Irish Golf News

Sebastien Gros. Picture by Phil Inglis

Chris Selfridge was tied 42nd and Ruaidhri McGee tied 52nd as Sebastien Gros claimed his European Tour card with victory in the Kazakhstan Open

As Selfridge shot a 72 and McGee a 74 featuring a quadruple bogey nine at the 17th, Frenchman Gros triumped by one shot at Nurtau Golf Club to jump to the top of the Road to Oman Rankings and guarantee himself a place on the European Tour next season

A former Alps Tour regular, Gros had a three shot lead with eight holes to play, but Denmark’s Mads Søgaard, playing alongside him, fought back to tie for the lead with five holes to go.

Nerves affected both players as they each made two bogeys down the final stretch to stand level coming down the 18th, but Gros made par to take his second victory of the season following his win at the Najeti Open Presented by Neuflize OBC.

“I started the round so well,” said Gros, who won €72,000 to take his earnings for the season to €147,963. “Through nine holes I was in a great rhythm but then we were told we were playing too slowly and when we sped up I started making a few mistakes.

Its times like this I wish I could just teleport home. 3 bus journeys, 3 flights, 22 hours travel. Time for that fun to begin.....

— Chris Selfridge (@selfridgec595) September 13, 2015

“I was struggling a bit as the greens were getting slower with the rain but thankfully I’d done a great job before and that was enough.

“I’m sorry for Mads because he played really well and never gave up, and he only had a short one to get into a play-off, but I’m so happy to have won.

“We were sure the birdie putt was going to drop, my caddie and I. It looked good the whole way. It would have been nice to win it like that but it doesn’t matter, I now have the trophy and that’s what’s important.

“I’m now on The European Tour and that’s good enough for me, even if I am now top of the Rankings. I was thinking €80,000 would get me there and I’m now way over that so I can start planning for next year.

“I’m very happy to be number one though. Ricardo Gouveia has had such a great season, so that’s awesome and we’re great friends – I’m sure our battle for number one will be great until the very end this year.

“I don’t have any plans in terms of my schedule, other than to celebrate this win, probably with a little more than just a beer!”

McGee is now 19th in the Road to Oman rankings with €50,565 from 17 starts — just over €9,000 outside the Top 15.

Selfridge is 54th with €24,382 and more than €4,000 outside the Top 45 who contest the Grand Final while Gareth Shaw is 67th.

A memorable week in Kazakhstan, where two players made a hole-in-one on Friday, each winning an Audi in the process, drew to a suitably dramatic conclusion as Gros and Søgaard battled it out on the back nine for the largest prizefund of the Challenge Tour season, with €450,000 in total and €72,000 for the winner.

Behind the leaders there was a four-way tie for third place between Sweden’s Jens Fahrbring, American Daniel Im, Scotland’s George Murray and Englishman Callum Shinkwin.

Overnight co-leader with Gros and Søgaard, American Sihwan Kim, shot a two over par round of 74 but still finished in a tie for eighth place on nine under par overall.

Final scores:

274 S Gros (Fra) 68 67 70 69, 

275 M Søgaard  (Den) 64 72 69 70,

277 D Im (USA) 72 69 70 66, C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 69 70 69, J Fahrbring (Swe) 68 69 73 67, G Murray  (Sco) 72 69 67 69,

278 B Åkesson (Swe) 74 69 66 69,

279 S Kim (USA) 64 69 72 74, J Sjöholm (Swe) 75 68 68 68, E Cuartero Blanco  (Esp) 71 71 71 66, T Linard (Fra) 73 69 68 69, R Davies (Wal) 70 69 70 70,

280 C Sordet  (Fra) 69 71 66 74, S Norris  (RSA) 68 67 76 69,

281 L Gagli  (Ita) 72 72 69 68, J Winther (Den) 66 72 72 71,

282 S Heisele (Ger) 74 70 70 68, J Makitalo  (Fin) 69 71 70 72, J Robinson (Eng) 71 68 74 69, J McLeary  (Sco) 68 69 73 72,

283 S Fallon (Eng) 72 70 71 70, R Gouveia (Por) 74 67 73 69, J Guerrier  (Fra) 69 71 71 72, J Glennemo (Swe) 74 70 69 70, A Saddier (Fra) 71 69 72 71, J Hansen  (Den) 63 73 73 74, M Schneider (Ger) 75 67 72 69,

284 D Coupland (Eng) 69 69 75 71, W Harrold (Eng) 67 73 68 76, H Porteous (RSA) 70 71 71 72, G Boyd  (Eng) 70 73 71 70, S Jeppesen  (Swe) 72 70 72 70, H Joannes  (Bel) 69 73 70 72, G Porteous (Eng) 72 70 69 73, J Heath  (Eng) 71 72 71 70, R McGowan  (Eng) 70 72 73 69, C Aguilar  (Esp) 74 70 72 68,

285 J Stalter (Fra) 70 73 70 72, T Tree (Eng) 67 70 72 76, P Whiteford (Sco) 70 71 69 75, R Evans  (Eng) 70 72 76 67,

286 J Dantorp (Swe) 70 73 73 70, C Selfridge  (Nir) 69 75 70 72, S Soderberg (Swe) 69 69 74 74, S Brown (Eng) 69 75 70 72, D Palm (Swe) 73 70 70 73, J Sarasti  (Esp) 71 71 67 77,

287 J Doherty  (Sco) 69 68 77 73, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 73 71 73 70, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 72 70 73 72, R Coles (Eng) 69 74 67 77,

288 Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 70 72 72 74, S Arnold  (Aus) 71 70 76 71, P Relecom  (Bel) 73 70 72 73, C Hanson (Eng) 69 74 74 71,

289 J Hahn (USA) 75 69 71 74,

290 J Huldahl (Den) 72 70 71 77, S Manley (Wal) 71 73 73 73, N Bertasio (Ita) 76 68 73 73, E Saltman  (Sco) 74 69 74 73,

291 M Delpodio  (Ita) 72 70 79 70, A Gee  (Eng) 71 71 76 73,

292 J Gonnet  (Fra) 72 71 78 71, F Bergamaschi (Ita) 75 69 73 75, 

293 A McArthur  (Sco) 76 68 75 74, O Stark (Swe) 74 70 76 73

Leona of competes at the LPGA's Evian Championship 2015 at Evian Resort Golf Club, in Evian-Les-Bains, France, on September 11, 2015. Photo Philippe Millereau / KMSP / DPPI

Lydia Ko was the star of the show but Slieve Russell’s Leona Maguire showed she’s a major talent in waiting when she finsihed tied 34th in the Evian Championship in France

The 20-year old world amateur No 1 closed with a 68 to fibnish alongide the likes of Ai Moyazato and Suzann Pettersen on two over 286. Scores

Her three under par closing round was bettered by only five players and not only she was the leading amateur, three strokes better than US Women’s Amateur champion Hannah O’Sullivan, only three European players finished ahead of her.

Maguire, who is in position to represent Ireland with Stephanie Meadow in next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, was set to return to college at Duke University today ahead of next week’s season-opening ANNIKA event.

She returns to the US in confident mood after making  17 birdies over four days and leading the greens in regulation category in round three.

Despite getting few breaks, four days on a major championship course shout prove invaluable.

As for Ko, she shot a final-round, eight-under 63 helped her become the youngest major champion in LPGA history. 

At 18 years, 4 months and 20 days, she broke Morgan Pressel’s previous record of 18 years 10 months and nine days with a four-day total of 16-under par 268. 

She had one bogey in her final 36 holes and recorded the lowest final round by a winner at a major, previously held by Karen Stupples (64) at the 2004 Women’s British Open. Lexi Thompson finished runner-up and six shots back at 10-under par

Thomas Pieters. Picture: Getty Images

Simon Thornton could reflect on his best European Tour finish in more than a year and a cheque for €18,180. But there was little else positive for the Irish to take from the KLM Open.

As Belgium’s Thomas Pieters made it two victories in three weeks, edging out Lee Slattery in a tense final round and denying the Englishman a double of his own, Thornton closed with a two under 68 t to claimed joint 23nd place on 11 under and his best finish since he was 14th in Austria last year.

Three-time major winner Pádraig Harrington had 127 putts over the four rounds, using the blade 35 times as he closed with a one over 71 to finish 63rd of 68 for putting.

The Dubliner, 44, ended the week in 55th place on six under under par, one shot behind 66-year old Tom Watson, while Peter Lawrie ended the week on three under after a 69.

As far as the Race to Dubai goes, Kevin Phelan’s failed to make the cut means he drops out of the Top 110 to 111th by less thatn €6,000.

Lawrie is 121st and just under €23,000 behind 110th ranked Benjamin Herbert with Harrington 123rd and Thornton 215th.

Damien McGrane, disqualified for the third time this season after he failed to finish his second round, is now 167th in the standings.

The Kells man played in Pro-Am circuit in Killiney on Sunday instead and took top prize.

As for the KLM Open, Pieters posted a 19 under par total at Kennemer Golf and Country Club courtesy of a five under par 65 in the final round.

Winner of the D+D Czech Open in his last start, his score left  last week’s M2M Russian Open winner Slattery needing to par the last to force a play-off.

Having found thick rough with his drive, Slattery had a putt from three feet to save par, but he missed, handing Pieters his second European Tour title and the €300,000 first prize.

Spaniard Eduardo De La took a share of second place thanks to a seven under par 63, while overnight co-leader Rafa Cabrera-Bello, also from Spain, signed off with a 71 to slip down to tied seventh.

Pieters becomes the first player to win in consecutive European Tour appearances since Rory McIlroy won the 2014 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and US PGA Championship.

KLM Open 2015, Final

261 T Pieters  (Bel) 68 66 62 65, 

262 E De La Riva  (Esp) 66 66 67 63, L Slattery (Eng) 66 65 63 68, 

263 F Zanotti (Par) 67 66 67 63, 

264 M Madsen  (Den) 64 67 66 67, E Pepperell (Eng) 67 66 67 64, 

265 M Carlsson  (Swe) 65 66 70 64, M Korhonen (Fin) 67 70 65 63, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 65 66 63 71, 

266 P Lawrie (Sco) 61 71 63 71, W Ormsby (Aus) 61 68 68 69, 

267 S Kjeldsen (Den) 64 64 71 68, D Howell (Eng) 68 69 63 67, A Cañizares  (Esp) 68 66 68 65, M Kieffer (Ger) 67 67 64 69, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 68 67 67 65, B Evans  (Eng) 68 67 65 67, 

268 J Scrivener (Aus) 68 67 65 68, A Sullivan (Eng) 65 69 68 66, T Lewis (Eng) 69 65 65 69, M Nixon (Eng) 70 64 68 66, M Ilonen  (Fin) 64 71 62 71, 

269 R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 67 70 70 62, Simon Thornton (Irl) 67 68 66 68, D Lipsky (USA) 66 71 69 63, G Bourdy (Fra) 68 66 67 68, A Johnston (Eng) 66 68 65 70, R Rock (Eng) 63 69 71 66, J Luiten (Ned) 63 71 68 67, 

270 R Bland (Eng) 62 70 70 68, R Gonzalez (Arg) 69 68 67 66, D Horsey (Eng) 63 66 71 70, S Hend (Aus) 65 72 65 68, M Fitzpatrick  (Eng) 71 60 71 68, P Uihlein  (USA) 69 66 69 66, 

271 S Gallacher (Sco) 65 72 67 67, O Fisher  (Eng) 68 68 69 66, M Ford (Eng) 66 69 69 67, J Morrison  (Eng) 63 67 70 71, R Karlberg  (Swe) 69 66 68 68, 

272 B Hebert  (Fra) 68 67 70 67, S Griffiths (Eng) 67 67 70 68, P Peterson (USA) 68 69 68 67, A Hansen (Den) 70 67 67 68, D Vancsik (Arg) 66 70 69 67, R Green (Aus) 67 64 68 73, 

273 R Finch  (Eng) 69 66 69 69, A Pavan (Ita) 67 70 69 67, R McEvoy  (Eng) 71 63 70 69, W Besseling  (Ned) 69 66 69 69, T Watson (USA) 69 68 68 68, D Brooks (Eng) 67 68 68 70, J Barnes (Eng) 67 64 68 74, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 68 66 70 69, 

274 Pádraig Harrington (Irl) 71 65 67 71, 

275 N Colsaerts  (Bel) 69 65 72 69, 

276 E Espana (Fra) 70 67 70 69, E Kofstad (Nor) 69 66 69 72, E Goya (Arg) 63 71 70 72, D Drysdale (Sco) 68 67 73 68, M Kaymer (Ger) 67 67 68 74, 

277 Peter Lawrie (Irl) 68 69 71 69, 

278 L Jensen (Den) 65 71 71 71, R Jacquelin (Fra) 67 70 71 70, 

280 J Parry (Eng) 67 70 70 73, 

281 D Gaunt (Aus) 70 67 70 74, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 66 68 77 70, A Quiros  (Esp) 67 65 77 72.

