Irish Golf News

Colin Fairweather in action. Picture Pat Cashman

Colin Fairweather might have made it to the South of Ireland final but even in defeat to Stuart Grehan he was already certain of his full international debut in next month's Home Internationals defence at Royal Portrush.

It least it appears that was after the selectors met as he was beating Keith Egan in extra holes to win his place in the final against eventual champion Grehan, the East of Ireland champion, who was already a certainty to make Tony Goode's team for the August 12-14 matches, which will be sponsored by Fairstone Financial Management.

Castle's Alex Gleeson, who pushed Grehan all the way in that weather reduced East that saw Jeff Hopkins' charge come too late, was also a certainty.

While Grehan opted for Lahinch. Gleeson played in St Andrews in  Boyd Quaich and won on the Old Course to copperfasten his place. 

If there were any doubts at all about Paul McBride after his six out of six performance in the interpros, he dispelled them by leading the qualifiers in Lahinch. 

That the South of Ireland defined the Irish team this year is unquestionable with Fairweather emerging with the big prize and players like 2014 team member Richard Bridges or Rowan Lester missing out while the absence of Kevin LeBlanc and Thomas Mulligan meant they are clearly 2016 material.

With Cormac Sharvin unavailable because he's playing in the clashing US Amateur at Olympia Fields, the Irish team is lead by Gavin Moynihan, Open Championship hero Paul Dunne and the other members of the six-man team in Jack Hume, Gary Hurley and Dermot McElroy with Warrenpoint's Colm Campbell retaining his place after a solid year alongside North of Ireland winner John Ross Galbraith.

Ireland

• Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint)
• Paul Dunne (Greystones)
• *Colin Fairweather (Knock)
• *Alex Gleeson (Castle/University College Dublin)
• *Stuart Grehan (Tullamore/Maynooth University)
• Jack Hume (Naas)
• Gary Hurley (West Waterford/Maynooth University)
• Gavin Moynihan (The Island)
• *Paul McBride (The Island)
• Dermot McElroy (Ballymena)
• John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead)

The team will be captained by Tony Goode (Lucan) and the team manager is John White (Co Armagh). The non-travelling reserves are Robin Dawson (Faithlegg/Maynooth University) and Rowan Lester (Hermitage).
 
Ireland will be defending their title which they won at Southerndown in 2014.

*The asterisk beside players above indicates those making their Home Internationals debut

Sarah Helly. Picture: Pat Cashman

Irish Close champion Sarah Helly will be joined by Girls' internationals Julie McCarthy, Niamh McSherry and Annabel Wilson in the Irish team for next month's Women’s Home International Matches at Royal Wimbledon.

The will join four players who represented Ireland at the Ladies European Team Championships — Maria Dunne (Skerries), Paula Grant (Lisburn), Olivia Mahaffey (Royal County Down Ladies) and Chloe Ryan (Castletroy).

McCarthy (Forrest Little),  McSherry (Lurgan) and Wilson (Lurgan) were members of Irish Girls'. side at the European Girls Team Championship recently.

The ILGU believes the team strikes "the perfect mix of youth and experience. 

The team will be captained by Sinead Keane (Royal Curragh/Naas) for the second consecutive year. Donal Scott will travel with the ladies as coach and Valerie Hassett will join as manager.  

Irish Ladies Home International Team, Royal Wimbledon Golf Club, 9-11 September 2015

• Maria Dunne (Skerries)
• Paula Grant (Lisburn)
• Sara Helly (Enniscrone)
• Olivia Mahaffey (Royal County Down Ladies)
• Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little)
• Niamh McSherry (Lurgan)
• Chloe Ryan (Castletroy)
• Annabel Wilson (Lurgan)

1. 1st Reserve: Sinead Sexton (Lahinch)
2. 2nd Reserve: Louise Coffey (Malone)
3. 3rd Reserve: Jessica Ross (Donaghadee)
4. 4th Reserve: Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint)

• Team Captain: Sinead Keane
• Team Manager: Valerie Hassett  
• Team Coach: Donal Scott 

Dan O' Donovan, Captain of Lahnch Golf Club), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) and Michael Connaughton (GUI President) before the final round of the South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, 26th July 2015. Picture:  Golffile | TJ Caffrey

Tullamore’s Stuart Grehan didn’t hold back when he sat down to write his pre-season wish list. 

