charley Hoffman.

Lowry, who turns 29 on Saturday, made just one birdie in a grim round mark by some grinding with the putter and little luck from tee to green on day when world No 1 Jordan Spieth posted an impressive 67.

The flat stick has not been kind to Lowry so far this year and while he got up and down for par from 112 yards at the third and from 75 yards after finding water at the fourth, holing a couple of four and a half footers, he had little to cheer about all day and is tied for 98th.

Lowry had to hole a 12 footer for his lone birdie on the front nine, avoiding a three putt after hitting his 265 yard approach to 68 feet.

In truth, he never hit the ball close enough to give himself realistic chances and a pulled second to the par-five 13th forced him to take a penalty drop, leading to a bogey six.

When putts did drop, they were for pars, such as the 199-yard 14th, where he found sand from the tee but holed a 13 footer for his par.

Lowry insisted before the start that he was treating the Shell Houston Open for itself rather than a warm up for anything else

Still, he clearly needs a confidence boost after finishing 41st, 53rd and 35th in his last three starts before going out in the group stage of the WGC-Dell Match Play in Austin last week.

While Lowry was grinding, Harrington was battling to avoid disaster having bogeyed the 17th and double bogeyed the 18th after his approach from the fairway bunker on the right found the lake.

While he hit more than 70 percent of the fairways and greens and the longest putt he holed apart from an eight footer for birdie at the first (his 10th) was an unlikely, 54-foot monster for another birdie at the third.

Harrington ended up with -1.5 strokes gained for putting and shares 106th, three shots outside the projected cut mark on one over par.

As Spieth shot 67 to share 11th, behind Hoffman, who leads by one from Dustin Johnson, Robert Castro and Scott Brown, three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson shot a three under 69.

“The good thing for me, my bad rounds now are respectable,” Mickelson said of his start. “This puts me in a position where if I shoot a number like I feel like I'm capable of, I should be right back in it for the weekend.”

It’s not that Houston is like Augusta National but that having a card and pencil in hand helps the Californian feel he’s preparing well.

“I actually think that it's more just about getting in a competitive frame of mind,” Mickelson said. “I like the way the course is set up. The fairways and the just off the fairway, the first cut, is similar to Augusta.”

Bar Rory McIlroy, many of the leading contenders for the Masters are in action in Texas with world No 1 Spieth, Rickie Fowler (69) and Henrik Stenson (69) also putting the final touches to their preparations in the Lone Star State.

For McIlroy,preparation appears to be as much about dealing with mental pressure as getting his game technically right as he seeks the major he needs to complete the career grand slam.

“It's always going to be there until I get to put a green jacket on my back,” he told PA Sport. “Last year was my first of having to deal with that pressure and I feel I'm better equipped now.

“I’ve got a little bit of experience in how to deal with it and approach it. In 2015 it was a good thing that Tiger was coming back because I felt like it took a little bit of pressure off me.”

He added: ”The thing I have to remember is you've beaten all these guys before and if you simplify it, that's what you're trying to do…

"I felt especially for the first couple of majors last year I maybe put a bit too much pressure on myself, expectations were very high. I just need to not think about the consequences so much.”

Spieth was pleased with his effort having failed to Louis Oosthuizen in the quarter-finals of the Dell Match Play.

“It's very close.” he said. “I came off a solid week last week, which just one kind of off round against Louis. We were able to get some work in with Cameron and continue what we've already been trying to trim that fat going into this week and next. So, solid round. 

“Really wished I could have gotten a little more out of the par 5s and I made the sloppy bogey with a lob wedge in my hand. That kind of stuff we can improve on this week. 

Hit some good putts that didn't quite go. It's 5-under and I'm in this tournament and we'll see what the conditions are like tomorrow, but it looks like scoring will be a little more challenging this week.”

Monkstown Golf Club

Overnight leader Jack McDonnell added a 73 to his opening 66 to take a three shot lead into the final round of the Munster Youths Amateur Open at Monkstown. 

McDonnell had three birdies and but the six bogeys saw him finish on three for the day and just three clear of Fortwilliam's Hugh O'Hare (71 71) and Mallow's James Sugrue (71 71) on one under par.

Sugrue was two over after two but recovered with three birdies before the turn.  A ball out of bounds on the 17th however cost him and he signed for a 71 to share second place with O’Hare  

Hilton Templepatrick's Reece Black and Carlow's Craig Bolger are tied for fourth place on 144 with six golfers tied for sixth place. including Kinsale’s Cathal Butler.

Stefan Greenberg from Tandragree was the only player to break par, signing for a one under par 69. 

The cut fell at 12 over par 152 with 47 players making it through to Friday's final 18 holes which will be a shotgun start at 9.00am. 

All golfers are asked to be present in Monkstown Golf Club at 8.15am when the starting holes will be assigned.

Munster Youths Amateur Open Championship

After 36 holes - Detailed scores

Qualifiers

139 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 66 73

142 Hugh O'Hare (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 71 71 , James Sugrue (Mallow Golf Club) 71 71

144 Reece Black (Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club) 73 71 , Craig Bolger (Carlow Golf Club) 68 76

145 Alastair McQuillian (Cushendall Golf Club) 74 71 , Cathal Butler (Kinsale) 74 71 , Luke Donnelly (Kilkenny Golf Club) 73 72 , Jason Conway (Donegal Golf Club) 72 73 , Hugh Foley (The Royal Dublin) 71 74 , Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 70 75

146 Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club) 75 71 , Cathal Nolan (Galway Golf Club) 74 72 , John Murphy (Kinsale) 74 72 , Alec Myles (Newlands) 72 74 , Eric Rumley (Kinsale) 70 76

147 Devin Morley (Oughterard Golf Club) 76 71 , Ben Graham (Scrabo Golf Club) 75 72 , Max Thallon (Bangor Golf Club) 74 73 , Peter Kerr (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 71 76 , Jack Hearn (Tramore Golf Club) 71 76

148 Stefan Greenberg (Tandragee Golf Club) 79 69 , Jack Walsh (Castle) 73 75

149 Jack Madden (Dungannon Golf Club) 76 73 , Adam McSweeney (Douglas) 76 73 , Jack Blake (Island) 75 74 , Simon Irwin (Holywood Golf Club) 75 74 , Alan Riordan (Muskerry Golf Club) 74 75 , Michael McGurk (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 73 76

150 Jake Whelan (Newlands) 77 73 , Brian O'Connell (Bandon Golf Club) 77 73 , Andrew Mulhall (Waterford Castle Golf Club) 76 74 , Andrew Hickey (Ballyhaunis Golf Club) 75 75 , Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club) 75 75 , Peter Cummins (Lurgan Golf Club) 75 75 , Charlie Dawson (Tramore Golf Club) 74 76 , Peter McKeever (Castle) 72 78

151 Darragh Herlihy (West Waterford Golf Club) 77 74 , Paul Tobin (Cork Golf Club) 76 75 , Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club) 73 78 , Greg O'Mahony (Fota Island Golf Club) 72 79

152 Jamie Dunne (Borris Golf Club) 80 72 , James McVicker (Knock) 77 75 , Darragh O'Connor (Fota Island Golf Club) 76 76 , Oisin Fleming (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 76 76, Mark Healy (Kinsale) 74 78 , John McCarthy (Stackstown Golf Club) 74 78

Non qualifiers

153 Edward Walsh (Mallow Golf Club) 80 73 , T J Ford (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 77 76 , Timothy Broderick (Kinsale) 77 76 , Greg Barrett (Mallow Golf Club) 74 79 , Colm Hughes (Galway Golf Club) 72 81

154 Cian Feeney (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 80 74 , Gary Ward (Kinsale) 77 77 , Conor Roche (Mallow Golf Club) 77 77 , Mark McKenna (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 75 79 , Michael Ryan (New Ross Golf Club) 74 80

155 Ciaran Vaughan (Limerick Golf Club) 79 76 , Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 75 80

156 Aaron Ryan (Thurles) 80 76 , Lorcan O'Sullivan (The Heritage Golf Club) 80 76 , Aaron Cashin (Tramore Golf Club) 79 77

157 Bill Murray (Waterford Castle Golf Club) 81 76 , Conor Ryan (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 80 77 , Jack Tuohy (Galway Bay Golf Club) 80 77 , Darragh Flynn (Carton House Golf Club) 76 81 , Sean Burke (Galway Golf Club) 74 83

158 Liam Dowling (Mallow Golf Club) 77 81

159 Rory Dineen (Cork Golf Club) 84 75 , Aaron Lennie (Clandeboye) 80 79 , Patrick Brennan (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 78 81

162 Ciaran Smyth (Greenore Golf Club) 81 81 , Luke Cummins (West Waterford Golf Club) 80 82

163 Eoin Aherne (Mallow Golf Club) 81 82

164 Craig Foley (Cork Golf Club) 85 79

165 Adam Boland (Mallow Golf Club) 81 84 , Raymond Kelly (Tralee Golf Club) 79 86

166 Gareth Hogan (Island) 84 82 , Eoin Conway (West Waterford Golf Club) 80 86

167 Ronan Cross (Ballybunion Golf Club) 82 85 , Cian Mooney (Faithlegg Golf Club) 82 85

168 Stephen Kelliher (Killarney Golf Club) 83 85

169 Jake O'Riordan (Dungarvan Golf Club) 88 81

170 Darragh Hobbs (Courtown Golf Club) 78 92

174 Jason O'Reilly (Tramore Golf Club) 86 88

180 Daniel Devlin (Fota Island Golf Club) 93 87

WDColin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 74 WD , Peter Henry (Fintona Golf Club) 78 WD , Christopher Taylor (Kanturk Golf Club) 80 WD , Michael Cooke (Waterford) 85 WD

Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler can hit it, pitch and putt it. In other words, he has a very good chance of winning the Masters this year.

Jason Day obviously can’t be ruled out and after being a nearly man for so many events he is now stringing together wins — last week in Austin at the WGC Dell Match Play and before that at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

His form makes him a firm favourite, although his back seems to be an issue at the moment.

Rory McIlroy is the leading Irish contender no doubt and the Dell Match Play might have sharpened him up somewhat and helped his confidence. An unexpected missed cut in the Honda Classic did not help his momentum and so I wish him a lot of luck this year.

McIlroy just needs to hold it together and tame any tendency to lose control at key times. Or make an unneeded aggressive strokes which get severely punished at the Masters. It’s a time to remain patient throughout.

Shane Lowry hasn’t done enough to suggest this could be his year. But he will have tremendous confidence after the WGC Bridgestone title win from last year. He has the game to do it though Augusta tests it for any weaknesses over 72 holes. The match play in Austin hinted that he is not in the same rich vein of form as of yet.

Graeme McDowell has a few demons gathered over the years at The Masters and distance seems to be main challenge for him at Augusta. His win in December at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba can do him no harm though.

Bubba Watson will be hard to beat as will Phil Mickelson. The latter travelling to Georgia slightly under the radar but showing some consistency in recent weeks. Watson carding wins at hero World Challenge and the Northern Trust Open so will loom large as a possible contender on the Sunday afternoon.

Adam Scott is up there too after his two wins this season – The Honda Classic and WGC Cadillac Championship.

Outside chances include Brandt Snedeker who has shown some form this season. Or maybe Swede Henrik Stenson – always a firm favourite of mine. But again they need some consistency over the four days to be winners of a Green Jacket.

Another fancy is Louis Oosthuizen. He’s a tough, steady and competitive player with all the skills in his armoury to make the Masters his on this occasion. After coming so close in 2012.

Clearly he can manage his way around the Augusta course quite well  

He has that that big easy swing that made Ernie Els such a success and hides the real power he gets on impact.

Jordan Spieth may arrive too exhausted after a champion’s year filled with lots of victories, commercial commitments and global travel. Recent weeks suggest it might have just taken its toll - as it does with every Masters champion - and so the pressure might tell.

Then again Spieth might react positively to driving back down magnolia drive and the memory muscles help him just make it back to back titles.

No matter my money is still on Rickie Fowler.

• Brendan McDaid is one of Ireland's leading coaches.
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The Irish U16 & U14 Horizon Team. Left-right, Lauren Walsh, Anna Dawson, Aine Donegan, Sara Byrne, Beth Coutler and Anna Foster.

Ireland’s girls won two of the six singles but fell 7-2 to Wales in a friendly at Cardigan Golf Club on Thursday.