European Tour — Englishman Lee Slattery has a golden opportunity to land back-to-back European Tour titles after a superb seven under par 63 in the third round of the KLM Open propelled him into a share of the lead.

The 37 year old triumphed in last week’s M2M Russian Open and brought that fine form to the links of Kennemer Golf and Country Club in the Netherlands, where he sits on 16 under par alongside Rafa Cabrera-Bello with one round remaining.

The Spaniard also signed for a 63, making seven gains on the front nine before nine pars on the way home, as did Paul Lawrie, who is one shot off the lead after bouncing back from a tricky second day with a flawless round.

Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Finn Mikko Ilonen both went one better, a pair of 62s launching them into contention at 14 under and 13 under respectively, while overnight leader Søren Kjeldsen of Denmark battled to a 71 to slip down to tied ninth, five strokes back.

Simon Thornton’s four under 66 left him as the best of the Irish, tied for 22nd, seven off the pace on nine under with Padraig Harrington take 32 putts in a 67 to share 35th on seven under.

Peter Lawrie shot a one over 71 — one bogey, 17 pars and 33 putts — to fall to  tied 64th on two under. 

Round 3 scores:

194 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 65 66 63, L Slattery (Eng) 66 65 63, 

195 P Lawrie (Sco) 61 71 63, 

196 T Pieters  (Bel) 68 66 62, 

197 W Ormsby (Aus) 61 68 68, M Ilonen  (Fin) 64 71 62, M Madsen  (Den) 64 67 66, 

198 M Kieffer (Ger) 67 67 64

—

201 S Thornton (Irl) 67 68 66; 203 P Harrington (Irl) 71 65 67; 208 P Lawrie (Irl) 68 69 71

Leona rubbing shoulders with starsEvian Championship — Slieve Russell Amateur Leona Maguire shot a second successive 73 to share 51st place with a round to go in the Evian Championship in France.The world No 1 made four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey six in a two over effort to slip six spots to five over at the Evian Resort.The Duke Univeristy talent is 15 shots behind Korea’s Mi Hyang Lee, who sank a 10-foot par putt on the 18th hole to hang on to the third-round lead on 10-under par 203, one shot clear of Lexi Thompson.Morgan Pressel, who was playing alongside Lee in the final group, was tied with Lee at 10-under heading to the 18th tee but double bogeyed the last to fall into a tie for third with Lydia Ko at 8-under par. Ko has a chance on Sunday to win her first major championship title.Heavy rain moved in late in the round and is forecasted to stay throughout the night and early morning. Players will go off both the 1st and 10th tee on Sunday with the first tee time at 8:23am and last at 10:35am. The prize giving is scheduled for 4pm local time.Power moving up

Web.com Tour — West Waterford's Seamus Power is slowing moving up the leaderboard in the first event of the Playoffs, the Hotel Fitness Championships in Indiana. 

With an additional 25 PGA Tour cards available after the regular season awarded 25 cards to the leading money winners, Power is projected to be 31st in the rankings after a two under 70 moved him up to tied 39th on four under at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne.

Korea's DH Lee, who has already earned his card and is now playing for his ranking number, shot a 66 to lead by three shots on 15 under from India's recently selected Presidents Cup player Anirbhan Lahiri (70).

For a detailed explanation of the Web.com Tour Playoffs and Power's chances of winning this card, click here.

Ardglass' Cormac Sharvin reacts after making his putt on the 14th hole to win the match during the morning foursomes matches of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (Sept. 12) -- Great Britain and Ireland leads the USA, 7-5, after the first day of the 45th Walker Cup Match at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, writes the USGA.

The home team got off to an excellent start in its bid to win back the trophy from the USA, who won the 2013 Match at the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, N.Y.

GB&I took a 3-1 lead after the morning foursomes and followed that up by splitting the afternoon singles matches 4-4, winning three and halving two.

Captain Nigel Edwards, right, and Jack Hume, left, walk down the 18th hole during an afternoon singles match at the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

“We'll carry on doing what we're doing and look after ourselves,” said GB&I captain Nigel Edwards. “We won't worry about anyone else. If we play as well in the foursomes tomorrow morning as we have done this morning, then the lads will do just fine.”

Earlier, speaking to the BBC, Edwards said: "It's a great opportunity we have given ourselves now. So we are really looking forward to it. The boys have been great all week and I don't see that changing for tomorrow." 

“It’s great to get the lead,” said Gavin Moynihan of GB&I. “There’s 14 points still tomorrow so it's not even near over. So, staying again in the same foursomes and getting at it tomorrow morning and kicking on from there. I can't wait for tomorrow to perform.”

Cormac Sharvin, right, shares a hug with Jack McDonald, left, after they won their match on the 14th hole during the morning foursomes matches of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

In the opening singles match, England’s Ashley Chesters and the 2015 U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau were locked in a close struggle with neither having more than a one-hole lead. The 21-year-old DeChambeau, who sat out the morning foursomes, bounced back from losing the 15th hole to go one down by winning the next with a birdie and then bravely holing a 12-foot par putt on the last to halve the match.

“It felt like I won the match, honestly, the half-point there was pretty big,” said DeChambeau, who also won the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I individual title. “I probably should have hit driver off the tee box but, unfortunately, I didn’t hit my best hybrid. I was fortunate to get it out (of the fairway bunker) and get it up and down from 140 yards.”

Jack Hume blasts out of a bunker on the seventh hole during an afternoon singles match at the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

Chesters said: "It was a really good game, there was all sorts going on really but I don’t think anyone was ever any more than one up. I think a half is a pretty fair outcome in the end, neither of us really deserved to lose.”

The USA took the next two matches as Hunter Stewart defeated Ireland’s Paul Dunne, 2 up, and Scott Harvey overcame Scotland’s Grant Forrest, 2 and 1.

“Given our start, I'm pleased where we are at this point after one day's play,” said USA captain John “Spider” Miller. “Our guys played hard. They reached down; they delivered on some matches when they needed to, so I'm very proud of them all.”

Cormac Sharvin, left, and Jack McDonald, right, fist bump after winning the third hole during the morning foursomes matches of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane

Stewart remarkably holed his 113-yard 9-iron approach for an eagle on the par-4 11th hole and then chipped in from the side of the green on the 14th for a birdie to win both holes. Dunne, the 54-hole joint leader in The Open Championship at St Andrews, responded by holing out from a greenside bunker on the 13th but his birdie putt lipped out on the 18th to seal Stewart’s win.

“It was a tough fought match this afternoon,” said Stewart. “It feels nice to win a point and grab some momentum for us. We needed that point badly and to win the 16th and 17th to go one up was big.”

England’s Jimmy Mullen performed strongly on the back nine, winning three consecutive holes from the 11th, to win his match with Denny McCarthy, 2 up, and notch his second point of the day. Ireland’s Gary Hurley, who was three down at one stage, halved with Robby Shelton before Beau Hossler clinched a 1-up win over Ireland’s Jack Hume with the Naas man lipping out with a bunker shot at the last.

Jack mcdonald watches his approach shot on the third hole during the morning foursomes matches of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson secured a 1-up victory against Maverick McNealy. The 19-year-old Ferguson sat out the morning foursomes and started in determined fashion to lead by two after four holes. The Scot led throughout the match but McNealy fought back strongly to take the match down the last and force Ferguson to hole a five-foot par putt to complete his win.

“I couldn't wait to get going,” Ferguson said. “I went out to watch this morning and it was electrifying and I just couldn't wait to get out. Then it was just a great atmosphere. It was awesome.”

GB&I secured another point when Ireland’s Moynihan defeated Jordan Niebrugge, the winner of the Silver Medal at The Open, 4 and 2. The 20-year-old Moynihan, who played in the 2013 Match, won the 7th, 8th and 10th holes to take control.

In the morning foursomes, GB&I won three matches. The English pairing of Chesters and Mullen never trailed in their match with McNealy and Stewart and won 3 and 2. They were quickly followed by Cormac Sharvin and his University of Stirling room-mate Jack McDonald, who enjoyed an emphatic 5-and-4 victory over Niebrugge and Shelton.

"We've lived together for two years," said Sharvin, who was sensational. "We play and practice a lot together but maybe not to that level we played at today. It was nice. We both putted really good and never gave them a chance. 

"Apart from a little blip on six, where we made six, we didn't drop a shot, so it was going to be very hard to beat us today."

Paul Dunne plays his second shot on the 18th hole during an afternoon singles match at the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

On the emotion and excitement of the day, Sharvin added: "I think the goosebumps are still going down the back of my neck. It's incredible. I don't know what it must be like playing in an Open Championship. It was just unbelievable."

Hossler and McCarthy put the first point on the board for the USA with a 3-and-1 win over the Irish pairing of Dunne and Hurley but their compatriots Hume and Moynihan rounded off a good session for GB&I with a 3-and-1 win over Mike McCoy and Lee McCoy.

The five-man Irish contingent contributed half the GB&I total and might have added another point of two with a little more luck on the greens. 

Robby Shelton, left, shakes hands with Gary Hurley, right, on the 18th hole during an afternoon singles match at the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

Dunne and Hurley were particularly unlucky on the greens as a foursome and in the singles and it's a sign of the strength of the GB&I side and the confidence they have in each other that Edwards has opted to leave his foursomes pairing, and the order, unchanged.

"There is a great atmosphere in the team and we will hopefully kick on now in the singles," Hume said after his foursomes win with Moynihan in the morning."

At one stage in the afternoon singles, GB&I led in six and were halving another of the eight matches. But the USA boasts a strong side and DeChambeau's halved match with Chesters was huge and may have inspired Stewart to win the 16th and 17th to turn around his match with Dunne.