“Win The Open” wasn’t on it, but by skipping a planned trip to the Old Course for a university championship last week, the reigning East of Ireland champion achieved his goal of winning two championships this year with a thoroughly deserved 4 and 3 triumph over Knock’s Colin Fairweather in the 114th South of Ireland Amateur Open final.

A 22-year old Paddy Harrington scholarship student at Maynooth Univeristy, he had to dig deep at times during the week—he came back from two down with two to play to beat Alan Lowry on the 20th on Friday and chipped in twice to beat Rosslare’s Gary Collins in the quarter-finals.

But in the final, he needed no such heroics and was never headed as he defeated the big-hitting Fairweather with excellent ball-striking, a tidy short game and nerveless putting.

“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Grehan after achieving an East-South double last achieved by Jim Carvill a decade ago. “That was my goal at the start of the year, to win two championships. It was something mad I had down on my dream list, I’m absolutely delighted.”

Winning a full international cap was another goal and Grehan can surely look forward to teeing it up in Ireland’s defence of the Home Internationals at Royal Portrush next month.

Relive the last few minutes of @Stewyy69 winning the South v Colin Fairweather @LahinchGolfClub https://t.co/n4BoqNf8qG

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 26, 2015

Fairweather had to go to the 19th in his semi-final to see off the combative Keith Egan of Carton House, who birdied the last from 18 feet to force extra holes with a brave half, but bunkered his gap wedge to the first and failed to save par.

But the 24-year old son of PGA professional Gordon Fairweather was always on the back foot in the final and while he hit back from a bogey at the first with a winning birdie at the second, he was behind from the time Grehan hit a seven iron to six feet at the fourth and made eagle.

“I struggled with my putting all day,” said Fairweather, who is contemplating a trip to the European Tour Q-School later this year. ”If you’re not rolling the ball well and struggling with the pace of the greens, you’re kind of getting in your own way a bit. I played rightly earlier on in the week and I have a lot of positives to take. 

“But any time I made a mistake Stuart capitalised. He is a good player, very solid and didn’t make many errors today for me to have a good chance of winning a few holes. 

“Any time he missed a shot he was always putting for par and putting pressure on me and in matchplay that’s what you have to do and that’s what he did today. 

“I never got ahead and I was a bit disappointed I couldn’t get it going with the putter.  If I had putted well, we would have had a better match and I am sure that I can sort that out for the next time.”

3rd. @Colinfairweathe blasts and iron right off the tee.@Stewyy69 hits big dog I think @LahinchGolfClub pic.twitter.com/D8dHyIaFih

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 26, 2015

Fairweather missed a short putt for what would have been a miraculous half in pars at the sixth and went two down. He birdied the eighth from 10 feet but then lost the ninth where Grehan holed a double-breaking 25 footer for birdie to go two up.

Stuart Grehan with the South of Ireland  trophy and his Lahinch blazer

On an imaginary card, Grehan was out in one under 35 to Fairweather's one over 37

Earlier, at the seventh, Grehan hooked his tee shot into the deep rough, missed the green left and with no green to work with, somehow managed to get his chip to within three feet.

“My short game was fantastic and my mental game was good as well,” added Grehan, who was never behind as he beat 19-year old Limerick promise Mark MacGrath 2 and 1 in his semi-final, ending hopes of seeing a Lahinch member win for the first time since 1968.

The midlander handed Fairweather the 10th with a double bogey six but was gifted the par-three 11th when the big Ulsterman carved his tee shot so far wide that the spotter never saw it. It resulted in a lost the ball and while he attempted to chip in for bogey with his provisional, Grehan had an 18 footer up the hill for birdie and he conceded the hole.

Two down again, Fairweather never gave up and he hit back in style by holing 30-yard bunker shot for a winning eagle three at the 12th. But Grehan restored his two hole cushion by hitting his 71-yard approach to three feet at the 13th.