The Under 16 and Under 14 Horizon Team trailed Wales 3-0 ahead of today's singles, taking to the course full of enthusiasm.

But while Aine Donegan and Anna Dawson won their games and all matches were tight, the Welsh girls emerged victorious.

Day 2 Singles Ireland 2 Wales 4  

• Lauren Walsh lost to F Evans 2&1
• Sara Byrne lost to L Bramwell 1up
• Anna Foster lost to F Vineall 2&1 
• Aine Donegan beat F Tynan 2up
• Beth Coutler lost to C Worby 4&3 
• Anna Dawson beat H Lockley 3&2

Day 1 FoursomesIreland 0 Wales 3 

• Lauren Walsh & Anna Dawson lost to L Bramwell & H Lockley 2&1 
• Anna Foster & Aine Donegan lost to C Worby & F Evans 1 down  
• Sara Byrne & Beth Coutler lost to F Tynan & F Vineall 3&2

Overall: Ireland 2 Wales 7U16 Team

• Sara Byrne (Douglas)
• Anna Foster (Elm Park) 
• Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) 

U14 Team

•  Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) 
• Anna Dawson (Tramore) 
• Aine Donegan (Woodstock)

Waterville Golf Links is the first Irish club to sign up for Women’s Golf Day — an event, which is happening on the same day, at the same time and in the same format all over the world on June 7.

All golf clubs, retail locations and golf facilities in Ireland are being asked to participate in this event to engage and encourage women and girls to play golf though men are encouraged to participate in an event which is being supported in Ireland by Golf Digest Ireland, Golfing Magazine and Golfing Weekly.

According to the organisers: "It is important that women have a positive experience around golf for themselves and as they are responsible for many of the family decisions. We would like to have as many courses and golf facilities from Ireland represented as possible. Registration is at http://womensgolfday.com/event-registration/

Waterville Golf Links, founded in 1889, is the first course in Ireland and the first in Europe to sign up for Women's Golf Day. 

The organiser of Women's Golf Day said: "Waterville was also one of the first golf courses in Ireland to grant women regular voting club memberships. We are honoured that this prestigious golf course that is a world treasure, with a long history and tradition of superior golf and growing the game we all love, is participating in Women's Golf Day."

It is easy to sign up your club and participate. You choose the cost and the funds go directly to the club as it is all done through Eventbrite. http://www.womensgolfday.com/

Cole Hammer

Greene Azalea

Portmarnock's John Greene is in Charleston, South Carolina, for some warm weather golf following last weekend's icy West of Ireland at Rosses Point.

The former South of Ireland champion, who made the matchplay stages at County Sligo (making an eagle two at the second along the way) but fell early in the matchplay.

However, he will be an interesting third in a stellar threeball at the Country Club of Charleston today when he tees it up alongside teenagers Andy Zhang and Cole Hammer, who players qualified for US Open when barely out of short trousers.

At the age of 15 years, 9 months and 21 days, Hammer became the third youngest player to compete in the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay last year.

China's Zhang, 18, is the youngest player to ever participate in the U.S. Open at the age of 14, teeing it up at the Olympic Club in 2012.

Greene, 30, is enjoying life as a gentleman amateur and showing signs of his old form by coming through the gruelling qualifying process at the West last week.

Shaun Carter receives the Munster Strokeplay trophy last year

Munster Strokeplay deadline is Saturday

The closing date for Munster Stroke Play Championship is Saturday 2nd April 2016.  Enter online www.golfnet.ie

Now in its 11th year, the 72-hole event has consistently attracted a top class field with golfers travelling from all over Ireland as they aim to capture the prestigious Munster title.

Conor Doran (Banbridge) won the inaugural event in 2006, and fellow Banbridge member Rory Leonard won in 2010.

Munster and Irish International Niall Gorey is the only multiple winner, he won the title in 2007 and 2008, and again in 2011.

Current professional golfer Brian Casey won in 2012, and the winners list also includes Pat Murray and Kieran McCarthy.

The past two years were dominated by The Royal Dublin with Barry Anderson winning in 2014 and Shaun Carter winning last year.

In 2015, more than 50 golfers played off a plus handicap and a similar field is expected this year. Entries are now open via Golfnet, with the lowest 75 golfers qualifying to play on the May Bank holiday weekend.

The Munster Stroke Play developed from the Cork GC Senior Scratch Cup. The Cork Senior Scratch was the oldest competition of its type in Ireland and the Cup is still presented to the winner of the Munster Stroke Play.

The Championship will bring to a conclusion four weeks of high profile events, with Muskerry, Lee Valley and Douglas all hosting their Senior Scratch Cups in the preceding weeks.

County Sligo, home of the West of Ireland Amateur

Strokeplay or Matchplay? Or both?

Is strokeplay better than matchplay for Ireland's amateur events? Or is a mixture of the two, as used in big event in Australia, a better model?

Members of MidWest Alliance think a 54 hole strokeplay event, followed by a 16-man matchplay tournament is the fairest way of attracting the best field and maximising World Amateur Golf Ranking Points. Have your vote in their poll.

Is it time for the GUI to try out the West or South as a 54 holes qualifier with 16 for the matchplay

— MID WEST ALLIANCE (@MWAGolf) March 27, 2016

A 54/16 Irish champ model is 2 full counting Wagr events in 1 champ. 36 holes qualif is too little stroke & 64 Matchply 2 much matchplay.

— MID WEST ALLIANCE (@MWAGolf) March 27, 2016

Professional Stephanie Meadow and world amateur No 1 Leona Maguire will get some vital experience ahead of the Olympics when they tee it up in the LPGA ANA Inspiration — an LPGA major t — at Rancho Mirage in California today.

The event takes places on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club and represents a first LPGA major experience for Cavan amateur Maguire, who will miss the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic in Georgia with Duke University. 

Tee times

Currently the No. 1 ranked amateur golfer in the world, Maguire was invited to play thanks to an agreement between the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the European Golf Association (EGA). 

She has held world number 1 amateur position since May 2015 and will be joined by fellow amateur players Hannah O’Sullivan and Bronte Law, world numbers 2 and 4, respectively.

Meadow turned professional in 2014, finishing third on her debut in the  US Women’s Open at Pinehurst in North Carolina.

She had a conditional card for 2015 but then missed out on an LPGA tour card at final qualifying last December and is playing the Symetra Tour and a limited number of LPGA events this season. 

She was honoured with the Heather Farr Perseverance Awardlast year which recognises a player who, through her hard work and dedication and love of the game of golf, has demonstrated determination and perseverance on the road to fulfilling her goals.

Damien McGrane swooped to take the €1,000 pot in the Irish Tour Pro Series Shootout at The Island on Tuesday.

The Kells professional, who is preparing for a possible return to the circuit next month as a former winner of the Volvo China Open, found the great Donabate links in pristine condition with the greens especially smooth for a 10-man outing.

Paul Dunne, Gary Hurley and Gavin Moynihan, last year’s Walker Cup heroes and now rookie professionals, took part in what is becoming established as a competitive event for tour professionals on their weeks off.

McGrane shot a three under 68 from the back tees with Hurley (70) second on one under and Dunne (71) third on level par.

The 10 professionals — a mixture of European Tour, Challenge Tour, mini tour and PGA members — had a sit down after the round though on this occasion there was no guest speaker from the industry due to the Easter holidays.

With many players are competing at the Europro Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage next week, the fourth event of the Series is scheduled for Palmerstown Stud on Tuesday, April 12.

Padraig Harrington jokes about his vice-captaincy role at Gleneagles

Pádraig Harrington will be an assistant captain for the second Ryder Cup running this September but it remains to be seen if he will ever get the captaincy.

With Lee Westwood declaring his interest in the job for the Irish Course at Whistling Straits in 2020, Harrington may have to go for Paris in 2018.

Yes, he has won three majors but you could argued that his chances of the 2018 job are diminished, not just because he would be the third Irish captain in a row after Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke, but because Thomas Bjorn is the best placed continental European to get the nod.

With immediate past captains José María Olazábal, McGinley and Clarke the men who will sit down with Keith Pelley to choose the 2018 skipper, Harrington would not be an automatic choice.

Bjorn is well placed and Harrington would likely lose a popularity contest with Westwood, who could also be a 2018 rival if his form doesn't improve.

With Ian Poulter fast coming up on the rails since he hit 40 back in January, the chances of getting the job in 2020 or 2022, when Harrington would be 51 and Luke Donald or Sergio Garcia would be in their 40s, must also be considered.

Harrington's best window of opportunity was arguably to go up against Clarke for this year's captaincy at Hazeltine, where the Dungannon man will be captain at the age of 48.

Having said after Gleneagles that McGinley's brilliant performance and the demands placed on the captain made him less enthusiastic about wanting the job, he's in an interesting position.

Is it really worth Harrington's while to take on the role for the money?

As a three time major winner and the man who ended an eight-year European drought, he's got little to gain and a lot to lose.

As he said when betting that Colin Montgomerie would not go for a second Ryder Cup captaincy in 2014 having won in 2010 to cap a storied Ryder Cup career, "it would be madness for him...why risk all that?"

Looking at all Harrington has achieved in the game, we might ask the same question.

Jonathan Yates hits to the ninth in the final of the West of Ireland Championship at County Sligo. 

Power without control means nothing but Naas’ Jonathan Yates combined the strength of a prize-fighter with the nerveless touch of a surgeon to capture the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open at County Sligo.

The pristine links was at its beautiful best with Ben Bulben, black and menacing one minute, swathed in wispy cloud the next, giving a hard-fought final a classic context as the 22 year old UCD student beat Castle’s Daniel Holland 2 and 1 in a bloody contest, playing the 17 holes in one over par to the Dubliner’s five over.

“Dan was always going to be tough,” said Yates, who took a huge step towards the title and an Irish cap when he came back from two down after nine holes to beat the holder Dermot McElroy one up. 

And the new West of Ireland Champion - @jonnyjjyates from @NaasGC as pictured by @golffile #amateurgolf pic.twitter.com/ydazkQrJey

— GUI (@GUIGolf) March 29, 2016

“He is so gritty and hits it so straight and he is such a  good putter that he is not going to give you anything. But for the first 12 or 13 holes I knew that my ball striking could be the deciding factor and it worked out that way.  I hit a lot more fairways and a lot more greens than him but got a little wayward towards the end. But my short game saved me and I holed out well."

The tenacious Holland, 26, had also caused a semi-final upset by beating an out-of-sorts Colm Campbell 5 and 4.

But he was outmatched from tee to green in the final and had it not been for a win against the head at the eighth and brave saves at the ninth and 10th, he might have fallen earlier.

With Jack Hume winning the title two years ago and Conor O’Rourke improving, Naas golf is now flying with the help of club professional Gavin Lunny.

“Since Jack won here, things have really switched on in the club,” Yates explained. “He has taught us how to win and I I had a great chat with him last night. He told me just to turn my phone off and forget everything and go and play.”

Yates didn’t quite follow Hume’s advice to the letter, confessing he made the mistake of checking the odds on Paddy Power, who had McElroy as odds on favourite for their match and the title.

“I knew this morning would be tough against Dermot, the guy in form,” he said. “But I knew if I could get past Dermot, I had a really good chance to win.”

14th tee and @jonnyjjyates creams a 3 wood miles down. He's just 2 up but sniffs a title pic.twitter.com/zVjXgiZiEg

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 29, 2016

Two down after nine to McElroy in the morning, Yates, holed long birdie putts at the 10th and 12th to level the match, then forged ahead when the Ballymena man missed short putts at the 14th and 16th to fall behind.

While a win in par at the 17th earned him a stay of execution, the Naas man won one-up and then slowly dismantled Holland with strong tee to green play coupled with steady putting in the final.

Holland birdied the first from three feet to draw first blood but three putted the fourth and then threw away the fifth and sixth with further bogeys to go from one up to one down.

Another bogey to Yates birdie at the seventh,where he overshot the green, left him two down until Yates missed a shot par putt at the eighth to fall back to just one up.

When he lipped out for birdie at the ninth and Holland got up and down from sand to halve there and then halved the 10th, it was anyone’s game. 

All square after 4 in the final. Both +1 so far pic.twitter.com/Src2qUoDNA

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 29, 2016

But Yates birdied the long 12th from nine feet to two up again, then cleaned up nervelessly for halves in pars at the 13th and 14th and again at the 15th, where Holland left a golden chance from around 12 feet well short.