Paul Dunne runs up after playing his third shot on the fourth hole during an afternoon singles match at the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

Hume was three up after 10 against Hossler, who was probably wondering what he had done so poorly to fall so far behind. The Naas man played the next six holes in two over to Hossler's three under to find himself behind and two closing pars locked him out.

Just as a late three putt left Dunne with an empty feeling, Hurley was also left to wonder what might have been had Shelton not played some sensational shots and holed some key putts down the stretch.

Three down after seven, the West Waterford man won the ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th to go one up, then lost the 13th and 14th to birdies to go one down again before winning the 16th with a super up and down from sand for birdie.

Paul Dunne watches his second shot on the 14th hole during the morning foursomes matches of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

Shelton would not go away, however, and saved a tremendous half in par at the 17th, getting up and down from a bunker some 35 yards out.

"I went down early and Robbie let me back in." Hurley said. "Then I went one ahead and let him back in and he then made two great birdies. It was real touch and go for both of us for a while.... It was a good day for us today. We went out and played well but there is still all day tomorrow, with four foursome sand 10 singles and we'll turn our attention to that and focus on that."

Tomorrow’s morning foursomes starts at 8.30 a.m. local time. For the draw for the foursomes and afternoon singles and the full results from day one visit www.walkercup.org. 

Gavin Moynihan watches his pitch shot on the 15th hole during the morning foursomes matches of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

All five Irishmen played in the foursomes and they will all be involved in both sessions on Sunday with some fascinating match ups in store.

In the foursomes, Dunne and Hurley are off second against Mike McCoy  and Scott Harvey with Sharvin and McDonald taking on Hunter Stewart  and Lee McCoy. The anchor match promises to be a cracker with the massively impressive Moynihan and the ice cool Hume taking on two superstars in DeChambeau and Shelton. 

All 10 players tee it up in the singles and it's hard to call it either way. If GB&I win the foursomes session, they will take some stopping in the singles. 

Gary Hurley plays his tee shot on the fourth hole during the morning foursomes matches of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

With Hume facing Shelton at No 9 and Moynihan v DeChambeau bringing up the rear, an epic final day could be on the cards if the Americans find a way of doing some damage in foursomes.

Leaving out DeChambeau, the NCAA and US Amateur champion, was possibly a big mistake and with the US skipper changing three of his foursomes pairings and leaving only Hossler and McCarthy intact, the winner of the first point of the day could set the tone.

Chesters and Mullen are charged with stopping the Americans and they showed on Saturday that they have the game and the guts to get the job done. 

The Walker Cup Match is a biennial ten-man amateur team competition between a team composed of players from Great Britain and Ireland and the USA. It is played over two days with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes matches. The USA leads the overall series 35-8-1.

Gavin Moynihan blasts out of a bunker on the 16th hole during an afternoon singles match at the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England – Results from the first day of the 2015 Walker Cup Match at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club:Great Britain and Ireland 7, United States 5Foursomes

1. Ashley Chesters/Jimmy Mullen (GB&I) bt Maverick McNealy/Hunter Stewart (USA), 3 and 2
2. Paul Dunne/Gary Hurley (GB&I) lost to Beau Hossler/Denny McCarthy (USA), 3 and 1
3. Cormac Sharvin/Jack McDonald (GB&I) bt Jordan Niebrugge/Robby Shelton (USA), 5 and 4
4. Jack Hume/Gavin Moynihan (GB&I) bt Lee McCoy/Mike McCoy (USA), 3 and 2

(GB&I 3, USA 1)

Singles

1. Ashley Chesters (GB&I) halved with Bryson DeChambeau (USA)  
2. Paul Dunne (GB&I) lost to Hunter Stewart (USA) 2 up
3. Grant Forrest (GB&I) lost to Scott Harvey (USA) 2 and 1
4. Jimmy Mullen (GB&I) bt Denny McCarthy (USA), 2 up
5. Ewen Ferguson (GB&I) bt Maverick McNealy (USA), 1 up
6. Gary Hurley (GB&I) halved with Robby Shelton (USA) 
7. Jack Hume (GB&I) lost to Beau Hossler (USA) 1 up
8. Gavin Moynihan (GB&I) bt Jordan Niebrugge (USA), 4 and 2

(GB&I 4, USA 4).

Cormac Sharvin watches his tee shot on the fifth hole during the morning foursomes matches of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

Sunday Foursomes

1. 8:30 am Ashley Chesters / Jimmy Mullen vs Beau Hossler / Denny McCarthy
2. 8:40 am Paul Dunne / Gary Hurley vs Mike McCoy / Scott Harvey
3. 8:50 am Cormac Sharvin / Jack McDonald vs Hunter Stewart / Lee McCoy
4. 9:00 am Gavin Moynihan / Jack Hume vs Bryson DeChambeau / Robby Shelton

Singles

1. 1:15 pm Ashley Chesters vs Jordan Niebrugge
2. 1:25 pm Paul Dunne vs Maverick McNealy
3. 1:35 pm Jimmy Mullen vs Denny McCarthy
4. 1:45 pm Cormac Sharvin vs Mike McCoy
5. 1:55 pm Ewen Ferguson vs Beau Hossler
6. 2:05 pm Grant Forrest vs Scott Harvey
7. 2:15 pm Gary Hurley vs Hunter Stewart
8. 2:25 pm Jack McDonald vs Lee McCoy
9. 2:35 pm Jack Hume vs Robby Shelton
10. 2:45 pm Gavin Moynihan vs Bryson DeChambeau

Sebastien Gros. Picture by Phil Inglis

Ruaidhri McGee and Chris Selfridge are nine shots off the lead but still very much engaged heading into the final round of the €450,000 Kazakhstan Open in Almaty.

McGee shot a level par 72 and Selfridge a 70 to leave them tied for 38th on two under at Nurtau Golf Club but with a huge prize fund to chase, they have a lot still to play for

At 17th in the Road to Oman rankings, McGee is close to the Top 15 who will win automatic promotion to the European Tour at the end of the season while 52nd ranked Selfridge needs the cash to give himself a chance of making the 45-man Grand Final.

At the top of affairs, Sebastien Gros reaffirmed his status as one of the European Challenge Tour’s players of the season, carding a two under par 70 to muscle his way into a share of the lead alongside overnight leader Sihwan Kim (72) of the US and Denmark’s Mads Søgaard (69) on 11 under par.

Currently third in the Road to Oman Rankings. Gros won the Najeti Open Presented by Neuflize OBC earlier this year, though he does not think this will mean much in the final round.

“I wouldn’t necessarily give myself an advantage,” said the 25 year old. “Even though I have won this year, I’ve not always been very good when I’ve been in contention before. Maybe for those other guys it’s something they think about though.

“Golf can be so different from day to day, you can even have a bad last round without actually choking, so I’m not worrying about tomorrow, I’m just happy about my day and to be in contention.

“This round was a bit different from the two others. I had a few more difficulties on some of the greens, but obviously it’s great to be in contention for a big tournament like this.

“A week ago I would have definitely taken being co-leader with one round to play so, even though I could have probably had a better score, I’m happy with where I am right now.

“The greens are hard to read. The heat has affected a few of them, and then the ones in the shade are much slower, so this could be why the scoring has been more difficult today.

“The scoring on Thursday was very strange though, and was just one of those days. I played well and was still four shots behind the second place players, and they all just had one of those rounds that maybe happens once a season – it just happened on the same day for all of them.

“It’s not a course where 20 under par will win it, more like 15 or 16 under par, so the scoring right now is probably about right. And I’ll probably need to get to 16 under par tomorrow to have a chance to win.”

The round of the day went to Gros’ compatriot Clément Sordet, whose 66 propelled him up the leaderboard into fourth place, just one behind the leaders.

Sordet took a stunning maiden victory at last month’s Northern Irish Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank and he hopes those memories can fuel another win tomorrow.

“Today I just needed a round like this to get close to the lead and hopefully give myself a shot at winning tomorrow,” said the 22 year old.

“I was thinking this morning about when I won in Northern Ireland and how I came through the field on the weekend. It happened once, why can’t it happen again? I wasn’t thinking about the score at all but I ended up on six under, so a very good round.”

There are 16 players within five shots of the leaders on a bunched leaderboard as the hard ground and firm greens made scoring more challenging than earlier in the week, but it sets up a thrilling final day for the biggest event of the Challenge Tour season.

Scores after round 3:

205 M Søgaard (Den) 64 72 69, S Gros (Fra) 68 67 70, S Kim (USA) 64 69 72, 

206 C Sordet (Fra) 69 71 66,

208 G Murray (Sco) 72 69 67, W Harrold (Eng) 67 73 68, C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 69 70, 

209 J Sarasti (Esp) 71 71 67, J Hansen (Den) 63 73 73, B Åkesson (Swe) 74 69 66, T Tree (Eng) 67 70 72, R Davies (Wal) 70 69 70, 

210 P Whiteford (Sco) 70 71 69, J Makitalo (Fin) 69 71 70, R Coles (Eng) 69 74 67, J Winther (Den) 66 72 72, T Linard (Fra) 73 69 68, J McLeary (Sco) 68 69 73, J Fahrbring (Swe) 68 69 73, 

211 J Guerrier (Fra) 69 71 71, J Sjöholm (Swe) 75 68 68, D Im (USA) 72 69 70, S Norris (RSA) 68 67 76, G Porteous (Eng) 72 70 69, 

212 S Soderberg (Swe) 69 69 74, A Saddier (Fra) 71 69 72, H Joannes (Bel) 69 73 70, H Porteous (RSA) 70 71 71, 

213 S Fallon (Eng) 72 70 71, D Palm (Swe) 73 70 70, J Stalter (Fra) 70 73 70, L Gagli (Ita) 72 72 69, J Robinson (Eng) 71 68 74, J Glennemo (Swe) 74 70 69, D Coupland (Eng) 69 69 75, E Cuartero Blanco (Esp) 71 71 71, J Huldahl (Den) 72 70 71, 

214 Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 70 72 72, Chris Selfridge (Nir) 69 75 70, G Boyd (Eng) 70 73 71, S Heisele (Ger) 74 70 70, M Schneider (Ger) 75 67 72, S Brown (Eng) 69 75 70, J Doherty (Sco) 69 68 77, S Jeppesen (Swe) 72 70 72, R Gouveia (Por) 74 67 73, J Heath (Eng) 71 72 71, 

215 R McGowan (Eng) 70 72 73, P Relecom (Bel) 73 70 72, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 72 70 73, J Hahn (USA) 75 69 71, 

216 C Aguilar (Esp) 74 70 72, J Dantorp (Swe) 70 73 73, 

217 E Saltman (Sco) 74 69 74, S Manley (Wal) 71 73 73, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 73 71 73, N Bertasio (Ita) 76 68 73, F Bergamaschi (Ita) 75 69 73, C Hanson (Eng) 69 74 74, S Arnold (Aus) 71 70 76, 

218 A Gee (Eng) 71 71 76, R Evans (Eng) 70 72 76, 

219 A McArthur (Sco) 76 68 75, 

220 O Stark (Swe) 74 70 76, 

221 M Delpodio (Ita) 72 70 79, J Gonnet (Fra) 72 71 7

Leona Maguire

World Amateur No 1 Leona Maguire is used to making her mark and she was at it again in France on Friday when she was believed to be the first woman representing the Republic of Ireland — amateur or professional — to make the cut in a women's major.