“After his eagle I was thinking he wasn’t going to go away,” Grehan said: “But that birdie on 13 was absolutely crucial. I hit a two-iron to 71 yards and a gap wedge to three feet and rolled it in.”

He then closed out the match with regulation par fours for wins at the 14th, where Fairweather had three putts from just off the green, and the 15th.

The latter was a shot worthy of any championship win — a low, 229-yard four iron that skipped under the 20 mph wind and squally rain showers to find the front edge from where he putted up to around eight feet. 

Fairweather missed a 15 footer for par and Grehan, who has no plans to turn professional just yet, showed the touch of a champion and rolled home the winning putt on the same day his little brother Matthew captured the club championship at Tullamore.

South of Ireland Amateur Open, Lahinch (Par 72)

FINAL - SUNDAY 26 JULY 

Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Colin Fairweather (Knock) 4/3

1. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Keith Egan (Carton House) 19th
2. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Mark MacGrath (Limerick) 2/1

1. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Pat Murray (Limerick) 23rd
2. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 3/1
3. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Gary Collins (Rosslare) 3/2
4. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 3/1

1. Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) 2/1 
2. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Paul McBride (The Island) 2/1
3. Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 3/2
4. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt John Conroy (Bray) 4/3
5. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Des Morgan (New Forest) 3/2
6. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) 5/3
7. Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) 4/3
8. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) 2/1.

1. Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) bt Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin) 2/1
2. Pat Murray (Limerick) bt  Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) 3/1
3. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Rowan Lester (Hermitage) 20th
4. Paul McBride (The Island) bt William Hanna (Warrenpoint) 4/3
5. Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Stephen Barker (Mourne) 20th
6. Eanna Griffin (Waterford) bt Paul McCarthy (Mallow) 5/4
7. John Conroy (Bray) bt Liam Grehan (Mullingar) 1 hole
8. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Gary McDermott (Carton House) 6/4 
9. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 20th
10. Des Morgan (New Forest) bt Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) 5/4
11. Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) bt Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 19th
12. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 1 hole
13. Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) bt Joe Lyons (Galway) 6/5
14. Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) 1 up
15. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 2/1
16. Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) bt Conor Coyne (Youghal) 1 hole.

1. Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) bt Marc Nolan (Delgany) 3/.2
2. Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin) bt Thomas O'Connor (Athlone) 3/2
3. Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) bt Eddie Power (Kilkenny)  1 hole
4. Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle) 1 hole
5. Rowan Lester (Hermitage) bt Stephen Healy (Carton House) 4/3
6. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo) 5/4
7. William Hanna (Warrenpoint) bt Daniel Holland (Castle) 5/4
8. Paul McBride (The Island) bt Shane Whooley (Muskerry) 1 hole
9. Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire) 2/1
10. Stephen Barker (Mourne) bt Barry Anderson (Royal Dublin) 1 hole
11. Eanna Griffin (Waterford) bt Rob Brazill (Naas) 6/4
12. Paul McCarthy (Mallow) bt Declan King (Tramore) 4/3
13. Liam Grehan (Mullingar) bt Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley) 5/4
14. John Conroy (Bray) bt Thomas Neenan (Lahinch) 1 hole
15. Gary McDermott (Carton House) bt Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 2/1
16. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Dan Murphy (Portarlington) 19th
17. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire) 5/4
18. Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) bt Michael Buggy (Castlecomer) 2/1
19. Des Morgan (New Forest) bt Tony O'Leary (Wexford) 4/2
20. Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) bt Adam Doran (Ardee) 2 holes
21. Daniel Brennan (Shannon) bt Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West) 2 holes
22. Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) bt Declan McInerney (Lahinch) 1 hole
23. Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) bt Ed Stack (Ballybunion) 5/4
24. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Barry Daly (Edmondstown) 4/3
25. Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) bt Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu) 4/3
26. Joe Lyons (Galway) bt Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 2 holes
27. Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) bt Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 4/3
28. Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Ally Purdy (Ballyclare) 5/3
29. Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) bt Michael O'Kelly (Limerick) 20th
30. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Sean Walsh (Carton House) 6/5
31. Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) bt Simon Bryan (Delgany) 2/1
32. Conor Coyne (Youghal) bt Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint) 3/2.