A bogey in the midst of a rain squall at the par-three 16th gave Holland a win and a chink of light but Yates slammed the door shut at the fearsome 17th with a stellar three-iron finding the fringe pin high and setting up a winning par.

The Dubliner missed the green right and failed to save par from 15 feet after a weak pitch and Yates two putted from the left fringe for a winning par, holing a four footer for the title.

"There was something nice about going out and winning it rather than Dan doing something to lose,” Yates said. "It was a nice way to finish. I’ve hit that putt a lot of times, inside left, nice and firm. I just didn't think it would be for this.”

HUGE congratulations to our fab golfer @jonnyjjyates who has just won d @2016woig Fantastic result! Well done Jonny! pic.twitter.com/lvdr6ZhSx3

— UCD Sports Clubs (@ucdsportsclubs) March 29, 2016

“That was a seriously good shot under pressure,” said Holland on Yates approach o the 17th. “I just got a bit tight in and around the middle. I steered a few shots and didn’t let the club go. I didn't swing properly at all. I just got tight, I steered a few shots and I paid for it. In fairness to Jonny, he played well. I tried to stick in with him but I steered a few shots. 

"The turning point? He made a good birdie on 12 to go two up and I knew from there I had to make birdies. But he knows what he is doing and that par golf would put pressure on me and he did it." 

As for the significance of week for his own game,  Holland hopes he can return to the Leinster team for the Interpros and contend for that elusive championship win at some stage  soon.

"Considering I haven't been playing and I am in the middle of a Masters, it’s brilliant," he said. "I am absolutely delighted to get this far. Pity not to win. I won't stop trying to win one of these. I missed the interprets last year. I hope I can get back. This is a nice start, so hopefully this will get me on the team again. I will get confidence from this. 

“Jonny is a good player, he’s been working hard and I know this means an awful lot to him and that he wants a spot on that Irish team. He deserves it now. I will have to try again.”

The pride of Naas .. Jonny Yeats pic.twitter.com/HEwNNNR9Ag

— Naas Golf Club (@NaasGC) March 29, 2016

Yates always believed his ball-striking would prove the difference and he’s hoping now to win his first Irish cap.

"I had a bit of an ultimatum coming here," said Yates, who confessed that adrenaline stopped an aching back from becoming a problem. "The Irish captain Tony Goode told me I was close to the Senior panel and said I needed a good result this week to have a chance. So hopefully this does what I want." 

Mission accomplished.

With 200 into a draught at 16, it's a 4 iron for @jonnyjjyates 30ft over stick, 2 putt; @dermotmcelroy 25ft pin high pic.twitter.com/92vaM0vwll

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 29, 2016 West of Ireland Amateur Open, Co Sligo GC (in association with Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa)Semi-finals: 

• Daniel Holland (Castle) bt Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) 5/4;  
• Jonathan Yates (Naas) bt Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) 1 up.

Final

• Yates bt Holland 2/1.

Dermot McElroy in the black hat (left) watches Naas' Jonathan Yates hit a four-iron to the 16th. 

Underdogs Jonathan Yates and Daniel Holland will contest this afternoon's final of the West of Ireland Amateur Open at County Sligo.

Holland, a former Leinster Interpro and the winner of the Mullingar Scratch Trophy in 2013, beat an out of sort Colm Campbell 5 and 4 while Yates came back from two down after nine to beat holder Dermot McElroy from Ballymena 1 up.

"Dan is very underestimated and he's taken some big scalps before," said Campbell, who was an estimated five over par for the holes played and a shadow of the player who beat local favourite Sean Flanagan 3 and 2 in the quarter-finals. "I wasn't really at the race but Dan played the better golf and deserved the win."

Holland birdied the first and third to go two up up while Campbell squared the match at the fifth, Holland birdied the sixth and took the eighth and ninth in par to go three up, birdied the 10th from three feet and holed a 30 footer for par on 11 to go five up.

He then got up and down for birdie on 12 to go six up and while Campbell won the 13th to stop the rot, the match ended when they halved the 14th in bogeys.

"It's still a good start to the season and hopefully that win is not too far away."

McElroy was bitterly disappointed to lose to Yates in a tricky, 15-20 mph southwest wind that made it difficult to get close to flags, going around in three over par.

"The whole front nine, all the pins were on the right hand side and the wind was off the right," he said.

The defending champion McElroy was two up after nine but Yates, a 22 year old geography and sociology student at UCD, holed a 30 footers on the 10th to got back to one down and that found the hole with a steamy 30 footer down the hill for another birdie at the 12th to square the match.

McElroy then went one down with four to play when he missed the green at the 14th and failed with a six footer for par.

The real turning point was the 200-yard 16th, where Yates hit a great four-iron to 30 feet and McElroy knocked his 25 footer three feet past and didn't hit the hole with the return,

He made for an exciting finish with a brilliant par at the 17th, hitting a 218 yard two-iron to the back fringe as Yates missed the green right and failed to get up and down

McElroy then came up short of the 18th with his nine iron from a poor lie and with Yates 20 feet away, he almost chipped in for birdie, finishing an inch or two left of the hole.

Yates two putted to go through and can now become the second Naas man to win the title following clubmate Jack Hume's triumph in 2014.

West of Ireland Amateur Open, County Sligo GC (in association with Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa)Semi-finals - Tuesday, March 29

1.  Daniel Holland (Castle) bt Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) 5/4
2. Jonathan Yates (Naas) bt Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) 1 up

Final — Tuesday, March 29

1.30pm — Daniel Holland (Castle) v Jonathan Yates (Naas)

County Sligo Golf Club. Dermot McElroy and Kevin Le Blanc driving at the 10th. Picture: Brian Keogh

Defending champion Dermot McElroy saw blood, sweat and tears — literally and metaphorically — as he remained on course for his date with history in the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open at County Sligo.

The 22-year old from Ballymena birdied five holes in a row from the 12th to beat Kinsale’s Cathal Butler 3 and 2 in the quarter-finals before being forced to finish birdie-birdie to beat the ultra-talented 17-year old Kevin LeBlanc by two holes in a spectacular quarterfinal in the afternoon.

In fact, McElroy made six birdies in a row as he opened his quarter-final match with LeBlanc with a three and finished it thus — 3-4-4-3-3-3 — in a 15mph west wind. at Rosses Point. 

In total, he made 13 birdies on Monday and Paddy Power has made him the 1/2 favourite to beat the talented Naas ace Jonathan Yates in the second semi-final as he bids to become the first player to retain “the West” since Rory McIlroy in 2006. 

Here's @dermotmcelroy on 16 and 3 up v @CathalButler pic.twitter.com/IiVebesr3j

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 28, 2016

He’s also the 6/5 favourite for the title but even if he gets past Yates, which is not going to be easy, he will face either Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell or Castle’s Dan Holland in the decider.

Campbell ended the dream of Co Sligo’s Sean Flanagan in the afternoon, winning 3 and 2 despite a gutsy fightback by the younger Rosses Point man. But he’d been even better the morning.

The 28 year old, winner of the East in 2014, aced the 178-yard fourth wth a seven iron but had to birdie the last from 20 feet to beat Des Morgan by one hole.

Campbell was playing so well that he also parred the short ninth and birdied the 13th and 16th to play the four par-threes in just eight strokes. 

Great to see Declan Branigan and Barry Reddan out following the @2016woig at @CountySligoGC pic.twitter.com/ndKo26mZaN

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 28, 2016

“I was three under on the back,” Morgan said, shaking his head shortly after Campbell answered his birdie three from around seven feet on the 17th by canning a 20 footer for birdie on the last and a one-hole win.

“If I had been back at home it would have been dangerous,” Campbell joked of his potential bar tab after his hole in one. 

Having aced the 15th in Baltray back in 2014 and won, he’s hoping lightning strikes twice.

“Hopefully it’s a good omen,” said Campbell with a big grin.

In the quarter-final with Flanagan, Campbell was equally devastating as he went four up after six holes and then made no mistakes to hold off a courageous fightback from the local boy, winning on the 16th to set up a semi-final match with 26-year old Holland from Castle.

Not only is he a full time player, Campbell also has oodles of match experience and if he’s to even dream of a late sojourn into the pro game this autumn, he must start to dominate against his peers at home and abroad.

Des Smyth and Declan Branigan @CountySligoGC Lifelong pals. pic.twitter.com/51CqLpe7Gm

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 28, 2016

“With playing Home Internationals and playing abroad I am getting more experience and I am able to close out matches now,” said Campbell, who lost to Pat Murray in the Irish Close semis at Seapoint, the week after his win at Baltray.

“I’ll see if I will go to Q-School and see if my game is good enough to get to that level . 

If I am playing as well as I am at the moment, I will give it a rip.” 

If he reaches the final, he may need a gun to put away McElroy, who took everything that Le Blanc could throw at him and still won by two holes.

16 @dermotmcelroy misses the green left but @KLB1998 in the middle of the green. 35 ft Dermot chips in bank 4ft... pic.twitter.com/uiOnB1yp2E

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 28, 2016

Their clash was a humdinger worthy of the final itself as the youngster from The Island refused to go away, even when clearly in shock after drawing blood when hitting a middle aged Donegal man — ironically named Colm Campbell but no relation — full on the head with his approach to the 11th.

The match was level at that stage but a clearly shocked Le Blanc hit a poor chip to 30 feet as an ambulance was called. 

He somehow pulled himself together to hole the putt and halve the hole but he wasn’t quite himself on the next and McElroy birdied the par-five to go ahead and never relinquished that lead.

And @dermotmcelroy makes to remain 1 up pic.twitter.com/8PawUaQGm1

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 28, 2016

His sand save at the 13th, where he holed a 30 footer to remain in front, was key. In truth, his short game came to the rescue when his long game faltered a few times and he got up and down for pars at the eighth, 13th, 14th and 16th, where he pitched into the bank when short sided and knocked in the seven foot putt to go up the 17th with the slimmest of leads.

Leblanc was first to hit and he found the left edge of the green, leaving himself a 50 footer to the back right pin. 

So @dermotmcelroy 3ft away! @KLB1998 went a little left on the wind but he's putting from 40 pic.twitter.com/j4I9s6GzN5

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 28, 2016

McElroy’s reply was a 220-yard two iron that ran up the base of the hill and rolled back to finish two feet from the flagstick. It was a deliberate play. 

“I couldn’t get a yardage to the flag,” McElroy said. “So I had 220 to the hill and it came back nicely.”

LeBlanc needed a miracle and created it by holing an unlikely 50 footer across the famous green for a half in birdie to take the match up the last. The putt never looked anywhere else but in from 10 feet out and McElroy wasn’t shocked.

“Maybe it would have affected me a few years ago,” he said. 

So @dermotmcelroy 3ft away! @KLB1998 went a little left on the wind but he's putting from 40 pic.twitter.com/j4I9s6GzN5

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 28, 2016

The young Dubliner, a Junior Open champion in 2013, missed a 20 footer for birdie at the 18th and McElroy cruelly holed from 10 feet for a two-hole win that was far tighter than it looks on paper.

The victor had nothing but praise for teenager Le Blanc, who had eased past County Sligo’s Stephen Brady by 7 and 6 in the morning.

“He’s a very, very good player, very talented,” McElroy said of Le Blanc. “He didn’t really hit a bad shot. A super player with a lot of potential and a very good temperament. He will be winning these here with ease in the future.”

Nice shot to 7 by @jonnyjjyates who is 2 up v Matthew Kane in the quarters. @2016woig @CountySligoGC pic.twitter.com/GQ7QRaPQCq

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 28, 2016

McElroy faces 22-year old UCD student Yates in the semifinals — his room mate last night — following the Naas man’s 6 and 5 demolition of Whitehead’s Matthew Kane.

“This is more of a surprise to other people that it is to me because I have had a few runs,” said Yates, who took Paul Dunne to the 19th in the 2013 Irish Close semi-finals at Connemara. “I have won four college events and the Midland Scratch Cup in the last year, so it has been coming.”

Yates and Holland are very much the underdogs on Tuesday but both have talent and form on their side.

This is @DanHolland_ on 12. He's 2 up v Gavin Fitzmaurice pic.twitter.com/GQagP5LvME

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 28, 2016

A former Mullingar Scratch Trophy winner and Leinster Interprovincial, Holland came with low expectations but after 2 and 1 wins over Aaron Grant and Gavin Fitzmaurice he said: “I can do it here. It’s in me.

Who will win the @2016woig ?