The Slieve Russell and Duke University star made three birdies in her last nine holes for a second round 73 at the Evian Championship to make the five over cut by two strokes.

Out in three over par, she came home in one under for a two over par 73 to go into the weekend 12 shots off the lead held by Mi Hyang Lee of Korea.

Live scoring

Galway born Alison Walshe, who left Ireland aged two and a half and has represented the USA all her life, has also made the cut in women's majors.

Jordanstown's Stephanie Meadow, now a professional, was third behind Michelle Wie on her professional debut in the US Women's Open at Pinehurst last year.

Anne O'Sullivan (Board Member, ILGU) presenting Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) with the 2015 Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay trophy after her victory at Rosslare Golf Club. Also in the picture is Joan Wallace (Lady Captain, Rosslare Golf Club).Picture by Pat Cashman

Irish Senior Women's Open — Royal Belfast’s Marilyn Henderson fired a final round 85 and still won the Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay by two strokes at Rosslare.

One clear playing the 18th, she found the home green in two and held her nerve to make two-putt birdie and claim a two-shot victory over Mallow’s Mary Dowling.

Home Internationals — Ireland might have been denied the Women’s Home Internationals on the final day but the future looks right with four debutants playing superbly under pressure.Sinead Keane’s charges fell 5-4 to holders England on the last day at Royal Wimbledon but with Annabel Wilson, Niamh McSherry, Sarah Helly and Julie McCarthy all playing well, the disappointment will pass quickly.With Olivia Mehaffey, Paula Grant, Maria Dunne and Chloe Ryan all playing at a high level and Leona Maguire the world No 1, there are reasons to be optimistic. Scores

Web.com Tour — Seamus Power made five birdies in a four under par 68 to make the cut in the first event of the Web.com Tour's four-event Playoff finale, the 

The West Waterford man moved up 50 places to tied 53rd on two under, nine shots behind leader Jamie Lovemark.

Lovemark (67-66) leads by a shot on 11 under from India's Anirban Lahiri (69-65). Leaderboard

Gavin Moynihan watches his pitch shot on the seventh hole during a practice round ahead of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

Even the members know that discretion is the better part of valour when it comes to Royal Lytham and St Anne’s 206 cavernous bunkers.

“Sometimes in the early spring when the rough is up and the wind is blowing, the members will say, ‘I’ll just let this one go and play next week,’” the club professional, Eddie Birchenough, told the New York Times during the 2012 Open Championship.

Sadly for the Walker Cup teams preparing to do battle this weekend, that’s not an option. 

But that’s okay by Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan, the only player on the GB&I team with Walker Cup experience following his excellent performance at the National Golf Links of America two years ago, where he won two points out of four.

“The venue is huge for us because it is so difficult,” said links specialist Moynihan, who became a two-time Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay winner at Royal Dublin in May and is joined in a record-breaking Irish presence by Paul Dunne, Gary Hurley, Cormac Sharvin and Jack Hume.

Gavin Moynihan watches his pitch shot on the seventh hole during a practice round ahead of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

“You could shoot four or five over around Lytham and win your match handy on the day," added Moynihan, who will partner Hume in the anchor foursomes in partnership with Hume before taking on Jordan Niebrugge in the anchor singles. "You have to play very well to shoot under par. Put it this way, it’s the hardest links course I have ever played.”

The man from The Island, 20, won the Scottish Amateur Open at Panmure last year and he’s determined to say goodbye to the amateur ranks with a Walker Cup win as he prepares to make his professional debut in next week’s Italian Open as part of Chubby Chandler’s ISM stable.

Beating the Americans is never easy but Moynihan knows that if the GB&I squad have one thing on their side, it’s their knowledge of the venue where they play the Lytham trophy every May.

“I think it will be a huge advantage against the Americans, who are aren’t used to playing that kind of golf and are used to shooting under par all the time,” he said. 

“They will be struggling for pars a lot of the time and our mindset will be a bit better for that type of golf. It’s an advantage… if we play well, obviously. 

Paul Dunne watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

“Mentally it’s a battle. It’s unreal. You are going to miss around six or seven greens because you are going to hit a bad drive or get a bad bounce somewhere. Your short game has to be good, especially your bunker play because there is not much rough, it’s all bunkers. 

“It will be an advantage in a pressure situation, I feel. You will know where to miss and that can only be a help when the pressure is on.”

GB&I’s other big advantage could be the ready made foursomes partnerships that the five Irish, two English and three Scots have built up in recent years.

Moynihan regularly pairs up with Jack Hume while Gary Hurley and Paul Dunne are unbeaten in nine games together and Cormac Sharvin can play with a host of players, including his University of Stirling team mate Jack McDonald.

Winning foursomes points is always crucial but Moynihan knows that Nigel Edwards’ team has to do better in singles to have a chance going into Sunday.

Cormac Sharvin watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

In 2013, Nigel Edwards’ team lost the first singles session 6.5-1.5 to go into Sunday 8-4 down, eventually falling 17-9. 

“The last time we never really had a chance to win, it was more or less over on the first day so just to have a chance on Sunday is what we want,” Moynihan said. 

“Obviously we’d like to be leading but the Americans, you are not going to hammer them, so it is just about keeping in touch and making sure we are around all square — one ahead, one behind — going into Sunday. 

“There are 14 points on Sunday so anything can happen there. To have a chance to win is what we want and hopefully we can take that chance.”

Cormac Sharvin plays a pitch shot on the fifth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

Moynihan knows that Great Britain and Ireland has a strong, compact unit capable of grinding out great scores on tough links courses.

All 10 have great short games and while driving is key at Royal Lytham and St Annes, their mental games will be up to the task against another stellar USA squad.

Despite lasting just over a year at the University of Alabama before returning home complaining of home sickness, Moynihan learned he has nothing to fear from the top Americans having shared a room with Robbie Shelton and played against many of the US side in college golf.

“I shared a room with Robbie Shelton so I hope I’m playing him in singles,” chuckled Moynihan, who went 1-1 against Patrick Rogers in their two singles in 2013 and believes that his familiarity with the US college players can only help.

Paul Dunne watches a pitch shot on the fifth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

"They have a good team with Robbie, Beau Hossler, Bryson DeChambeau. They are all good players and good lads as well but we’ve played them in college golf and done well, so it’s just a question of how it goes on the day.

“All we want is to win back that trophy. I don’t care if I lose all four matches as long as we win that trophy. It’s our last time together as a team and it would be nice to go out on a high, especially against the Americans.”

Apart from home advantage and the great core partnerships among the Irish, England and Scots, GB&I’s other edge could be non-playing captain Nigel Edwards, who is going for his second win in three matches.

“Nigel is a great captain,” Moynihan said. “If he isn’t asked to do the job again, he will be hard to replace.

“He’s played four in a row not long ago and holed the winning putt. He knows what goes on and what the players want because he was still playing just a few years ago.

Bryson DeChambeau watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)

“I personally think he is a great captain. Okay, we lost last time but he is great at the speeches and getting us pumped up, getting messages from guys like Paul McGinley and Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose. We’re up for this."

11 September 2015, Royal Lytham & St. Annes, England: The 45th Walker Cup match gets underway on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2015.  Details of the foursomes and singles matches for Saturday are provided below.

Denny McCarthy blasts out of a greenside bunker on the sixth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.  (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

45th Walker Cup, Royal Lytham and St AnnesUnited States of America v Great Britain & IrelandFoursomes

1. 09:00 Maverick McNealy / Hunter Stewart v Ashley Chesters / Jimmy Mullen
2. 09:10 Beau Hossler / Denny McCarthy v Paul Dunne / Gary Hurley
3. 09:20 Jordan Niebrugge / Robby Shelton v Cormac Sharvin / Jack McDonald
4. 09:30 Lee McCoy / Mike McCoy v Jack Hume / Gavin Moynihan

Singles

1. 13:45 Bryson DeChambeau v Ashley Chesters
2. 13:55 Hunter Stewart v Paul Dunne
3. 14:05 Scott Harvey v Grant Forrest
4. 14:15 Denny McCarthy v Jimmy Mullen
5. 14:25 Maverick McNealy v Ewen Ferguson
6. 14:35 Robby Shelton v Gary Hurley
7. 14:45 Beau Hossler v Jack Hume
8. 14:55 Jordan Niebrugge v Gavin Moynihan

Matthew Fitzpatrick. Picture: Getty Images

Damien McGrane is going through something of a nightmare as he battles to avoid Q-School and a third disqualification in the space of five months speaks volumes.

DQ’d at the Spanish Open because he didn’t finish when doomed to miss the cut — he told Newstalk “I just had enough” — he was also DQ’d in the Omega European Masters in July and yesterday in the KLM Open.

Having opened with a two over 72, the 44-year old Kells man was four under for the day and close to making the eventual three under par cut with five holes to go.

But according to EuropeanTour.com he made a double bogey six at his 14th hole, the fifth at Kennemer Golf and Country Club, and then bogeyed the seventh and eighth.

No score was recorded for the ninth but given than he was three shots outside the cut mark and out of the tournament anyway, it’s hardly surprising he did not record a score.

The DQs, which have gone down as missed cuts on the Official World Ranking website, say it all about the pressures of top class sport.

Before this year, McGrane had suffered just two others DQ's in his tour career — at the 2001 PGA of Austria Masters and in the 2011 Alstom French Open because of confusion over a dropping zone.

It’s been tough year too for Peter Lawrie, who lost his card last season. But the Dubliner, who fell back to one over par for the tournament with eight holes to play, made four birdies in his last eight, including one at the last, to sneak in on the mark with a 69.

Padraig Harrington also played well, posting a five under par 65 to share 49th on four under, leaving him one behind Simon Thornton, who shot a 68.

Paul McGinley dropped three early shots and missed by three on level par after a 71 while Darren Clarke was two shots further back on two over after a pair of 71s.

Kevin Phelan, who came into the week 107th in the rankings with 110 keeping their cards, added a 70 to his 73 to miss the cut by six.

Phelan now needs a good week in Italy next week to ease the pressure on his shoulders as the tour enters the home stretch.

As for the leaders, Phelan's ISM stablemate Matthew Fitzpatrick came within inches of an elusive 59.

A day after Paul Lawrie and Wade Ormsby both shot nine under par 61, 21 year old Fitzpatrick went one better, narrowly missing out on breaking 60 when his birdie putt on the last came up just short. 

"I was just trying to get the read right on that putt on the last there – in fact I was thinking so much about the line I forgot about the pace of it, and it was a bit disappointing to leave it short," Fitzpatrick said.

"I knew what I had to do on that hole, and hit two good shots in, but I was a bit unlucky that the approach span back down the slope. But it’s been a great day and I can’t have any complaints about a 60. I feel like I’m ready to win. I’m getting closer and playing well. Hopefully it’s only a matter of time."

It was good enough to reach nine under, however, three shots behind leader Søren Kjeldsen of Denmark, the Irish Open champion.

Kjeldsen matched his opening 64 – this time without any dropped shots – to lead by one stroke at 12 under par from England’s David Horsey and Australian Ormsby, with another Englishman, James Morrison, and Dane Morten Ørum Madsen on ten under.

American legend Tom Watson, 66, signed for a two under par 68 to become the second oldest player in European Tour history to make a cut.