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 28, 2016 West of Ireland Amateur Open, County Sligo GC (in association with Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa)SEMI-FINALS - TUESDAY, MARCH 29

1. (8.00) Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) v Daniel Holland (Castle);
2. (8.15) Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) v Jonathan Yates (Naas).

QUARTER-FINALS - MONDAY, MARCH 28

1. Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) bt Sean Flanagan (Co. Sligo) 3/2
2. Daniel Holland (Castle) bt Gavin Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick) 2/1
3. Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) bt Kevin Le Blanc (Island) 2 holes;
4. Jonathan Yates (Naas) bt Matthew Kane (Whitehead) 6/5.

THIRD ROUND - MONDAY, MARCH 28

1. Sean Flanagan (Co. Sligo) bt Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 2/1;
2. Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) bt Desmond Morgan (New Forest) 1 hole;
3. Gavin Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick) bt Theo Coffey (Slieve Russell) 3/2;
4. Daniel Holland (Castle) bt Aaron Grant (Dundalk) 2/1;
5. Kevin Le Blanc (Island) bt Stephen Brady (Co. Sligo) 7/6;
6. Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) bt Cathal Butler (Kinsale) 3/2;
7. Jonathan Yates (Naas) bt Harry Duggan (Kilkenny) 5/4;
8. Matthew Kane (Whitehead) bt Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) 3/2.

Jason Day. Picture: Getty

Not even the bookies are sure now who is going to win the Masters. With new world No 1 Jason Day defeating Rory McIlroy one up in the semifinals before going on the beat Louis Oosthuizen 5&4 in the final of the WGC-Dell Match Play, they’ve made the Australian 13/2 joint favourite with the Ulsterman and reigning champion Jordan Spieth.

Bubba Watson and Adam Scott are 11/1 and while those odds are all perfectly logical, there are as many reasons to wonder why McIlroy is not the sole favourite as to question the fact that he’s given as good a chance as Spieth or Day..

On the plus side the Holywood star is overdue a win this year given that all the big names have triumphed at some stage since January.

On the minus side he’s still not quite firing on all cylinders.

That he’s not going up to Augusta early and hasn’t been there is seen as a sign that he’s not over anxious and a plus.

But there’s still a nagging feel that while he’s holed miles of putts since turning to left hand low at Doral, he’s still vulnerable on the greens, especially at Augusta. Another minus.

McIlroy, of course, only speaks of positives and while annoyed to let Day off the hook in the semis, he sees his game as being on an upward curve. And he’s right.

“The quality of the match with Jason was really good. I think the only mistake between us was made on the second hole when he went into the hazard,” McIlroy said. “Apart from that, there were no bogeys.

" I didn’t birdie the 12th or 13th and that’s what cost me the match. That was a really big swing in the match. Jason didn’t give me anything – he played very solid. I’m disappointed with the outcome, but I feel like I’m really happy with where my game is. There are lots of positives to take from this week.

”I feel like I've made a lot of great strides forward this week,'' McIlroy said prior to his match against Day. "I've kept saying I want to go to Augusta with a win under my belt and this is my last chance ... even if it doesn't quite go that way, I'll still walk away from here very confident going to Augusta, knowing where my game is and knowing that I'm right where I need to be with a week to go.''

As ESPN’s Bob Harig pointed out last night: "There is some doubt as to whether McIlroy’s game is where he wants it. But nobody will remember that uncertainty two weeks from now if he is wearing the green jacket.”

As for Day, the Australian has now won six of his last 13 events compared McIlroy’s six of 36 or Spieth’s six of his last 30.

Having struggled with a back injury early in the week at Austin Country Club, Day still managed to top Group 2 and dispatch Brand Snedeker and Brooks Koepka en route to the final day.  

As the Europen Tour put it: "An enthralling tussle with McIlroy ensued on Sunday morning, but despite being the only player to take Day to the 18th hole, the Northern Irishman was unable to produce a closing birdie that would have extended the match.

"Two years ago Day beat Victor Dubuisson in an epic final in Arizona that ended on the 23rd hole, but this time he had a much easier ride against Oosthuizen, who could not replicate his earlier ruthless form to which Rafa Cabrera Bello had earlier fallen victim, losing 4&3.

“Cabrera Bello rallied in the afternoon to cap a memorable week by seeing off McIlroy 3&2 in the consolation match, the Spaniard ensuring a first visit to the Masters in two weeks’ time as well as the largest pay cheque of his career."

Jason Day“I’m very, very pleased to be the champion again. It was an interesting week, to say the least. I wasn’t even thinking about playing on Thursday after tweaking my back on Wednesday, then getting to World Number One on Saturday and then winning on Sunday. It was a very, very strange week, but I’m glad to gut it through and get the win. All week I’ve been getting therapy before my rounds, after my rounds, in between my rounds, trying to make sure that I’m just relaxing everything that I can through my back to get that locking feeling out of my system.“I think the morning’s round was probably one of the hardest rounds I’ve had to go through in match play format, to try to get through. Rory was difficult because from tee to green he doesn’t miss any shots. Even if he does miss one slightly, he’s always back on top of it and hitting a great shot the next time. But I think if he had holed a few more putts early on, it would have been very difficult to catch him.”Louis Oosthuizen“Up against a guy like Jason, you need to play well. I played okay but nothing spectacular. I hit the shots I wanted to and I hit the ball really well, but I couldn’t buy a putt. He’s a great player. He hit some amazing iron shots and made some amazing up and downs. He’s definitely a few steps ahead of everyone else at the moment. There was never really a turning point, I feel. I was sort of playing catch-up the whole time because I didn’t really put any pressure on him by making birdies. He always had the birdie putt for the win, and he’s a great putter.“There are a lot of positives to take away from the week though, and I’m feeling very confident for Houston next week and the Masters the week after.”Rafa Cabrera Bello“I’m very happy with the way I played. I had to play really good golf to beat Rory. He’s such a good player, I’m just really pleased and honoured. This morning I didn't quite have my A game on the greens, I was maybe not quite so loose and made a few mistakes. I had a couple of opportunities to fight back, but I just didn’t get the ball in the hole. But this afternoon it hasn’t been like that. I played really solid, really well from tee to green. And the putter has worked better, as well. I rolled some putts in and I think that’s what made the difference.“I really haven’t thought much about the Masters yet – I’ve been trying to focus on the matches today – but I’m sure tonight it will start to sink in and I’ll have a big smile on my face. It’s really the reason I wanted to turn pro, watching Olazábal win the Masters, so it is going to be very special for me.”

They’re 17, 20 and 22-years old and with respect to more seasoned players like Colm Campbell, Des Morgan or Dan Holland or newcomers to top level such as Jonathan Yates, Caolan Rafferty or Cathal Butler, they will be worth watching at Rosses Point on Monday.

Kevin Le Blanc, the former Junior Open champion from The Island, is gunning to become the youngest West of Ireland champion since Rory McIlroy won aged 16 a decade ago.

The rangy 17-year old has been more concerned with his school books that birdies this year as he prepares to sit his Leaving Cert in June.

Great way to win. @klb1998 birdies 18 to beat @gleeson_alex 1 up pic.twitter.com/wvgEixUfOF

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 27, 2016

But after coming back from two down after nine with five wins in a row to beat Hollystown’s Stephen Kinch 3 and 2, he made himself one of the clear title contenders when he killed off a comeback by Castle international Alex Gleeson down the stretch with an 18th green birdie securing a one up win.

“I was just trying to die it in,” LeBlanc admitted after his 20 foot, right to left birdie putt fell in the side door, making Gleeson’s eight footer for par irrelevant.

“He’d holed a few putts and was bound to miss one, especially under pressure on the last, so I just wanted to lag it down so to see it go in was a big relief.

“It’s unreal. I’m delighted to beat Alex. A super player. One of the top amateurs in Ireland.”

Gleeson had won the 14th with a huge birdie putt and 15th in par to get back to level the match before halving the 16th by dropping a 12 footer down the hill. But LeBlanc, a former Junior Open champion and boys international, showed true grit down the stretch that might quieten the critics who say he is not a good match player.

“I had a good record and then lost a few matches, so people started saying I was a bad matchplay player,” Le Blanc said with a shrug. “I think I’m a good match player to be honest.”

He’ll need to be today as he faces Co Sligo’s Stephen Brady — aka the giant-killer following his win over champion Jack Hume last year.

The local man gave repeat performance yesterday when he saw off North of Ireland champion and Irish international John Ross Galbraith 3 and 2 before beating Rathmore’s Ben Best 2 and 1.

The strong man in the bottom half of the draw remains 20-year defending champion Dermot McElroy from Ballymena, who is trying to become the first player since his Rory McIlroy in 2006 to retain the title.

“I'd really like to win it again and match Rory,” McElroy said after comfortable wins over Stephen Healy and Dwayne Mallon left him to face Kinsale’s Cathal Butler, who surprised Naas’ Conor O’Rourke 2 and 1 in the second round. 

“I feel I am playing really well. I just need the putter to warm up.”

McElroy has always been something of an enigma — a wonderful golfer with an erratic, volcanic temperament that changes in rhythm with his putting stroke. 

If the putts are falling, he’s a sweet-swinging and easygoing. But if the blade misbehaves, he gets down on himself.

This partly explains why he’s won just one senior Major — last year’s West. And it also explains why he was so disappointed not to win the Close at Royal Portrush in 2012 (he shot 83-68 on the final day and finished nine behind Chris Selfridge) or the Irish Amateur Open in 2013, when he missed out on the playoff between Gavin Moynihan and Robbie Cannon by one.

He’s already changed putter three times this year. 

“When you are playing well, everything seems easy,” he said on Saturday when asked if he paid much attention to the mental game. “I suppose I could work on it big time. I don’t. It could be an option though. I am considering it because the frustration is building up.”

As a player with ambitions to turn professional and join former team mates Gary Hurley, Paul Dunne, Gavin Moynihan, Selfridge and Moynihan, McElroy needs to convert his great play into more wins.

“I want to win, I don’t want to be finishing in the top 10 because I have been doing that for years.” he said. “I am playing well and putting terrible and finishing 10th and 15th…. I feel I should have a couple more championships but a couple have slipped by like the Irish Amateur a few years back. But I love it here. The course really suits me. The way I am playing. I fancy my chances.”

Many fancied Stuart Grehan chances too but he could’t add the West to his East and South of Ireland win.

Having won in the morning, the Tullamore star was undone by County Sligo’s 20 year old “great white hope”, Sean Flanagan who dreams of following in the footsteps of illustrious former champions like McIlroy.

The Rosses Point native recalls watching the Holywood star give a Junior clinic before one of his West wins and standing slack-jawed as the young maestro showed off his skills on the practice ground near the 18th.

After leading the qualifying for the second year in arow — something McIlroy never achieved in his four appearances in the event — Flanagan can’t help dreaming of seeing his name in gold letters on the board in the foyer of the club.

It’s something that 2005 and 2006 winner McIlroy himself mentioned in a private video message sent to the members yesterday, apologising for missing the traditional dinner for champions of the previous decades and recalling his “very fond memories of the West and of County Sligo.

“I remember him showing is this 7.5 degree driver with an extra stiff shaft, saying it helped him keep the ball low. Then he hit this drive and he just launched into miles in the air with so much hang time, it was incredible. You just knew this guy was special.”

After coming back from two down after nine to beat Fota Island’s Sean Barry on the 18th in the morning, Flanagan’s one hole win over Grehan was special too.

Grehan started slowly and had to birdie the ninth just to be two down. He then lost the 11th to a par before birdies at the 14th and 15th left him just one down with three to go.

Flanagan bunkered his tee shot at the 16th but holed a clutch six footer for par to remain in front and then safely parred the last for victory after Grehan had overshot the green and failed to chip in, playing a miraculous recovery to a few feet.

"|t would be amazing — a big goal of mine,” Flanagan said of a possible home win as well-wishers came up to clap him on the back. “But we will take it one step at a time.”

Focussing will be a challenge for Flanagan, who now faces a tough third round clash with Royal Dublin’s Richard Knightly, a former South of Ireland semi-finalist, with the winner to face Des Morgan or international Colm Campbell in a top half that also features the dangerous Castle man Daniel Holland.

Mr James Fox Esq on the foirth

Casual followers may spot a surprise winner in Naas Jonathan Yates, who has worked harder than ever on his game in recent months and now faces Kilkenny’s Harry Duggan for a place in the quarter-finals with Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty once again involved in the latter stages of a championship following a 19th hole comeback win against Portmarnock’s James Fox.

Rafferty now faces Whitehead’s Matthew Kane, who also came back from an early deficit to beat former South of Ireland champion Stuart Bleakley4 and 3.

ROUND THREE - MONDAY, MARCH 28

1. 8:00 Sean Flanagan (Co. Sligo) v Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin)
2. 8:10 Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) v Desmond Morgan (New Forest) 
3. 8:20 Theo Coffey (Slieve Russell) v Gavin Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick)
4. 8:30 Daniel Holland (Castle) v Aaron Grant (Dundalk)
5. 8:40 Kevin Le Blanc (Island) v Stephen Brady (Co. Sligo)
6. 8:50 Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) v Cathal Butler (Kinsale)
7. 9:00 Jonathan Yates (Naas) v Harry Duggan (Kilkenny)
8. 9:10 Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) v Matthew Kane (Whitehead).

ROUND TWO - SUNDAY, MARCH 27

1. S Flanagan (Co. Sligo) bt S Grehan (Tullamore) 1h;
2. R Knightly (The Royal Dublin) bt N McKinstry (Cairndhu) 3/2;
3. C Campbell (Warrenpoint) bt R Mullarney (Galway) 6/5;
4. D Morgan (New Forest) bt S O’Connor (Castlebar) 1h;
5. T Coffey (Slieve Russell) bt S Carter (The Royal Dublin)1h;
6. G Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick) bt G Dunne (Co. Louth) 19th;
7. D Holland (Castle) bt C Crowley (Woodbrook) 4/3;
8. A Grant (Dundalk) bt W Russell (Clandeboye) 1h;
9. K Le Blanc (Island) bt A Gleeson (Castle) 1h;
10. S Brady (Co. Sligo) bt B Best (Rathmore)  2/1
11. D McElroy (Ballymena) bt D Mallon (Dungannon) 4/3;
12. C Butler (Kinsale) bt C O’Rourke (Naas) 2/1;
13. J Yates (Naas) bt S Cullen (Slieve Russell) 1h;
14. H Duggan (Kilkenny) bt R Connolly (Carton House) 6/5;
15. C Rafferty (Dundalk) bt J Fox (Portmarnock) 19th;
16. M Kane (Whitehead) bt S Bleakley (Shandon Park) 4/3.

ROUND ONE - SUNDAY, MARCH 27

1. S Flanagan (Co. Sligo) bt S Barry (Fota Island) 1h;
2. S Grehan (Tullamore) bt T McLarnon (Massereene) 2/1
3. R Knightly (The Royal Dublin) bt S Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 1h;
4. N McKinstry (Cairndhu) bt J Greene (Portmarnock) 1h;
5. R Mullarney (Galway) bt S Coulter (Warrenpoint) 5/4;
6. C Campbell (Warrenpoint) bt B Kelly (Esp) 4/3;
7. S O’Connor (Castlebar) bt L Grehan (Mullingar) 1h;
8. D Morgan (New Forest) bt A Gaynor (Co. Sligo) 4/3;
9. S Carter (The Royal Dublin) bt E Griffin (Waterford) 6/4;
10. T Coffey (Slieve Russell) bt A Lowry (Esker Hills) 4/2;
11. G Dunne (Co. Louth) bt C Feeney (Co. Sligo) 5/3;
12. G Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick) bt B Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 22nd;
13. D Holland (Castle) bt M Wylie (Por) 5/4;
14. C Crowley (Woodbrook) bt B Daly (Edmondstown) 1h;
15. A Grant (Dundalk) bt A Morris (Belvoir Park) 2/1;
16. W Russell (Clandeboye) bt P Coughlan (Moate) 3/1;
17. K Le Blanc (Island) bt  S Kinch (Hollystown) 3/2;
18. A Gleeson (Castle) bt I O’Rourke (The Royal Dublin) 2/1;
19. B Best (Rathmore) bt M Shanahan (Castlemartyr) 1h;
20. S Brady (Co. Sligo) bt JR Galbraith (Whitehead) 3/2;
21. D Mallon (Dungannon) bt G Collins (Rosslare) 3/2;
22. D McElroy (Ballymena) bt S Healy (Carton House) 6/4;
23. C Butler (Kinsale) bt J Fletcher (Warrenpoint) 4/3;
24. C O’Rourke (Naas) bt W Hanna (Kilkeel) 6/4;
25. J Yates (Naas) bt D Reidy (Co. Sligo) 4/2;
26. S Cullen (Slieve Russell) bt T Hackett (The Royal Dublin) 3/1;
27. H Duggan (Kilkenny) v C O’Donnell (Castletroy) 2/1;
28. R Connolly (Carton House w/o N Gorey (Palmerstown Stud;
29. J Fox (Portmarnock) bt T Cleary (Woodstock) 2/1,
30. C Rafferty (Dundalk) bt J Pierse (Portmarnock) 1h;
31. S Bleakley (Shandon Park) bt K Stack (Dungarvan) 4/3;
32. M Kane (Whitehead) bt E McCormack (Galway Bay) 1h.

Rory McIlroy. Picture: Getty Images

European Tour regulars Rory McIlroy, Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello and South African Louis Oosthuizen all made it through to the semi-finals of the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship. writes the European Tour.

Defending champion McIlroy extended his unbeaten run in the competition to 12 matches, first seeing off Zach Johnson by one hole and then cruising to a 4&3 victory over Chris Kirk.

The Northern Irishman next faces Jason Day, who will return to the World Number One spot on Monday after easing past Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka.

Cabrera-Bello had a slice of fortune when Byeong Hun An retired on the 12th hole with a neck injury in the last 16, and he made the extra rest count by downing Ryan Moore 2&1 in the afternoon with a hugely impressive display.

An added bonus for the 30 year old is that he will move into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking on Monday, thus guaranteeing his first appearance in the Masters in two weeks’ time.

Next up for Cabrera-Bello is Oosthuizen, who was ruthless in his dispatching of Jordan Spieth 4&2 in the last 16 and equally efficient in seeing off Dustin Johnson 2&1, closing out the win with a superb 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.

Rory McIlroy

“I played very well this afternoon. I think it’s the best I've played all week, and obviously the score reflects that. I feel like each and every day I’ve improved a little bit. I think I made six or seven birdies out there this afternoon. I said to myself I needed to be a little more aggressive, take a few more pins on, not be quite as conservative. It’s sometimes hard to do that on this course because of where the pin positions are and because there’s quite a bit of trouble around the greens. But I took a few more shots on and I was a little more aggressive and it definitely paid off.

“Even if tomorrow doesn’t quite go the way I want it to, I feel like I’ve still made a lot of great strides forward this week. It’s a big match tomorrow. He’s two in the world {her was about to become No 1], I’m three. I’m excited about playing him.”

Rafa Cabrera-Bello

“It was a hard day. It was tough out there with the wind. The difference was I just holed a few clutch putts and hit really good wedges into the greens. I gave myself birdie chances and I made a few of them. I knew if I won this morning’s match I’d get in to the Masters. It’s the only Major I haven’t played in yet and it’s the one that made me want to become a professional golfer. I wore green today to inspire me and remind me what was at stake.

“Louis and I have played together a few times. I’m sure we both have good admiration and friendship for each other. I know he’s a fantastic player. I'll just go out there, focus on my game, try to play the best I can. And I believe that if I do that well, I can beat anyone here.”

Louis Oosthuizen

“I had two tough matches today. I was focused quite a bit this morning and wanted to give myself a good opportunity to have a shot against Jordan. This afternoon I was a little bit more relaxed and played some good golf. It was a huge match for me this morning. Jordan is obviously someone who's been playing unbelievable golf and number one in the world. And I wanted to be really prepared for it this morning and stay in the moment and not do something silly. I made good putts when I needed to and just played solid golf.

“Dustin is a great player, but unfortunately for him he missed quite a few opportunities for birdies on the back nine. I just wanted to go through to tomorrow and see if I can get into the final. I’m playing pretty solid golf and I just need to rest up tonight and be mentally prepared for tomorrow. It’s going to be another long day.”

Elimination Play (Rounds 5-6-7)Form of Play: Match Play

Settling of Ties: Matches all square after 18 holes during Rounds 5, 6 and 7 shall be extended as many holes as are required for a match to be won. Fifth and subsequent round matches all square after 18 holes will be extended to holes 12 through 18 with the sequence repeated if necessary until a winner is determined.

Four Americans players faced four international players in the Quarterfinals of the Dell Match Play with each of the American players suffering defeats. This is the second time in tournament history that four international players have reached the Semifinals. The last time four international players were in the Semifinals at the Dell Match Play was 2010 when Ian Poulter (England) defeated Sergio Garcia (Spain), 7 and 6, while Paul Casey (England) won in 24 holes over Camilo Villegas (Colombia).

Match 105 – Rory McIlroy (3) def. Chris Kirk (54), 4 and 3

McIlroy, who never trailed in the match, was all square with Kirk thru nine holes before McIlroy applied the pressure with birdies at 10 and 12 to win both holes. McIlroy drove just over the back edge of the short, par-4 13th green and when Kirk spun his approach back into the water hazard, McIlroy claimed the hole with another birdie to go 3 up with five holes remaining. After a par to halve No. 14, McIlroy closed out the match with a birdie putt from 5’ 7” to win 4 and 3.

McIlroy’s path to the quarterfinals

• G1 defeated Thorbjorn Olesen (64), 1-up
• G2 defeated Smylie Kaufman (46), 2 and 2
• G3 halved with Kevin Na (26)
• *McIlroy beat Na on the second playoff hole with a par
• R4 defeated Zach Johnson (14), 1-up
• R5 defeated Chris Kirk (54), 4 and 3

Rory McIlroy has 11 wins and one halve in his last 12 matches at the Dell Match Play dating back to last year’s win at Harding Park. McIlroy’s overall record now stands at 22-6-1 in the event, putting him in a share of fourth-most wins (with Stewart Cink) in tournament history.

Player   Wins

• Tiger Woods 33
• David Toms 24
• Ian Poulter 23
• Stewart Cink  22
• Rory McIlroy 22
• Matt Kuchar  20
• Paul Casey  20

McIlroy has 11 career victories, and is looking to join Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players since World War II to record 12 victories before turning 27. McIlroy turns 27 on May 4 this year.

McIlroy won the Dell Match Play last year and the Bridgestone Invitational in 2014. Only Geoff Ogilvy (3) and Tiger Woods (18) have more than two World Golf Championships wins.

McIlroy meets Jason Day in the Sunday morning Semifinal and it will be the second time that McIlroy has faced an Australian opponent in this event. McIlroy lost to Geoff Ogilvy, 2 and 1, in the Quarterfinals in 2009.

Match 106 – Jason Day def. (2) Brooks Koepka (18), 3 and 2

Day birdied the third hole to take an early lead then briefly trailed thru 6 when Koepka posted back-to-back birdies at Nos. 5 and 6 for wins. Day continued his flawless play with birdies at the eighth and 10th holes and added an eagle at the par-5 12th hole, holing a putt from 11 feet to move to 2 up. A par for a win at No. 15 left Day 3 up with three holes to play and he closed the match with another par on 16 to defeat Koepka 3 and 2.

Day’s path to the quarterfinals

• G1 defeated Graeme McDowell (62), 3 and 2;
• G2 defeated Thongcha Jaidee (36), 5 and 3
• G3 defeated Paul Casey (23), concession
• R4 defeated Brandt Snedeker (15), 3 and 2
• R5 defeated Brooks Koepka (18), 3 and 2

Following Jordan Spieth’s loss to Louis Oosthuizen in R4, Jason Day’s victory over Brooks Koepka in R5 will see him return to the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking. Day first gained the No. 1 spot following his win at last year’s BMW Championship during the FedExCup Playoffs. He held the No. 1 spot for one week.

Day meets McIlroy in Sunday morning’s Semifinal. Both are major champions and both are the most recent winners of the Dell Match Play – McIlroy claimed this title last year while Day won in 2014.

Match 107 – Rafa Cabrera Bello (52) def. Ryan Moore (45), 2 and 1

Cabrera Bello was conceded the opening hole of the match and never trailed after that. With birdies for wins at Nos. 5 and 6, Cabrera Bello took a 2 up lead then lost the eighth hole with a bogey. The par-5 12th was halved with birdies before Cabrera Bello hit his approach to tap-in range on 15 to regain a 2 up lead. After driving into a water hazard on 16, Cabrera Bello holed a 7’4” putt to halve the hole before defeating Moore, 2 and 1, at the 17th hole.