“I’m so pleased to have made it to the weekend and get two more cracks at this great course,” Watson said. "I had to stay very patient today, and fortunately I was able to roll in a couple of birdies near the end. It’s tough to keep up with these young players - they hit it so far.

"But I've learned a thing or two about links golf over the years and was able to use that to my advantage today. Tonight I’m having dinner in Amsterdam, which I’m looking forward to very much.”

Round 2 Scores: 68 players made the cut on 137 (-3) or better

128 S Kjeldsen (Den) 64 64, 

129 D Horsey (Eng) 63 66, W Ormsby (Aus) 61 68, 

130 J Morrison  (Eng) 63 67, 

131 M Madsen  (Den) 64 67, L Slattery (Eng) 66 65, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 65 66, M Carlsson  (Swe) 65 66, M Fitzpatrick  (Eng) 71 60, R Green (Aus) 67 64, J Barnes (Eng) 67 64, 

132 P Lawrie (Sco) 61 71, R Rock (Eng) 63 69, A Quiros  (Esp) 67 65, E De La Riva  (Esp) 66 66, R Bland (Eng) 62 70, 

133 F Zanotti (Par) 67 66, E Pepperell (Eng) 67 66, 

134 S Griffiths (Eng) 67 67, M Kieffer (Ger) 67 67, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 69 65, T Pieters  (Bel) 68 66, A Johnston (Eng) 66 68, J Luiten (Ned) 63 71, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 68 66, G Bourdy (Fra) 68 66, A Cañizares  (Esp) 68 66, M Nixon (Eng) 70 64, T Lewis (Eng) 69 65, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 66 68, M Kaymer (Ger) 67 67, E Goya (Arg) 63 71, R McEvoy  (Eng) 71 63, A Sullivan (Eng) 65 69, 

135 M Ford (Eng) 66 69, B Hebert  (Fra) 68 67, P Uihlein  (USA) 69 66, W Besseling  (Ned) 69 66, R Finch  (Eng) 69 66, D Drysdale (Sco) 68 67, S Thornton (Irl) 67 68, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 68 67, J Scrivener (Aus) 68 67, R Karlberg  (Swe) 69 66, B Evans  (Eng) 68 67, D Brooks (Eng) 67 68, M Ilonen  (Fin) 64 71, E Kofstad (Nor) 69 66, 

136 P Harrington (Irl) 71 65, O Fisher  (Eng) 68 68, L Jensen (Den) 65 71, D Vancsik (Arg) 66 70, 

137 D Gaunt (Aus) 70 67, R Gonzalez (Arg) 69 68, D Howell (Eng) 68 69, S Gallacher (Sco) 65 72, T Watson (USA) 69 68, M Korhonen (Fin) 67 70, D Lipsky (USA) 66 71, P Lawrie (Irl) 68 69, A Pavan (Ita) 67 70, R Jacquelin (Fra) 67 70, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 67 70, S Hend (Aus) 65 72, A Hansen (Den) 70 67, P Peterson (USA) 68 69, E Espana (Fra) 70 67, J Parry (Eng) 67 70, 

CUT

138 J Campillo (Esp) 69 69, R Wattel  (Fra) 72 66, F Osther (Ned) 70 68, R Santos  (Por) 70 68, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 71 67, M Bremner (RSA) 69 69, R Miller (Ned) 69 69, M Foster (Eng) 69 69, B Dredge (Wal) 69 69, R Ramsay  (Sco) 70 68, T Hatton (Eng) 66 72, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 72 66, C Wood  (Eng) 70 68, R Van West (am) (Ned) 72 66, 

139 T Bjørn (Den) 70 69, P Martin Benavides (Esp) 69 70, S Kapur (Ind) 71 68, M Crespi  (Ita) 70 69, A Otaegui  (Esp) 71 68, K Broberg (Swe) 71 68, M Lundberg (Swe) 67 72, J Singh (Ind) 67 72, S Hutsby  (Eng) 69 70, C Paisley  (Eng) 69 70, C Lloyd (Eng) 69 70, 

140 R Fisher (Eng) 71 69, F Aguilar (Chi) 71 69, R Paratore (Ita) 69 71, T Olesen (Den) 70 70, S Jamieson  (Sco) 70 70, D Fichardt (RSA) 68 72, A Velasco (Esp) 68 72, O Farr (Wal) 68 72, P McGinley (Irl) 69 71, J Donaldson (Wal) 73 67, F Fritsch  (Ger) 72 68, 

141 G Havret  (Fra) 69 72, H Otto (RSA) 72 69, O Wilson (Eng) 70 71, P Hanson (Swe) 72 69, S Wakefield (Eng) 72 69, G Adell (Swe) 71 70, C Bouniol (Fra) 68 73, C Lee (Sco) 73 68, 

142 J Kruger (RSA) 73 69, J Carlsson (Swe) 70 72, D Clarke (Nir) 71 71, M Jiménez (Esp) 70 72, P Edberg (Swe) 74 68, Y Yang (Kor) 72 70, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 70 72, B Ritthammer (Ger) 72 70, D Woltman (USA) 71 71, N Fasth (Swe) 71 71, O Henningsson  (Swe) 71 71, R Saxton (Ned) 71 71, R Caron (am) (Ned) 70 72, 

143 T Levet (Fra) 72 71, F De Haas (Ned) 73 70, J Van Der Vaart (Ned) 71 72, P Maddy (Eng) 75 68, K Phelan (Irl) 73 70, R Kind (Ned) 74 69, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 75 68, M Galiano Aguilar (am) (Esp) 72 71, 

144 C Doak (Sco) 69 75, J Roos (RSA) 75 69, G Stal  (Fra) 77 67, G Storm  (Eng) 69 75, M Tullo (Chi) 68 76, K Ferrie (Eng) 73 71, R Karlsson (Swe) 74 70, J Lagergren (Swe) 72 72, J Krietemeijer (am) (Ned) 71 73, 

145 M Lampert (Ger) 69 76, A Tadini (Ita) 75 70, N Elvira  (Esp) 74 71, J Ballesteros (Esp) 73 72, J Edfors (Swe) 76 69, D Brown (am) (Eng) 75 70, 

147 P Bootsma (am) (Ned) 74 73, 

148 P Oriol (Esp) 73 75, 

149 A Marshall (Eng) 76 73, S Strüver (Ger) 74 75, 

152 D Van Den Dungen  (Ned) 74 78, 

** C Del Moral (Esp) 80 WD, A Wall (Eng) 71 WD, D McGrane (Irl) 72 DQ, 

Sihwan Kim. Picture by Phil Ingli

Professional golf is a cruel mistress. If you don’t believe us, just ask Lurgan man Gareth Shaw.

Sitting in the former KGB rest home that doubles as the hotel for this week’s Kazakhstan Open is tough enough. But it’s even harder when you’ve gone from the Top 10 after round one to twiddling your thumbs for the weekend. And all this after a recent upsurge in form that did nothing more than raise hopes that success was just around the corner.

Everyone will say 'it's only one round or a bad 9 holes' but that is really hard to take at this stage of my golf career. #feelingdown

— Gareth Shaw (@gshawgolf) September 11, 2015

Four under and tied for seventh starting the day in one of the biggest events of the year, Shaw was five under for the tournament with 11 holes to go and finished up missing the cut by three shots after dropping eight strokes in the next 10 holes.

A closing 79 was hard to take for a player who is 60th in the money list and struggling to make it as far as the Grand Final in Oman.

Considering Shaw finished fifth in the Irish Open in 2013 and then 13th in the Open de France the following week to earn a quick €100,000, the past few seasons have been hard.

Injury problems haven’t helped but the plus side is that he still has time to turn his year on its head with events in Rome, Ireland and China remaining before the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Oman. Then there's Q-School.

Disapointing 75 in round 2 in Kazakhstan, very happy to play the last 6 holes in -2 to have a chance of making the weekend. #fingerscrossed

— Chris Selfridge (@selfridgec595) September 11, 2015

Just as Shaw has found lady luck conspiring against him in recent times, she smiled on others in Almaty on Friday.

American Sihwan Kim took the halfway lead on a day dominated by the two holes-in-one – and two cars won – by Denmark’s Jeppe Pape Huldahl and Dutchman Maarten Lefaber.

All five of the par threes at Nurtau GC had a new Audi on offer for an ace by promoters from the start of the week and a remarkable morning saw Huldahl hole on the first hole – his tenth – from 148 metres with a wedge, winning an Audi A4 and a Perrelet watch valued at $101,000.

Within half an hour Lefaber had holed his seven iron tee shot on the 169-metre 16th hole to win a brand new Audi A6.

“I didn’t really believe it when it went in,” said 33 year old Huldahl. “I’ve made two holes-in-one before but never in a Challenge Tour event, this was the first.

“It’s the best feeling, I was a bit dizzy afterwards and didn’t really know what to do! It’s just a great bonus – you don’t stand on the tee thinking about winning the car. I don’t know how many times I’ve played par threes and not won the car that’s on offer, so it’s never in your mind.

“I just love it here in Kazakhstan. I got the course record a couple of years ago, now this – I wish I could play here every week.”

Forty year old Lafeber said: “I’d just made two stupid bogeys in a row and I was disappointed, so I thought I’d just hit a seven iron, and I actually looked at the car one more time before I hit it and thought ‘why not?’ It was just one of those moments.

“It went straight at it, never left the pin, just hopped once, checked and dropped. I actually drive an A6 at home and was looking for a new car right now, so this is perfect timing for me to get a new one.”

Kim followed up an opening round of 64 with a fine three under par 69 to lead by two shots, helped by holing for an eagle two on the third hole, his 12th, with a wedge from 129 yards.

@selfridgec595 makes his 10th cut in a row on the @Challenge_Tour event since turning professional in #KazakhstanOpen - #impressive

— BlackStar Golf (@BlackStarSports) September 11, 2015

It wasn’t just a tough day for Shaw, it was a mildly disappointing one for Ruaidhri McGee, who slipped nine shots behind Kim to tied 27th after a 72.  

As for Chris Selfridge a three over 75 dropped him 42 places to tied 54th on level par but that in itself was a triumph. Having gone to the turn in 41,  played his last six in two under to make it on the mark —  his 10th successive cut made from 10 starts since he turned professional in May,

At 52nd in the Road to Oman standings, Selfridge needs a couple of decent weeks to secure his Grand Final place while a win would catapult him into the top 15 and straight onto the European Tour.

Kazakhstan Open, Nurtau GC (Par 72)

133 S Kim (USA) 64 69, 

135 S Gros (Fra) 68 67, S Norris  (RSA) 68 67, 

136 M Søgaard  (Den) 64 72, J Hansen  (Den) 63 73, 

137 J Fahrbring (Swe) 68 69, T Tree (Eng) 67 70, J McLeary  (Sco) 68 69, J Doherty  (Sco) 69 68, 

138 D Coupland (Eng) 69 69, J Winther (Den) 66 72, C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 69, S Soderberg (Swe) 69 69, 

139 J Robinson (Eng) 71 68, R Davies (Wal) 70 69, 

142 R McGee (Irl) 70 72, 

144 C Selfridge  (Nir) 69 75

MC G Shaw (Nir) 68 79.

Niall Kearney

A superb eight under par 65 earned Niall Kearney victory at the St Margaret's Pro-Am on Friday — the perfect send-off for the Royal Dublin man, who flies out to America on Saturday to compete in the PGA Cup.

“It was one of those days when everything inside 15 feet went in,” said Kearney who recorded a hole-in-one at the par three fifth to help him reach five under after five holes.

“It's a great boost and I'm looking forward to getting over to America to play against the US team.”

Birdies at the first, second and third set the tone for the 27-year-old who parred the fourth before using a seven iron to ace the fifth. Three more pars followed before he dropped a shot at the ninth to reach the turn in four under 32.

The heavy rain that started to fall from the 10th onwards failed to halt his momentum as he birdied the 10th and 11th and then eagled the par five 12th, firing a five iron into 12 feet and rolling in the putt. He dropped another shot at the par three 15th but immediately hit back with a birdie at the par five 16th, closing out his round with pars at 17 and 18 to come home in four under 33.

Wayne O'Callaghan (Fernhill) finished alone in second place after carding a two under par round of 71 with Noel Murray (Massereene), Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance LTD) and Eamonn Brady (Clontarf) a shot further back.

Brian Kerley (Green Life Golf Centre) and his amateur partners edged out Kearney in the team event with 93 points.

St Margarets Pro-Am,  St Margarets Golf & County Club (Par 73)

Detailed scores

1 N Kearney (Royal Dublin) 65

2 W O'Callaghan (Fernhill G&CC) 71

3 N Murray (Massereene GC); C Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance LTD); E Brady (Clontarf GC) 72

T6 J Dwyer (Ashbourne GC); K Fahey (GUI National Academy) 74

T8 J Kelly (St Margarets G&CC); D Beattie (Deer Park Hotel) 75

T10 R Codd; D Mooney (Ballyliffin GC); Cormac Hennessy: H O'Neill (Connemara GC); J Bolger (Kilkenny GC), M O'Sullivan (Piltown Driving Range) 76

Team pro-am scores

1 B Kerley (Green Life Golf Centre) 93

2 B Kearney (Royal Dublin) 92

3 N O'Briain (Old Conna GC) 91

Niall Kearney

Niall Kearney’s last taste of team golf came in the Walker Cup on America’s east coast at Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania in 2009.

Six years later the Royal Dublin pro will again be representing Great Britain & Ireland on US soil but this time in the PGA Cup on the west coast at CordeValle, California, from September 18-20.

Among his opponents in the Walker Cup was world top ten player Rickie Fowler who helped the hosts win and America’s PGA pros will pose a similarly tough test as they bid to maintain their vice like grip on the PGA Cup.

Kearney is set to be a key part of Jon Bevan’s ten-man team which is aiming to create history by winning on US turf for the first time since the club pros’ equivalent of the Ryder Cup was first contested in 1973.

Kearney, who secured his place in the team by winning the PGA Play-Offs last November, is relishing the challenge.

“It is a trip I am really looking forward to,” he said. “We had a get together at The Belfry where I met all the guys on the team that I didn’t know before and there are a great bunch.

“The captain Jon Bevan is a great guy – they laid out the itinerary – it is simply unbelievable – 5-star treatment – and we are so motivated to beat the US team. I’m really looking forward to being involved.”

The PGA Cup wasn’t on Kearney’s list of priorities when he teed up in last year’s PGA Play-Offs but it is filling his thoughts ever more as the date nears.

“The PGA Cup was always in the background a bit, then gradually the paper work started to come through – getting the itinerary and then finally the get together at The Belfry – it is all building up now – it's going to be something special

“The Walker Cup was back in 2009 – so that's a long time ago. I enjoyed the team environment and the different formats. The Irish teams were great – really good times, we gelled really well and had some successful periods as well.”

With GB&I having won just once since 1984, the pressure is on Kearney and his team-mates to regain the magnificent Llandudno Trophy and Bevan has been stoking the fires among his players.

“Jon's motivation is that America don’t want to play it any longer simply because they don’t see it as a contest. That's our motivation – that's all we needed.

“GB&I have been working really hard – they have a great team together, they are giving us the best chance of overturning the Americans.

“The standard of the players competing on the GB&I team is really good, there are some very strong competitors. They are golf guys – comfortable in the environment I really think we can do well and win it.”

Paul Lawrie. Picture: Getty Images

Just three of the seven-strong Irish challenge are in postion to make the cut after the opening round of the KLM Open at Kennemer Golf and Country Club.

Simon Thornton (67) and Peter Lawrie (68) might be struggling to avoid Q-School but they are tied 26th and 43rd respectively with Paul McGinley fading to one under 69 worth a share of 61st.

All three are well behind former Open Champion Paul Lawrie and Australian Wade Ormsby, who shot nine under par 61s to lead by a shot from England’s Richard Bland.

Lawrie, who triumphed at Carnoustie in 1999, again showed his affinity for links golf with an eagle and seven birdies on the Dutch coast. 

He had another eagle chance on the seventh hole – his 16th – but settled for birdie and parred the last two to set a new course record and continue his recent upturn in form.

His 61 was untroubled for most of the day until Ormsby produced a stunning finish with six birdies in his last seven holes – and three in a row to conclude the round – to grab a share of top spot.

The pair lead by one shot from Bland, while five players including home favourite Joost Luiten and last week’s runner-up in Russia, Estanislao Goya, are tied on seven under par.

American Tom Watson, playing in the Netherlands for the first time, opened with a one under par 69, while Martin Kaymer, the highest ranked player in the field, signed for a 67.

It was a tougher day for the other four Irish in the field, inclduing major winners Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harrington.

Clarke had 31 putts and Harrington 32 as they opened with one over 71s to be two shots outisde the projected cut.

Damien McGrane, another player battling to avoid Q-School, shot a two over 72 while Kevin Phelan, who is just inside the Top 110 in the Race to Dubai who keep their cards at 107th, is 133rd after a taking 33 putts in a three over 73.

KLM Open, Kennemer Golf and Country Club (Par 70)

61 W Ormsby (Aus), P Lawrie (Sco), 

62 R Bland (Eng), 

63 J Luiten (Ned), E Goya (Arg), R Rock (Eng), D Horsey (Eng), J Morrison (Eng), 

64 M Madsen (Den), S Kjeldsen (Den), M Ilonen (Fin), 

65 L Jensen (Den), R Cabrera-Bello (Esp), M Carlsson (Swe), A Sullivan (Eng), S Hend (Aus), S Gallacher (Sco),

66 M Ford (Eng), A Johnston (Eng), L Slattery (Eng), D Vancsik (Arg), D Lipsky (USA), T Hatton (Eng), E De La Riva (Esp), L Bjerregaard (Den), 

67 A Pavan (Ita), J Singh (Ind), R Green (Aus), S Griffiths (Eng), M Korhonen (Fin), R Jacquelin (Fra), M Lundberg (Swe), R Dinwiddie (Eng), J Parry (Eng), M Kieffer (Ger), M Kaymer (Ger), Simon Thornton (Irl), A Quiros (Esp), F Zanotti (Par), D Brooks (Eng), E Pepperell (Eng), J Barnes (Eng), 

68 M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra), C Bouniol (Fra), G Bourdy (Fra), D Howell (Eng), O Fisher (Eng), T Fisher Jnr (RSA), T Pieters (Bel), B Hebert (Fra), D Fichardt (RSA), A Cañizares (Esp), D Drysdale (Sco), Peter Lawrie (Irl), A Velasco (Esp), O Farr (Wal), P Peterson (USA), M Tullo (Chi), B Evans (Eng), J Scrivener (Aus), 

69 W Besseling (Ned), C Doak (Sco), R Miller (Ned), M Foster (Eng), Paul McGinley (Irl), S Hutsby (Eng), R Gonzalez (Arg), B Dredge (Wal), R Finch (Eng), C Paisley (Eng), J Campillo (Esp), C Lloyd (Eng), G Storm (Eng), N Colsaerts (Bel), E Kofstad (Nor), M Bremner (RSA), G Havret (Fra), P Uihlein (USA), R Karlberg (Swe), P Martin Benavides (Esp), T Watson (USA), T Lewis (Eng), M Lampert (Ger), R Paratore (Ita), 

70 S Jamieson (Sco), T Bjørn (Den), M Nixon (Eng), T Olesen (Den), M Crespi (Ita), M Jiménez (Esp), A Hansen (Den), R Ramsay (Sco), C Wood (Eng), F Osther (Ned), R Santos (Por), E Espana (Fra), T Van Der Walt (RSA), O Wilson (Eng), J Carlsson (Swe), D Gaunt (Aus), R Caron (am) (Ned), 

71 S Kapur (Ind), A Wall (Eng), F Aguilar (Chi), N Fasth (Swe), O Henningsson (Swe), D Woltman (USA), J Van Der Vaart (Ned), R Saxton (Ned), K Broberg (Swe), R McEvoy (Eng), J Garcia Pinto (Esp), A Otaegui (Esp), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), G Adell (Swe), Pádraig Harrington (Irl), Darren Clarke (Nir), R Fisher (Eng), J Krietemeijer (am) (Ned), 

72 S Wakefield (Eng), J Lagergren (Swe), H Otto (RSA), F Fritsch (Ger), D McGrane (Irl), B Ritthammer (Ger), T Levet (Fra), T Fleetwood (Eng), P Hanson (Swe), R Wattel (Fra), Y Yang (Kor), R Van West (am) (Ned), M Galiano Aguilar (am) (Esp), 

73 J Kruger (RSA), J Ballesteros (Esp), C Lee (Sco), Kevin Phelan (Irl), J Donaldson (Wal), F De Haas (Ned), P Oriol (Esp), K Ferrie (Eng), 

74 N Elvira (Esp), D Van Den Dungen (Ned), S Strüver (Ger), R Kind (Ned), P Edberg (Swe), R Karlsson (Swe), P Bootsma (am) (Ned), 

75 P Maddy (Eng), J Lando Casanova (Fra), A Tadini (Ita), J Roos (RSA), D Brown (am) (Eng), 

76 A Marshall (Eng), J Edfors (Swe), 

77 G Stal (Fra), 

80 C Del Moral (Esp).

Kazakhstan Open leader Joachim B Hansen. Picture: Phil Inglis

Evian Championship — World Amateur No 1 Leona Maguire got off to a positive start in the Evian Championship in France as she bids to maintain her Olympic Games ranking and gain valuable experience against the professionals.

A one over 72 left her tied for 40th and six shots behind leaders Lexi Thompson and Mi Hyang Lee of Korea, and while she'll have been hoping for better having finished second on her last full start in the Ladies British Masters, she's a shot inside the projected cut mark.

The Slieve Russell and Duke University star is also 54th in the Olympic Golf Rankings with LPGA professional Stephanie Meadow 40th. And the amateur star needs to make occasional appearances in professional events to maintain her points average in the Rolex rankings and secure her place in Rio de Janeiro. 

Web.com Tour Playoffs — The four event Playoffs which will see 50 players given PGA Tour rankings for the 2015-16 season teed off in Indiana but with little luck for West Waterford's Seamus Power.

The Munster man double bogeyed his final hole in the Hotel Fitness in Fort Wayne to card a two over 74 that left him eight shots behind leaders Tommy Gainey and Argentinian Emiliano Grillo. Leaderboard

The Top 25 from the regular season have already secured PGA Tour cards and are now playing for their exact ranking, which will be an odd number from 1-49 as they are "zippered" with the other 25 qualifiers from the Playoff series.