Cabrera Bello’s path to the quarterfinals

• G1 defeated Hideki Matsuyama (12), 1-up
• G2 defeated Kevin Kisner (20),  4 and 3
• G3 halved with Soren Kjeldsen (43)
• R4 defeated Byeong-Hun An (27), concession
• R5 defeated Ryan Moore (45), 2 and 1

A two-time winner on the European Tour, Cabrera Bello is playing in the Dell Match Play for the third time in his career and the first since 2013. He lost in the first round to Jason Day in 2012 and in the second round in 2013 to Martin Kaymer.

Cabrera Bello has played well this year with two runner-up finishes on the European Tour. The Spaniard finished two shots behind Branden Grace at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and one shot behind Danny Willett at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Cabrera Bello has played one PGA TOUR event this season, finishing T11 at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.

By advancing to the quarterfinals, Cabrera Bello has guaranteed himself of moving into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking and thereby secures a spot in The Masters, the only major championship in which he is yet to compete. Cabrera Bello has played The Open Championship four times and the U.S. Open four times. He has also contested two PGA Championships. His best result in a major is T21 at The Open Championship in 2013.

Cabrera Bello meets Louis Oosthuizen in the Semifinals.

Match 108 – Louis Oosthuizen (16) def. Dustin Johnson (8), 2 and 1

Oosthuizen lost the second hole to a Johnson birdie and did not gain the lead in the match until No. 11 when he made a par to win the hole and go 1 up. Both players bogeyed the par-5 12th hole before Oosthuizen doubled his lead with a birdie at No. 15 from three feet. A Johnson birdie at No. 16 won the hole. When Oosthuizen made a 21’ 3” birdie putt on 17 he watched Johnson’s attempt from 7 feet miss the hole and the match was won 2 and 1.

Oosthuizen’s path to the quarter finals

• G1 defeated Matt Jones (61), 2 and 1
• G2 defeated Bernd Wiesberger (35), 2 and 1
• G3 defeated Andy Sullivan (29), 4 and 2
• R4 defeated Jordan Spieth (1), 4-up
• R5 defeated Dustin Johnson (8), 2 and 1

This is the first time in his seventh Dell Match Play appearance that Oosthuizen has reached the Semifinals. He lost in the Quarterfinals the past two years - to Jason Day, 2 and 1, in 2014 and Jim Furyk, 4 and 2, last year.

Oosthuizen defeated Dustin Johnson for the second time in recent months. Oosthuizen and fellow South African Branden Grace beat Dustin Johnson, who was paired with Jordan Spieth, 4 and 3, in the Friday four-ball matches at The Presidents Cup last year.

Player                                      Standing                       Points

Jason Day                                18                                672

Rory McIlroy                             47                                366

Louis Oosthuizen                      128                               168

Rafa Cabrera Bello                    (13th non member)        69

Upsets by round

R1     5 /32

R2     5/32

R3     9/32

R4     3/8

R5     2/4

First-time Participants: No first-time participants are remaining.

Enda Lonergan speaks to the players

There was anger from many at Rosses Point when the Championship Committee decided to abandon the second qualifying round of the West of Ireland Championship due to high winds.

With players in the afternoon nearly three hours but only some nine holes into their second rounds, play was suspended when conditions became unplayable as balls were moving on the greens in winds that gusted over 48mph.

As a result players who had played their way into the top 64 in the morning were left out in the cold while others who had played themselves out of the championship, earned a reprieve.

Exactly 64 players shot 82 or better on day one and so go through to tomorrow's matchplay first round.

"We have just convened a Championship  Committee meeting," Championship Director Enda Lonergan told a gathering of players in the bar at County Sligo. "Obviously the weather doesn't need any introduction. All of you were out there for the last couple of hours and have experienced it first hand. 

"We have made the following decision. Today's round is abandoned.

"The top 64 will be based on round one. The top 64 players fell at exactly 82, which also means no playoff is required to invoke the new tournament condition and the draw for tomorrow's matchplay will be up on line hopefully within 30 minutes."

Not everyone was thrilled.

“Terrible decision,” lamented Co Sligo’s Gary McDermott, who had followed a windblown, Friday afternoon 84 with a Saturday morning 77 to be in with a chance of making a 36-hole cut had the afternoon play been continued.

He felt  play should have been resumed on Sunday morning in the interest of fairness to both sides of the draw but with officials fearing mass no-shows by extending into Sunday morning, a drastic decision was taken.

Here’s the wind statistics. pic.twitter.com/4a8GYNQudO

— West Golf 2016 (@2016woig) March 26, 2016

After Lonergan dashed away to publish the draw, it fell to Connacht Brach Chairman and Championship committee chairman Jim McGovern to comment.

"The situation was that there could be no more play this evening as the forecast was for no let up until after 8 o'clock," he explained.

The alternative was to resume tomorrow morning but there was a fear that many players would have gone home and there would be chaos.

"The agreement was that this was the best idea" McGovern said.

Former winner Joe Lyons, who had shot 85 on day one and had already picked up his ball, agreed with the decision. So did Eddie McCormack.

"This afternoon wouldn't have been playable no matter where the flags were," Lyons said in reply to Niall Gorey, who felt the greens should not have been cut and that forward pin positions and tees should have been used. 

"In 2007 I shot 80-66 in the Brabazon Trophy. Half an hour after I shot 66, round two was abandoned. That's the way it goes sometimes."

"I'm probably in around 20th," lamented Geoff Lenehan, who was going superbly in round two but missed the cut by one shot after an opening 83.

Others such as Eugene Smith, who had followed an 85 with a 70 for certain qualification on 155, also had reason to be upset. So to did Michael Sinclair, after rounds of 83-75 left him on 158. 

Kevin LeBlanc was one under for the round and leading on the course at two over for the tournament after eight holes (26 holes overall) when he tripled the ninth, just before play was abandoned.

More to follow.....

West of Ireland Amateur OpenFirst round

1. (0745) S Flanagan (Co. Sligo) v S Barry (Fota Island),
2. (0755) S Grehan (Tullamore) v T McLarnon (Massereene),
3. (0805) S Ryan (The Royal Dublin) v R Knightly (The Royal Dublin),
4. (0815) J Greene (Portmarnock) v N McKinstry (Cairndhu),
5. (0825) S Coulter (Warrenpoint) v R Mullarney (Galway),
6. (0835) C Campbell (Warrenpoint) v B Kelly (Esp),
7. (0845) L Grehan (Mullingar) v S O’Connor (Castlebar),
8. (0855) D Morgan (New Forest) v A Gaynor (Co. Sligo),
9. (0905) S Carter (The Royal Dublin) v E Griffin (Waterford),
10. (0915) A Lowry (Esker Hills) v T Coffey (Slieve Russell),
11. (0925) G Dunne (Co. Louth) v C Feeney (Co. Sligo),
12. (0935) G Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick) v B Anderson (The Royal Dublin),
13. (0945) D Holland (Castle) v M Wylie (Por),
14. (0955) B Daly (Edmondstown) v C Crowley (Woodbrook),
15. (1005) A Grant (Dundalk) v A Morris (Belvoir Park),
16. (1015) W Russell (Clandeboye) v  P Coughlan (Moate),
17. (1025) K Le Blanc (Island) v  S Kinch (Hollystown),
18. (1035) I O’Rourke (The Royal Dublin) v A Gleeson (Castle),
19. (1045) B Best (Rathmore) v M Shanahan (Castlemartyr),
20. (1055) S Brady (Co. Sligo) v JR Galbraith (Whitehead),
21. (1105) G Collins (Rosslare) v  D Mallon (Dungannon),
22. (1115) D McElroy (Ballymena) v S Healy (Carton House),
23. (1125) J Fletcher (Warrenpoint) v C Butler (Kinsale),
24. (1135) C O’Rourke (Naas) v W Hanna (Kilkeel),
25. (1145) J Yates (Naas) v D Reidy (Co. Sligo),
26. (1155) T Hackett (The Royal Dublin) v S Cullen (Slieve Russell),
27. (1205) H Duggan (Kilkenny) v C O’Donnell (Castletroy),
28. (1215) N Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) v R Connolly (Carton House),
29. (1225) J Fox (Portmarnock) v T Cleary (Woodstock),
30. (1235) C Rafferty (Dundalk) v J Pierse (Portmarnock),
31. (1245) S Bleakley (Shandon Park) v K Stack (Dungarvan),
32. (1255) E McCormack (Galway Bay) v M Kane (Whitehead)

Qualifiers

73 Sean Flanagan (Co. Sligo)

74 Kevin Le Blanc (Island)

75 Jonathan Yates (Naas), Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin)

76 Daniel Holland (Castle), James Fox (Portmarnock), Gary Collins (Rosslare), Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint), Liam Grehan (Mullingar), Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint), Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park)

77 Aaron Grant (Dundalk), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth), Harry Duggan (Kilkenny), Ben Best (Rathmore), Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin), John Greene (Portmarnock), Stephen Brady (Co. Sligo)

78 Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud), Gavin Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick), William Russell (Clandeboye), Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay), Conor O'Rourke (Naas), Des Morgan (New Forest)

79 Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Dermot McElroy (Ballymena), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk), Barry Daly (Edmondstown), Alan Lowry (Esker Hills), Thomas Hackett (The Royal Dublin), Ian O'Rourke (The Royal Dublin)

80 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore), Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene), Alex Gleeson (Castle), Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell), Theo Coffey (Slieve Russell), Colm Crowley (Woodbrook), Jack Pierse (Portmarnock), Stephen Healy (Carton House)

81 Brian Kelly, Alan Gaynor (Co. Sligo), William Hanna (Kilkeel), Matthew Kane (Whitehead), Paul Coughlan (Moate), Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin), Roy Connolly (Carton House), John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead), Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu), Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin), Mark Shanahan (Castlemartyr), Cian O'Donnell (Castletroy)

82 Cian Feeney (Co. Sligo), Andrew Morris (Belvoir Park), Kevin Stack (Dungarvan), Cathal Butler (Kinsale), Shane O'Connor (Castlebar), Ronan Mullarney (Galway), Dwayne Mallon (Dungannon), Tony Cleary (Woodstock), Matt Wylie, Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Declan Reidy (Co. Sligo), Stephen Kinch (Hollystown), Sean Barry (Fota Island)

Non-qualifiers

 83 Michael Sinclair (Knock), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock), Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown), Cian Dullaghan (Greenore), Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam), Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West), Pat Murray (Limerick), Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu), Ross Dutton (Tandragee), Robert Brazill (Naas), Ben Murray (Waterford Castle), Alec Myles (Newlands), Eoghan O'Donovan (Craddockstown), Peter Kerr (Royal Portrush), David Reddan (Nenagh), Conor Purcell (Portmarnock), Kyle McCarron (North West), Dylan Brophy (Castleknock)

84 Gary McDermott (Carton House), Fergal Kennedy (Island), Paul McCarthy (Mallow), Edward Stack (Ballybunion), Alan Fahy (Bray), Dave Lowry (Corballis Links), Robin Dawson (Tramore), Karl McCormack (Portarlington), Shane Hogan (Nenagh), John Conroy (Bray), Rory Williamson (Holywood), Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo), John Hickey (Cork), Thomas O'Connor (Athlone), Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle), David Brady (Co. Sligo)

85 Claudio Consul, Devin Morley (Oughterard), Robbie Hynes (The Royal Dublin), Eugene Smith (Ardee), Joe Lyons (Galway)

86 Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion), Daniel Murphy (Portarlington), Peter Kane (Ashbourne), Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley), Jason O'Leary (Dromoland), Colm Hughes (Galway)

87 John McCarthy (Stackstown), Shane McGlynn (Portmarnock), Michael Dallat (Ballycastle), Robert Neville (The Links Portmarnock), Noel Crawford (Mourne)

88 Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire), Jake Whelan (Newlands), Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe), Darragh Coghlan (Portmarnock), Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle)

89 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.), Mark Power (Kilkenny)

90 Darragh Flynn (Carton House), Patrick Neville (Bearna)

91 Gavin Young (Nenagh), Conor McCaughey (Dungannon), Patrick McCarville (Clones), Thomas Mulligan (Co. Louth)

92 Declan O'Neill (Carton House), Michael Reddan (Limerick)

94 Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud)

96 John Hadnett (Castletroy), Ross Steedman (Courtown)

 