There are two rankings to count in the Playoffs, as the Web.com Tour explained:

Cumulative Regular Season & Finals MoneyThis money list involves only those 25 players who have already earned their 2015-16 PGA TOUR cards via the Web.com Tour Regular Season (first 21 events). These players are competing for their priority ranking position only in the Finals. Their combined Regular Season and Finals earnings will determine where they fall in the ranking. Players in this category will be “zippered” with the players from the Finals-only money list (see next note) and receive an odd-numbered ranking (1, 3, 5, 7,….45, 47, 49).Finals Money List OnlyThis money list involved all other players competing in the Web.com Tour Finals (Web.com Tour Regular Season Nos. 26-75, PGA TOUR/FedExCup points list Nos. 126-200, and PGA TOUR non-members with equivalent FedExCup points Nos. 126-200, plus PGA TOUR medical exemptions). These players are competing for a second set of 25 PGA TOUR cards as well as their priority ranking position. Players in this category will receive an even-numbered ranking and be zippered with those on the cumulative list above (2, 4, 6, 8,…46, 48, 50).

Power was projected to be 57th in the rankings following an opening 74 that featured four birdies, four bogeys and that double bogey six at the 18th at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne.

Challenge Tour — Gareth Shaw and Chris Selfridge continued their push for a Grand Final place with sub-70 opening rounds in the €450,000 Kazakhstan Open in Almaty.

As 17th ranked Ruaidhri McGee shot a 70 that left him tied 24th on two under at Nurtau Golf Club, 60th ranked Shaw posted a four under 68 to share seventh with 51st ranked Selfridge tied 12th after a 69.

At the top of the leaderboard, Denmark's Joachim B Hansen tied the course record with a nine under 63 to lead by one from compatriot Mads Søgaard and American Sihwan Kim.

Julie McCarthy pictured at Royal Wimbledon earlier this week.

Forrest Little's Julie McCarthy was the later afternoon hero as she came back from dormie three down to snatch a vital half and keep Ireland’s Women’s Home Internationals hopes alive at Royal Wimbledon.

A 4.5-4.5 draw with Wales might not look great on paper, but Ireland can still win a wide open race on Friday after holders England collapsed in the singles and fell 5-4 to Scotland in another thriller.

Sinead Keane’s charges are the only unbeaten team heading into the final day which will see Scotland face Wales and Ireland take on England.

If the Ireland match ends in a draw and Scotland win, a countback will decide the destination of the Miller Trophy.

Either way, a thrilling finale is in store and Ireland clearly have the firepower to avenge their defeat to England in the Europeans earlier this year.

They won the foursomes session 2-1 against Wales but got just two and a half from the six singles after lunch.

The top foursomes pairing remained unchanged from day one as Olivia Mehaffey and Annabel Wilson put a 3 and 2 win on the board for Ireland. 

The middle point went to the Welsh side as they overcame the Castletroy’s Chloe Ryan and Skerries’ Maria Dunne, but Lisburn’s Paula Grant and Forrest Little’s Julie McCarthy also won 4 and 3. 

Mehaffey led out the Irish side out in the afternoon singles and dominated from the start going four up through seven holes en rotue to a 2 and 1 win over Chloe Williams.

Welsh player Katherine O’Connor ensured a vital point against Paula Grant on the 17th, winning 2 and 1 but Lurgan’s Niamh McSherry continued her good form as she beat Samantha Birks 2 and 1.

Wales would not go away and Bethan Morris  proved too strong on the back nine for Enniscrone’s Sarah Helly, winning six holes to finish the match on the 17th.

Then came those late heroics from youngster Julie McCarthy, who was dormie three down to Georgia Lwwis but showed her class by winning the last three holes to secure a vital half point.

Annabel holes the winning putt in the morning foursomes alongside partner @OliviaMehaffey @Skeaner10 #welldone pic.twitter.com/Vq6WUt5TVz

— ILGU (@IrishLadiesGolf) September 10, 2015

As for the anchor match, Maria Dunne was on the back foot against Lauren Hillier but won the 16th and 17th to take match to the last only to go down by the minimum.

England will be bruised after their defeat to the Scots, who trailed 2-1 after the foursomes but then won five of the six singles for their first won over the Auld Enemy since their last Home Internationals win in 2010.

Women's Home Internationals, Royal Wimbledon

Live scoring

Day 2Ireland 4 ½ Wales 4 ½Foursomes

1. Olivia Mehaffey & Annabel Wilson beat Samantha Birks & Georgia Lewis 3&2
2. Maria Dunne & Chloe Ryan lost to Katherine O'Connor & Lauren Hollier 3&2
3. Paula Grant & Julie McCarthy beat Chloe Williams & Ella Griffiths 4&3

Singles

1. Olivia Mehaffey beat Chloe Williams 2&1 
2. Paula Grant lost to Katherine O'Connor 2&1
3. Niamh McSherry beat Samantha Birks 2&1
4. Sarah Helly lost to Bethan Morris 2&1
5. Julie McCarthy halved with Georgia Lewis
6. Maria Dunne lost to Lauren Hillier 1up

Leader Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) checking her card with playing partners Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) and Kathleen Colliflower (USA) after the second round of the 2015 Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay at Rosslare Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Not even a wind-blown 79 couldn stop Royal Belfast’s Marilyn Henderson extending her lead ahead of Friday’s final round of the Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay at breezy Rosslare.

Having blitzed the field with an opening one under par 72 on Wednesday, Henderson held her nerve as the breeze stiffened throughout the day and birdied the final hole to establish a commanding five stroke lead.

Senior international Suzanne Corcoran fired an impressive 77 to lie second, one stroke ahead of defending champion Minna Kaarnalahti of Finland and Mallow’s Mary Dowling  after they signed for 79 and 78 respectively.

Defending champions Ireland lead the Nations Cup ahead of USA, Canada, Finland and England.

Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay, Rosslare (Par 73)After 36 holes (SSS 74 CSS 76 76)

151 Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) 72 79

156 Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) 79 77

157 Mary Dowling (Mallow) 79 78 Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN) 78 79

159 Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) 79 80

160 Becky Neal (USA) 85 75

163 Pat Doran (Donabate) 87 76 Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) 79 84

164 Sheena McElroy (Grange) 80 84

166 Nancy Beck (USA) 87 79 Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 86 80 Ivy Steinberg (CAN) 80 86

167 Carolyn Creekmore (USA) 82 85

168 Irene Brien (ENG) 84 84

169 Liz Bennett (New Ross) 90 79

170 Diane Williams (CAN) 85 85 Connie Doyle (Enniscorthy) 82 88

171 Hazel Shewry (ENG) 92 79 Catherine Bird (Nenagh) 85 86

172 Anne Ferguson (RCD Ladies) 88 84

173 Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook) 87 86 Taffy Brower (USA) 83 90

174 Catriona Corrigan (Ballybunion) 92 82 Melissa Gotfredson (USA) 89 85 Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 88 86 Judy Collins (CAN) 82 92

175 Gertie McMullen (The Island) 94 81 Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion) 90 85

176 Kate Peppler (SWI) 90 86

177 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) 87 90

178 Pamela Williamson (SCO) 90 88 Eileen Kenny-Ryan (Ballybunion) 89 89 Sheila Crosbie (Rosslare) 87 91 Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) 85 93

179 Kathleen Colliflower (USA) 94 85 Rita McGoldrick (Enniscrone) 92 87 Paula Murray (Naas) 90 89

180 Heli Ekstrom (FIN) 88 92

181 Breda Naughton (Adare Manor) 92 89 Vandra Deacon (Rosslare) 92 89

Not available for final round:

172 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) 85 87

178 Gemma Butler (Birr) 90 88

179 Joan Scanlon (Newcastle West) 92 87

Missed cut:

182 Vonny Kelly (Powerscourt) 92 90

183 Penny Gleeson (Milltown) 94 89 Ada Vrolijk (NED) 93 90 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) 90 93

184 Valerie Doyle (Rosslare) 87 97

186 Evelyn Donnelly (Lisheen Springs) 96 90 Yvonne MacSweeney (Wexford) 90 96

187 Mary Kavanagh (New Ross) 97 90 Teresa Cowman (Rosslare) 95 92 Mary Courtney (Delgany) 94 93 Linda Ward (CAN) 89 98

188 Angela Murphy (Rosslare) 96 92 Leslie Olive Henry (USA) 94 94

189 Wanda Mochtar (NED) 99 90 Catherine Howard (Rosslare) 97 92

192 Doreen McGovern (Rosslare) 101 91 Heidi Simpson (Royal Portrush) 97 95

193 Joan Bowe (Rosslare) 94 99

194 Iet Hagels deBoer (NED) 98 96 Frances Mahon (Newlands) 94 100

196 Ruth Farrell (Woodbrook) 103 93

201 Marion Kennedy-Hogan (N'castle W) 99 102

207 Maria Burford (New Ross) 108 99

NATIONS CUP (2 scores from 3 to count each day)

312 IRELAND B Pat Doran [87] 76 Mary Dowling 79 78 Mary MacLaren 79 [80]

317 IRELAND A Suzanne Corcoran 79 77 Sheena McElroy 80 [84] Gertie McMullen [94] 81

325 USA A Taffy Brower 83 [90] Carolyn Creekmore 82 85 Becky Neal [85] 75

329 IRELAND C Helen Jones 79 84 Catherine Reilly 86 80 Pauline Walsh [87] [90]

333 CANADA A Judy Collins 82 [92] Ivy Steinberg 80 86 Diane Williams [85] 85

337 FINLAND Heli Ekstrom 88 92 Minna Kaarnalahti 78 79

339 ENGLAND Irene Brien 84 84 Hazel Shewry 92 79

345 USA B Nancy Beck 87 79 Kathleen Colliflower 94 85 Lesley Olvie Henry [94] [94]

371 NETHERLANDS Iet Hagels de Boer 98 [96] Wanda Mochtar [99] 90 Ada Vrolijk 93 90

TIMESHEET – FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER

1. 08:30 Breda Naughton (Adare Manor) Vandra Deacon (Rosslare)
2. 08:40 Paula Murray (Naas) Heli Ekstrom (FIN)
3. 08:50 Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) Kathleen Colliflower (USA) Rita McGoldrick (Enniscrone)
4. 09:00 Pamela Williamson (SCO) Eileen Kenny-Ryan (Ballybunion) Sheila Crosbie (Rosslare)
5. 09:10 Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion) Kate Peppler (SWI) Pauline Walsh (Headfort)
6. 09:20 Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) Judy Collins (CAN) Gertie McMullen (The Island)
7. 09:30 Taffy Brower (USA) Catriona Corrigan (Ballybunion) Melissa Gotfredson (USA)
8. 09:40 Catherine Bird (Nenagh) Anne Ferguson (RCD Ladies) Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook)
9. 09:50 Diane Williams (CAN) Connie Doyle (Enniscorthy) Hazel Shewry (ENG)
10. 10:00 Carolyn Creekmore (USA) Irene Brien (ENG) Liz Bennett (New Ross)
11. 10:10 Nancy Beck (USA) Catherine Reilly (The Heath) Ivy Steinberg (CAN)
12. 10:20 Pat Doran (Donabate) Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) Sheena McElroy (Grange)
13. 10:30 Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN) Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) Becky Neal (USA)
14. 10:40 Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) Mary Dowling (Mallow)

If a 35-second Twitter video is anything to go by, the atmosphere in the Great Britain and Ireland camp is excellent ahead of this weekend's Walker Cup showdown with the mighty USA at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

It's doubtful anyone was wondering why Sam Horsfield, who pulled out of the team for personal reasons in favour of 11th man Ewen Ferguson, is included in the University of Florida team for this week's college clash in Georgia. 

Personal reasons are personal reasons and the GB&I boys had too much on their minds pulling off schoolboy pranks and pressing the flesh with 2014 European Ryder Cup skipper Paul McGinley..

The team also made a 30-mile trip up the coast to Royal Birkdale to play a practice round.

Watch: Team GB&I took a trip along England's golf coast to Royal Birkdale for a practice round today. #WalkerCup https://t.co/hYp5MHLriq

— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 9, 2015

Watch: @McIlroyRory shares his memories of being a member of #TeamGBI at the 2007 #WalkerCup. https://t.co/yG5YPMsWkO

— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 9, 2015

Photos: Team GB&I practice session at Royal Lytham with Paul McGinley. #WalkerCup View more: http://t.co/LLasCEPuKK pic.twitter.com/8ToL96ko0a

— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 9, 2015

Outside of the

Donal Scott, Olivia Mehaffey, Annabel Wilson and Sinead Keane at Royal Wimbledon on day one of the Women's Home Internationals. Picture: Irish Ladies Golf Union

New caps Annabel Wilson, Sarah Helly, Niamh McSherry and Julie McCarthy earned crucial points as Ireland beat Scotland 6.5 - 2.5 for the second year running on the opening day of the Women’s Home Internationals at Royal Wimbledon.

A 3-0 sweep of the morning foursomes proved crucial and while the Scots put some points on the board in the singles with Hannah McCook beating Olivia Mehaffey by two holes and young Shannon McWilliam defeating Paula Grant 2 and 1, singles wins for Wilson, Helly and McSherry and a dramatic halved match by Maria Dunne were more than enough for Sinead Keane’s warriors.

England saw off Wales, but only 5-4 and Ireland will have to be on their toes when they face the Welsh on Thursday.

If the new faces perform as well on the first two days, Ireland have a great chance of lifting the title.

Irish Junior Vagliano Trophy team player Annabel Wilson beat Megan Briggs by 4 and 2 after being two up at the turn and then winning the 10th, 11th and 12th.

Niamh McSherry was a 5 and 4 winner against Scotland’s Kate McIntosh, neither player seeing action in the morning foursomes.

McSherry was three up at the turn and clinched victory by winning the 13th and 14th.

Irish champion Sarah Helly came back from two down after six to beat former Scottish champion Gabrielle MacDonald by 2 and 1, winning the 7th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th to go three up.

Summers was two up on Dunne after four holes and while the next nine were halved, the Skerries battler won the 14th to get back to one down and then took the 18th to secure a precious halved match.

In the foursomes, Olivia Mehaffey and Annabel Wilson beat Megan Briggs and Shannon McWilliam 4 and 3 before Paula Grant and Julie McCarthy beat Ailsa Summers and Chloe Goadby by the same scoreline. 

Then, in the anchor match, Maria Dunne and Chloe Ryan gave Ireland a 3-0 lunchtime lead with a 1 up win over Gabrielle MacDonald and Gillian Paton.

Defending champions England were given a tough opening by Wales and trailed 2-1 after the foursomes before winning the singles 4-2 for a 5-4 win overall.
 
With the overall score tied at 4-4, everything hinged on the last singles betweem England’s Samantha Giles and Wales’ Georgia Lewis.

Giles was two up after seven before being pulled back to square after 10. 

Then the English player moved up a gear, winning the 11th, 12th and 13th for a three-hole lead with five to play. 

Lewis kept fighting and won back the 16th but Giles won the 17th to finish the match and give England a 5-4 victory.

Live scoringIreland 6½  Scotland 2 ½Foursomes

1. Olivia Mehaffey & Annabel Wilson beat Megan Briggs & Shannon McWilliams 4&3
2. Paula Grant & Julie McCarthy beat Alisa Summers & Chloe Goadby 4&3
3. Maria Dunne & Chloe Ryan beat Gabrielle MacDonald & Gillian Paton 1 up

Singles

1. Olivia Mehaffey lost to Hannah McCook 2up
2. Annabel Wilson beat Megan Briggs 4&3
3. Paula Grant lost to Shannon McWilliams 2&1
4. Niamh McSherry beat Kate McIntosh 5&4
5. Sarah Helly beat Gabrielle MacDonald 2&1
6. Maria Dunne halved with Alisa Summers

Thursday's Foursomes

The Old Course at Rosslare Golf Club

Royal Belfast’s Marilyn Henderson blitzed the field to take a six-shot lead over defending champion Minna Kaarnalahti after the opening round of the Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay at Rosslare.

Henderson opened with two steady pars and carded a sensational eagle three at the long third to make the turn in level par. Two further birdies at the fifteenth and eighteenth saw her home in one under the card and lead the international field by a whopping six strokes. 

Defending champion Kaarnalahti of Finland shot a 78 to lie in second place, one stroke ahead of current Seniors Internationals Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) and Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush), Mary Dowling (Mallow) and Helen Jones (Royal Portrush).

Defending champions Ireland lead the Nations Cup with Canada and USA following closely behind.

The field plays a further 18 holes tomorrow, Thursday, before the field is cut to the top forty for the final round on Friday.

Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay at Rosslare (PAR 73 SSS 74 CSS 76)Round One

72 Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast)

78 Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN)

79 Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) Mary Dowling (Mallow) Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna)

80 Ivy Steinberg (CAN) Sheena McElroy (Grange)

82 Carolyn Creekmore (USA) Connie Doyle (Enniscorthy) Judy Collins (CAN)

83 Taffy Brower (USA)

84 Irene Brien (ENG)

85 Becky Neal (USA) Catherine Bird (Nenagh) Diane Williams (CAN) Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) Valerie Shannon (Lahinch)

86 Catherine Reilly (The Heath)

87 Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook) Nancy Beck (USA) Pat Doran (Donabate) Pauline Walsh (Headfort) Sheila Crosbie (Rosslare) Valerie Doyle (Rosslare)

88 Anne Ferguson (RCD Ladies) Heli Ekstrom (FIN) Vivienne Houston (City of Derry)

89 Eileen Kenny-Ryan (Ballybunion) Linda Ward (CAN) Melissa Gotfredson (USA)

90 Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) Gemma Butler (Birr) Kate Peppler (SWI) Liz Bennett (New Ross) Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion) Pamela Williamson (SCO) Paula Murray (Naas) Yvonne MacSweeney (Wexford)

92 Breda Naughton (Adare Manor) Catriona Corrigan (Ballybunion) Hazel Shewry (ENG) Joan Scanlon (Newcastle West) Rita McGoldrick (Enniscrone) Vandra Deacon (Rosslare) Vonny Kelly (Powerscourt)

93 Ada Vrolijk (NED)

94 Frances Mahon (Newlands) Gertie McMullen (The Island) Joan Bowe (Rosslare) Kathleen Colliflower (USA) Leslie Olive Henry (USA) Mary Courtney (Delgany) Penny Gleeson (Milltown)

95 Teresa Cowman (Rosslare)

96 Angela Murphy (Rosslare) Evelyn Donnelly (Lisheen Springs)

97 Catherine Howard (Rosslare) Heidi Simpson (Royal Portrush) Mary Kavanagh (New Ross)

98 Iet Hagels deBoer (NED)

99 Marion Kennedy-Hogan (Newcastle West) Wanda Mochtar (NED)

101 Doreen McGovern (Rosslare)

103 Ruth Farrell (Woodbrook)

108 Maria Burford (New Ross) 

NATIONS CUP (2 scores from 3 to count)

158 IRELAND B Pat Doran [87] Mary Dowling 79 Mary MacLaren 79

159 IRELAND A Suzanne Corcoran 79 Sheena McElroy 80 Gertie McMullen [94]

162 CANADA A Judy Collins 82 Ivy Steinberg 80 Diane Williams [85]

165 USA A Taffy Brower 83 Carolyn Creekmore 82 Becky Neal [85]

165 IRELAND C Helen Jones 79 Catherine Reilly 86 Pauline Walsh [87]

166 FINLAND Heli Ekstrom 88 Minna Kaarnalahti 78

176 ENGLAND Irene Brien 84 Hazel Shewry 92

181 USA B Nancy Beck 87 Kathleen Colliflower 94Lesley Olive Henry [94]

191 NETHERLANDS Iet Hagels de Boer 98 Wanda Mochtar [99] Ada Vrolijk 93

TEE TIMES – THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER

1. 08:50 Rita McGoldrick (Enniscrone)Valerie Doyle (Rosslare) Paula Murray (Naas) 
2. 09:00 Liz Bennett (New Ross) Evelyn Donnelly (Lisheen Springs) Hazel Shewry (ENG)
3. 09:10 Melissa Gotfredson (USA) Ann McAuley (Laytown & Bettystown) Teresa Cowman (Rosslare)
4. 09:20 Wanda Mochtar (NED) Heli Ekstrom (FIN) Angela Murphy (Rosslare)
5. 09:30 Iet Hagels deBoer (NED) Joan Bowe (Rosslare) Yvonne MacSweeney (Wexford)
6. 9:40 Linda Ward (CAN) Sheila Crosbie (Rosslare) Breda Naughton (Adare Manor)
7. 09:50 Marion Kennedy-Hogan (Newcastle West) Doreen McGovern (Rosslare) Vonny Kelly (Powerscourt)
8. 10:00 Judy Collins (CAN) Irene Brien (ENG) Mary Kavanagh (New Ross)
9. 10:10 Mary Courtney (Delgany) Catriona Corrigan (Ballybunion) Vandra Deacon (Rosslare)
10. 10:20 Catherine Howard (Rosslare) Frances Mahon (Newlands) Joan Scanlon (Newcastle West)
11. 10:40 Ivy Steinberg (CAN) Mary Dowling (Mallow) Becky Neal (USA)
12. 10:50 Ada Vrolijk (NED) Nancy Beck (USA) Catherine Bird (Nenagh)
13. 11:00 Taffy Brower (USA) Sheena McElroy (Grange) Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna)
14. 11:10 Gemma Butler (Birr) Kate Peppler (SWI) Gertie McMullen (The Island)
15. 11:20 Pat Doran (Donabate) Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) Leslie Olive Henry (USA)
16. 11:30 Diane Williams (CAN) Minna Kaarnalahti (FIN) Carolyn Creekmore (USA)
17. 11:40 Kathleen Colliflower (USA) Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) Valerie Shannon (Lahinch)
18. 11:50 Pauline Walsh (Headfort) Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion) Anne Ferguson (Spa)
19. 12:00 Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook) Pamela Williamson (SCO) Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
20. 12:10 Heidi Simpson (Royal Portrush) Connie Doyle (Enniscorthy) Ruth Maguire (Corrstown)
21. 12:20 Ruth Farrell (Woodbrook) Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) Vivienne Houston (City of Derry)
22. 12:30 Penelope Gleeson (Milltown) Eileen Kenny-Ryan (Ballybunion) Maria Burford (New Ross)