The abandonened scores 36 hole totals

ROUND TWO - FIRST WAVE

149 Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club) 78 71

150 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club) 80 70, Dermot McElroy (Ballymena Golf Club) 79 71, Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 77 73, Jonathan Yates (Naas Golf Club) 75 75

151 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club) 80 71, Des Morgan (New Forest) 78 73

154 Conor Purcell (Portmarnock) 83 71, Declan Reidy (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 82 72, Mark Shanahan (Castlemartyr) 81 73, Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay Golf Club) 78 76

155 Eugene Smith (Ardee) 85 70, Ronan Mullarney (Galway Golf Club) 82 73, Andrew Morris (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 82 73, Brian Kelly () 81 74, Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 80 75, Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk Golf Club) 79 76, Ian O'Rourke (The Royal Dublin) 79 76, William Russell (Clandeboye) 78 77

156 Fergal Kennedy (Island) 84 72

157 Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club) 84 73, Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 81 76

158 Ben Murray (Waterford Castle Golf Club) 83 75, Michael Sinclair (Knock) 83 75

159 Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club) 84 75

160 Rory Williamson (Holywood Golf Club) 84 76, Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 84 76, Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West Golf Club) 83 77, Kevin Stack (Dungarvan Golf Club) 82 78, Matt Wylie () 82 78

161 Gary McDermott (Carton House Golf Club) 84 77, Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 83 78, David Reddan (Nenagh Golf Club) 83 78, Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club) 83 78, Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 83 78

162 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 89 73, Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club) 86 76, Devin Morley (Oughterard Golf Club) 85 77, Claudio Consul () 85 77, Edward Stack (Ballybunion Golf Club) 84 78, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 81 81

163 Michael Dallat (Ballycastle Golf Club) 87 76, Dave Lowry (Corballis Links Golf Club) 84 79, Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 84 79

164 Mark Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 89 75, Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 88 76, Daniel Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club) 86 78, Alec Myles (Newlands) 83 81

165 Darragh Flynn (Carton House Golf Club) 90 75, Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 88 77

166 Jake Whelan (Newlands) 88 78, Thomas O'Connor (Athlone Golf Club) 84 82, Shane O'Connor (Castlebar Golf Club) 82 84

167 Robert Neville (The Links Portmarnock) 87 80, Jason O'Leary (Dromoland Golf Club) 86 81

168 Conor McCaughey (Dungannon Golf Club) 91 77, Shane McGlynn (Portmarnock) 87 81

169 Thomas Mulligan (Co. Louth Golf Club) 91 78, Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club) 86 83

170 Declan O'Neill (Carton House Golf Club) 92 78

171 John McCarthy (Stackstown Golf Club) 87 84

172 Gavin Young (Nenagh Golf Club) 91 81

173 Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 94 79

178 Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club) 92 86, Patrick Neville (Bearna Golf Club) 90 88

182 Ross Steedman (Courtown Golf Club) 96 86

Hard work appears to be paying off for Naas' Conor O'Rourke after he added a 71 to his opening 78 to set the clubhouse target at seven over par 149 in qualifying for the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open at County Sligo.

The 24-year old, who was added to the Irish squad this year and picked for next month's Lytham Trophy trip, is determined to see how far he can go in the game.

Playing full time golf for the past two years and one of Gavin Lunny's stable of talented Naas players alongside the likes of Jack Hume and Jonathan Yates, his ambition is to see how his game stacks up against he best with a view to trying his hand at the Q-School and the professional game.

Apart from a double bogey six at the eighth, his 17th hole, he was certainly pleased with his level par 71 in far more benign conditions than he suffered on Friday afternoon.

Check out a classic @garymac1973 move on 13 @countysligogc Sadly the hole did not go well. pic.twitter.com/qUpRzlbq0t

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 26, 2016

The one and only Eddie McCormack plays a low bullet 4-iron to the 14th @countysligogc Dancefloor. pic.twitter.com/BstyZKWi7w

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 26, 2016

Not his best but good enough on the new 8th tee @Tmclarnon15 @CountySligoGC pic.twitter.com/RSGm9XDTT8

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 26, 2016

Nice 5 iron to 7 by @NeilMcKinstry who was still 50 ft short @CountySligoGC Note new bunker ahead. pic.twitter.com/Tr0UuL1hEs

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 26, 2016

Here's @SteffanOHara on 1 today. A fresh breeze but it's cold and rain is threatening. Fairway. @CountySligoGC pic.twitter.com/yQ8bKqdJ3c

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 26, 2016

While play was suspended for the afternoon wave due to 48mph gusts, a steady 18 mph southeast breeze, gusting to 30mph, was challenging but perfectly playable for the morning starters despite the cool, 8C temperatures.

"I wasn’t really out of position once all day but I found a fairway bunker on the eighth," O'Rourke said of his double bogey in a round that also featured birdies at the 12th, second, third and fifth and bogeys at the 17th and first.

Just back from a week's practice in France, he's hoping to make a run at his first title having had a taste of the top level when taking Joe Lyons to the last in the last 16 two years ago.

"I am 24 now and finished in Maynooth two years ago," he said. "I want to pay full time for the next year and see where I can go with it and possibly go to Q-School.

"Joe got me on 18 a few years ago so we'll see if I can make a run this week."

O'Rourke leads by one from Stuart Grehan, who recovered from his 80 with a 70, holder Dermot McElroy (71), Royal Dublin's Sean Ryan and 22-year old clubmate Jonathan Yates. 

ROUND TWO - FIRST WAVE

149 Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club) 78 71

150 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club) 80 70, Dermot McElroy (Ballymena Golf Club) 79 71, Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 77 73, Jonathan Yates (Naas Golf Club) 75 75

151 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club) 80 71, Des Morgan (New Forest) 78 73

154 Conor Purcell (Portmarnock) 83 71, Declan Reidy (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 82 72, Mark Shanahan (Castlemartyr) 81 73, Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay Golf Club) 78 76

155 Eugene Smith (Ardee) 85 70, Ronan Mullarney (Galway Golf Club) 82 73, Andrew Morris (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 82 73, Brian Kelly () 81 74, Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 80 75, Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk Golf Club) 79 76, Ian O'Rourke (The Royal Dublin) 79 76, William Russell (Clandeboye) 78 77

156 Fergal Kennedy (Island) 84 72

157 Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club) 84 73, Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 81 76

158 Ben Murray (Waterford Castle Golf Club) 83 75, Michael Sinclair (Knock) 83 75

159 Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club) 84 75

160 Rory Williamson (Holywood Golf Club) 84 76, Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 84 76, Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West Golf Club) 83 77, Kevin Stack (Dungarvan Golf Club) 82 78, Matt Wylie () 82 78

161 Gary McDermott (Carton House Golf Club) 84 77, Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 83 78, David Reddan (Nenagh Golf Club) 83 78, Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club) 83 78, Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 83 78

162 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 89 73, Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club) 86 76, Devin Morley (Oughterard Golf Club) 85 77, Claudio Consul () 85 77, Edward Stack (Ballybunion Golf Club) 84 78, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 81 81

163 Michael Dallat (Ballycastle Golf Club) 87 76, Dave Lowry (Corballis Links Golf Club) 84 79, Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 84 79

164 Mark Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 89 75, Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 88 76, Daniel Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club) 86 78, Alec Myles (Newlands) 83 81

165 Darragh Flynn (Carton House Golf Club) 90 75, Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 88 77

166 Jake Whelan (Newlands) 88 78, Thomas O'Connor (Athlone Golf Club) 84 82, Shane O'Connor (Castlebar Golf Club) 82 84

167 Robert Neville (The Links Portmarnock) 87 80, Jason O'Leary (Dromoland Golf Club) 86 81

168 Conor McCaughey (Dungannon Golf Club) 91 77, Shane McGlynn (Portmarnock) 87 81

169 Thomas Mulligan (Co. Louth Golf Club) 91 78, Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club) 86 83

170 Declan O'Neill (Carton House Golf Club) 92 78

171 John McCarthy (Stackstown Golf Club) 87 84

172 Gavin Young (Nenagh Golf Club) 91 81

173 Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 94 79

178 Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club) 92 86, Patrick Neville (Bearna Golf Club) 90 88

182 Ross Steedman (Courtown Golf Club) 96 86

Valerie Clancy receives her trophies at Waterville

Killarney's Valerie Clancy captured the Muster Senior  Open Championship as gusting gales at Waterville saw the event cut from 54 to 36 holes.

The Irish international won with 151, five shots ahead of runner up, Mary Sheehy from Tralee Golf Club, also capturing the Munster Girls Championship, which was played at the same time. 

Valerie followed an opening 77 with a one over par 74 and her five over par total proved a worthy winning score. 

It's been a wonderful 12 months for Valerie, who is also the reigning Mid-Leinster Ladies Champion having won that title at the Royal Curragh Golf Club last year.

2016 Munster Senior Open Championship, Waterville (Par 73)

151 Valerie Clancy (Killarney Golf Club) 77 74 

156 Mary Sheehy (Tralee Golf Club) 80 76 

158 Louise Coffey (Malone Golf Club) 82 76 , Sarah Cunningham (Ennis Golf Club) 81 77 

160 Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington Golf Club) 80 80 , Aedin Murphy (Carlow Golf Club) 80 80 

162 Aine Donegan (Woodstock Golf Club) 86 76 , Tracy Eakin (Dooks Golf Club) 84 78 

164 Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel Golf Club) 80 84 

165 Mary Doyle (The Heath Golf Club) 81 84 

166 Aoife Lowry (Tipperary Golf Club) 85 81 

167 Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion Golf Club) 80 87 

168 Elisa Corcoran (Grange Golf Club) 85 83 , Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) 83 85 , Paula Walsh (Doneraile Golf Club) 82 86 

169 Maeve Cummins (Lurgan Golf Club) 85 84 

170 Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) 87 83 , Karen Delaney (Carlow Golf Club) 85 85 

171 Aoife Ni Thuama (Douglas) 87 84 

172 Sara Byrne (Douglas) 88 84 , Maria O'reilly (Headfort Golf Club) 87 85 

173 Ailish McCartan (Greenore Golf Club) 85 88 

174 Olivia Lucas (Lahinch Golf Club) 83 91 

175 Rachel Thompson (Cork Golf Club) 90 85 , Sarah Burke (Mullingar Golf Club) 88 87 

176 Margaret Hayes (Tralee Golf Club) 90 86 

177 Jennifer Hickey (Mallow Golf Club) 91 86 , Pauline Walsh (Headfort Golf Club) 85 92 

178 Valerie Shannon (Lahinch Golf Club) 92 86 , Mary Dowling (Mallow Golf Club) 86 92 

179 Emma Forbes (Newtownstewart Golf Club) 90 89 , Amy Arthur (Killarney Golf Club) 87 92 

180 Lynda Maher (Doneraile Golf Club) 92 88 , Jenny Hennessy (Lahinch Golf Club) 88 92 , Carmel Kearney (Mallow Golf Club) 87 93 , Chloe O'Connor (Roscommon Golf Club) 86 94 

181 Valerie Hassett (Ennis Golf Club) 92 89 

182 Orla Barry (Galway Golf Club) 86 96 

183 Aisling O'Connor (Mallow Golf Club) 97 86 , Linda Toomey (Lahinch Golf Club) 90 93 , Eimear O'Donnell (Killarney Golf Club) 90 93 

184 Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown Golf Club) 98 86 , Ailish Mulcahy (Killarney Golf Club) 95 89 

185 Siobhan O'Herlihy (Muskerry Golf Club) 93 92 

191 Eileen 'Ogie' O'Sullivan (Dooks Golf Club) 97 94 

193 Yvonne Ryan Daly (Tipperary Golf Club) 94 99 , Susan Gilmore (Ballybunion Golf Club) 90 103 

NR Mary Lowney (Dunmore) 97 NR 

Rory McIlroy. Picture: Getty Images

He's still well short of 100 percent but Rory McIlroy is clearly trending in the right direction in Texas. The world No 3 beat Kevin Na at the second sudden death hole to advance to the last 16 and he's determined to keep his unbeaten streak going and take down red-hot Zach Johnson in the WGC-Dell Match Play in Texas today.

The defending champion said he was relieved to beat the sticky Na with a par at the second hole of a Group 3 playoff after they halved their 18 hole match at Austin Country Club to finish with two and a half points each.

Results, draw, brackets

In truth, Na was the third player in a row to hand McIlroy the match with a mistake, driving into trouble on the 20th. Whether Johnson or any of the other survivors are as forgiving — Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Jason Day, Matt Kuchar, Louis Oosthuizen and Bill Haas have been impressive — remains to be seen.

Johnson beat Shane Lowry 4 and 3 for his third win in a row in Group 14 and while McIlroy’s power and his hot putter will be tough to counter even if the tight, firm course sets up better for the reigning Open champion, Johnson is a tiger.

“This is a golf course that sets up perfectly for Zach,” McIlroy said. “It’s his sort of golf course. Very much have much a precision course and that's his game. If he can get it in play, he's going to be very tough to beat.

“I feel like I'm playing well. I've had some good battles with the team format with Zach over the years in the Ryder Cup, so tomorrow should be a good one.”

McIlroy had to battle hard to beat Na, who won the second with a par to McIlroy’s double bogey six and then birdied the fifth to go two up.

The world No 3 birdied the short seventh from eight feet and the ninth with a 68-foot bomb to get back to all square.

And while he lost the 10th to go one down again, McIlroy insisted that the longer a match goes on, the stronger he feels about his chances.

“Any time I go into the back nine, even today, I was down after 10 holes but I knew that I’d played the back nine well this week and I had done well,” he said.

“Any time the match goes the distance, I feel like I have a better chance. Thankfully, I was able to get it done again today.”

After another birdie two at the 11th levelled the match, McIlroy won the 15th in birdie to go one up but lost the 16th after a poor drive.

Na suggested picking up their short par putts at the 18th but the Ulsterman refused.

"I'm pretty confident over those and I wanted to put as much pressure on him as I could," McIlroy said. "When it's that tight on the last hole, I would rather just hole the putt. At least it gives you a little momentum going into the playoff."

“It is a sigh of relief, nice to get through and nice to be here for the weekend,” Mcilroy said after Na drove into trouble at the second and lost to a par four.

“My match play record has been pretty good over the last couple of years. It was nice to get another win and be here for the last 16. I have got a tough opponent in Zach Johnson tomorrow. I know I have to play very, very well. Just delighted to get through.”

The expected rematch between Paul Casey and Jason Day never happened with the Englishman, who like Graeme McDowell was already out of the tournament, forfeiting due to a stomach bug to send the Australian into the last 16.

McDowell, meanwhile, was down for most of the day to Thongchai Jaidee but halved in the end to finish the week with two halves and a defeat from three matches.

Elsewhere, Jordan Spieth beat Justin Thomas 3 and 2 and now faces Louis Oosthuizen with the winner taking on Dustin Johnson or Patrick Reed.

Johnson beat Kiradech Aphibarnrat in a play-off to decide the winner of Group 8 as Oosthuizen, beat Andy Sullivan 4 and 2 to win Group 16 while Reed downed Phil Mickelson 5 and 4 to win Group 9.

Patton Kizzire beat Emiliano Grillo and emerged from a group that also featured JB Holmes and Bubba Watson to set up a last 16 showdown with Ryan Moore with the winner to face Byeong-Hun An or Rafa Cabrera Bello.

The Spaniard holed a 90-foot putt to beat Kevin Kisner on Thursday, and he produced more late heroics to win his group and progress through to the last 16 for the first time.

ne down on the last to Søren Kjeldsen, he drove the green and two putted for birdie to win the hole and claim a crucial half point, setting up an all-European Tour clash with An, who halved with Rickie Fowler on day three.

An then saw off Scott Piercy in a play-off after both finished with two and a half points in Group 5, and there was also success for Oosthuizen, who beat Andy Sullivan 4 and 2 to win Group 16, and for Reed, who downed Phil Mickelson 5&4 to win Group 9.

Day meets Brandt Snedeker with the winner playing Brooks Koepka or Matt Kuchar, who ousted Justin Rose 3 and 2.

The winner of the McIlroy-Johnson match will meet Haas or Chris Kirk.

Rosses Point

When you’re grateful to see a ball blown into the cup for a rare par or even a birdie— ask Declan O’Neill after his 92 or Michael Sinclair after his 83 — it’s fair to say that the weather and the links won the opening round in the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open at Rosses Point.

Not one player in the 132 strong field matched par in southerly winds that gusted close to 50mph though County Sligo’s own Sean Flanagan posted an heroic, two over par 73 to take the first round lead by a stroke from The Island’s Kevin Le Blanc.

It could have been an even more impressive opening rounds for Flanagan, who bogeyed his 17th and 18th holes. But in the end he was more than happy and rightfully so. At this stage of the game, it's all about qualifying among the leading 64.

“It’s a five-club wind,” said Rosses Point native and former professional tour caddie Jude O’Reilly, who worked up to 50 yards into his calculations as he toted the bag for 17-year old Leaving Certificate student LeBlanc.

His work was certainly appreciated by LeBlanc, who shot a three over 74 with bogeys at his last two holes, the downwind first and second, taking only a little gloss off a fine performance.

“Massive,” LeBlanc said when asked how much difference it made having a caddie like O’Reilly, who has worked for Henrik Stenson and Shigeki Maruyama. “All I had to do was hit the ball and take in the information. Jude did everything else."

Local knowledge was crucial and home favourite Flanagan proved as much as he made three birdies and five bogeys in a two over 73 that was 10 shots better than the average score.

The 20-year old County Sligo man, a Paddy Harrington scholarship student of business and accounting at Maynooth University, was mildly disappointed to bogey the seventh and eighth to finish his day.

And while was clearly delighted in the end to see he is on course for his second successive leading qualifier’s silver medal, he’s gunning for a title that has eluded a home player for 65 years.

Twelve months ago he lost in the semi-finals to eventual champion Dermot McElroy from Ballymena, who played well in the afternoon but still shot a 79 to an 80 by playing partner Stuart Grehan, who is trying to hold the East, South and West titles at the same time and follow in the footsteps of JB Carr in 1948.

Embracing the pressure of expectation to bring the trophy home for the first time since Cecil Ewing’s final triumph in 1950, Flanagan said: “I like the expectations. I wouldn’t say it is pressure to play well. I feel like it’s a confidence booster for me and I use it that way rather than play cagey golf.”

Nobody knows more about the pressure of home expectations than Co Sligo’s Gary McDermott, who opened with an 84.

“That’s probably the worst I’ve ever seen it here wind-wise,” McDermott said. “It was really gusting. It was ferocious. There was no easy hole.”

With just the top 64 to qualify for the matchplay — the mark was 11 over par after round one —  the cut be the highest since 16 over made it in 2008.

Internationals such as Colm Campbell shot 79 with Grehan and Alex Gleeson carding 80s and John Ross Galbraith an 81.

Jack Hume might be absent but clubmate Jonathan Yates flew the flag for Naas with a best of the afternoon 75 leaving him tied for third with the improving Shaun Carter, who was a Barton Shield winner with Royal Dublin last year.

Daniel Holland didn't seem too pleased with his 76 as he finished but it turned out to be the joint fifth best score of the day alongside James Fox, Gary Collins, Stephen Coulter, Liam Grehan, Jamie Fletcher and Stuart Bleakley.

Grehan got off to a terrible start and had to birdied the fifth with his second ball after driving out of bounds, just to be four over after five. He was seven over with five to play which made his nine over effort acceptable.

Here's @Stewyy69 on 14, barely carried the bunker at 200 with a thin hit. He's +7 after a tough start @countysligogc pic.twitter.com/pAQeNFwGdB

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 25, 2016

This is @dermotmcelroy on 16. Green. 25 ft @CountySligoGC @2016woig pic.twitter.com/9iPVxgrJdx

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 25, 2016

While most players were struggling to hit greens in regulation, he reduced the 17th to a drive and a three-iron, hitting his approach straight over the flag to around 20 feet.

McElroy topped his second to the 17th but saved bogey and he looks to be swinging well enough to make a successful defence, providing his putter behaves.

Putting proved particularly testing in strong winds with the exposed fourth particularly trying.

But the wind also helped at times with O'Neill's ball blown into the hole for par at the seventh and Sinclair's for birdie at the 11th. 

As for the downwind second, Carlow native John Greene unsheathed his driver and launched a rocket that sailed over the stone wall at the uphill par-four, turned left on the wind and finished 12 feet from the stick, leaving him a putt he duly canned for an eagle two en route to a very respectable 77. 

After his 2 at the 2nd @leinsterlions gets to lord it over his peers. Six over for the former South of Ireland. pic.twitter.com/i2uXT8FdY8

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 25, 2016 West of Ireland Amateur Open, in association with Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Co Sligo GC (Par 71)

Detailed scores

73 Sean Flanagan (Co. Sligo)

74 Kevin Le Blanc (Island)

75 Jonathan Yates (Naas), Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin)

76 Daniel Holland (Castle), James Fox (Portmarnock), Gary Collins (Rosslare), Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint), Liam Grehan (Mullingar), Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint), Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park)

77 Aaron Grant (Dundalk), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth), Harry Duggan (Kilkenny), Ben Best (Rathmore), Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin), John Greene (Portmarnock), Stephen Brady (Co. Sligo)

78 Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud), Gavin Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick), William Russell (Clandeboye), Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay), Conor O'Rourke (Naas), Des Morgan (New Forest)

79 Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Dermot McElroy (Ballymena), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk), Barry Daly (Edmondstown), Alan Lowry (Esker Hills), Thomas Hackett (The Royal Dublin), Ian O'Rourke (The Royal Dublin)

80 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore), Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene), Alex Gleeson (Castle), Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell), Theo Coffey (Slieve Russell), Colm Crowley (Woodbrook), Jack Pierse (Portmarnock), Stephen Healy (Carton House)

81 Brian Kelly, Alan Gaynor (Co. Sligo), William Hanna (Kilkeel), Matthew Kane (Whitehead), Paul Coughlan (Moate), Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin), Roy Connolly (Carton House), John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead), Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu), Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin), Mark Shanahan (Castlemartyr), Cian O'Donnell (Castletroy)

82 Cian Feeney (Co. Sligo), Andrew Morris (Belvoir Park), Kevin Stack (Dungarvan), Cathal Butler (Kinsale), Shane O'Connor (Castlebar), Ronan Mullarney (Galway), Dwayne Mallon (Dungannon), Tony Cleary (Woodstock), Matt Wylie, Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Declan Reidy (Co. Sligo), Stephen Kinch (Hollystown), Sean Barry (Fota Island)

83 Michael Sinclair (Knock), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock), Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown), Cian Dullaghan (Greenore), Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam), Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West), Pat Murray (Limerick), Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu), Ross Dutton (Tandragee), Robert Brazill (Naas), Ben Murray (Waterford Castle), Alec Myles (Newlands), Eoghan O'Donovan (Craddockstown), Peter Kerr (Royal Portrush), David Reddan (Nenagh), Conor Purcell (Portmarnock), Kyle McCarron (North West), Dylan Brophy (Castleknock)

84 Gary McDermott (Carton House), Fergal Kennedy (Island), Paul McCarthy (Mallow), Edward Stack (Ballybunion), Alan Fahy (Bray), Dave Lowry (Corballis Links), Robin Dawson (Tramore), Karl McCormack (Portarlington), Shane Hogan (Nenagh), John Conroy (Bray), Rory Williamson (Holywood), Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo), John Hickey (Cork), Thomas O'Connor (Athlone), Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle), David Brady (Co. Sligo)

85 Claudio Consul, Devin Morley (Oughterard), Robbie Hynes (The Royal Dublin), Eugene Smith (Ardee), Joe Lyons (Galway)

86 Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion), Daniel Murphy (Portarlington), Peter Kane (Ashbourne), Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley), Jason O'Leary (Dromoland), Colm Hughes (Galway)

87 John McCarthy (Stackstown), Shane McGlynn (Portmarnock), Michael Dallat (Ballycastle), Robert Neville (The Links Portmarnock), Noel Crawford (Mourne)

88 Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire), Jake Whelan (Newlands), Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe), Darragh Coghlan (Portmarnock), Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle)

89 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.), Mark Power (Kilkenny)

90 Darragh Flynn (Carton House), Patrick Neville (Bearna)

91 Gavin Young (Nenagh), Conor McCaughey (Dungannon), Patrick McCarville (Clones), Thomas Mulligan (Co. Louth)

92 Declan O'Neill (Carton House), Michael Reddan (Limerick)

94 Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud)

96 John Hadnett (Castletroy), Ross Steedman (Courtown)

This is how @NiallGorey_ felt and he shot a 78 @2016woig @countySligoGc pic.twitter.com/ynVfnRNP8n

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) March 25, 2016