140 Paul McBride (Island) 72 68 (Leading qualifier), Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 70 70

142 Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 74 68, Colin Fairweather (Knock) 74 68, Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 72 70

144 Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West Golf Club) 71 73

145 Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club) 74 71, Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club) 73 72, Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club) 72 73, Keith Egan (Carton House Golf Club) 71 74

146 Gary Collins (Rosslare Golf Club) 76 70

147 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club) 77 70, Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club) 74 73, Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 74 73, Des Morgan (New Forest) 70 77

148 Thomas Neenan (Lahinch Golf Club) 79 69, Rob Brazill (Naas Golf Club) 77 71, Gary O'Flaherty (Cork Golf Club) 76 72, Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth Golf Club) 75 73, Robert Cannon (Balbriggan Golf Club) 73 75, Eddie Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 72 76, Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) 71 77

149 Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club) 78 71, Stephen Barker (Mourne) 77 72, Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 77 72, Michael Buggy (Castlecomer Golf Club) 75 74, Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 75 74, Simon Bryan (Delgany Golf Club) 74 75, William Hanna (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 73 76

150 Daniel Holland (Castle) 81 69, Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) 80 70, Gary McDermott (Carton House Golf Club) 79 71, Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 79 71, Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 79 71, Rowan Lester (Hermitage Golf Club) 78 72, Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 78 72, Ed Stack (Ballybunion Golf Club) 78 72, Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 76 74, Thomas O'Connor (Athlone Golf Club) 76 74, Declan McInerney (Lahinch Golf Club) 75 75, Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 75 75, Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 74 76

151 John Conroy (Bray) 79 72, Tony O'Leary (Wexford Golf Club) 77 74, Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club) 77 74, Stephen Healy (Carton House Golf Club) 75 76, Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 74 77, Michael O'Kelly (Limerick Golf Club) 74 77

152 Adam Doran (Ardee) 82 70, Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club) 81 71, Declan King (Tramore Golf Club) 79 73, Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 78 74, Ally Purdy (Ballyclare Golf Club) 77 75, Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club) 77 75, Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club) 76 76, Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club) 75 77, Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club) 75 77, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 74 78, Barry Daly (Edmondstown Golf Club) 73 79

153 Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 81 72, Dan Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club) 80 73, Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club) 78 75, Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 78 75, Shane Whooley (Muskerry Golf Club) 77 76, 

153 Justin Kehoe (Limerick Golf Club) 76 77

154 Jake Whelan (Newlands) 82 72, Peter Kane (Ashbourne) 80 74, Jack Walsh (Castle) 80 74, Eoghan Long (Monkstown Golf Club) 78 76, Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club) 78 76, Colm Crowley (Woodbrook Golf Club) 78 76, David Finn (Doneraile Golf Club) 77 77, Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 77 77, Darragh Hogan (Killeen Castle) 77 77, Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club) 76 78, Evan Farrell (Ardee) 76 78, Robert Farrell (New Ross Golf Club) 74 80

155 Paul O'Sullivan (Bray) 82 73, Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 81 74, David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 81 74, James Sugrue (Mallow Golf Club) 80 75, Shane McGlynn (Carton House Golf Club) 80 75, Ryan O'Doherty (Enniscrone Golf Club) 80 75, Richard Bridges (Stackstown Golf Club) 79 76, Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin) 78 77, Ben Corfee (USA) 78 77

156 Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary Golf Club) 81 75, Matthew McClean (Balmoral Golf Club) 81 75, Alan Purcell (Adare Manor Golf Club) 80 76, Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell Golf Club) 79 77, Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club) 78 78, Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club) 78 78, John Greene (Portmarnock) 77 79, Greg Mungovan (Headfort Golf Club) 77 79, Owen O'Brien (Limerick Golf Club) 77 79, Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 75 81

157 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 84 73, Mathew Kane (Whitehead Golf Club) 82 75, Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club) 80 77, Tristan O'Rourke (Nenagh Golf Club) 79 78, John Hickey (Cork Golf Club) 78 79, Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 77 80, Mark Mullen (Rosslare Golf Club) 75 82

158 Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk Golf Club) 81 77, Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club) 81 77, Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club) 81 77, James Monaghan (The Royal Dublin) 79 79, Ian Spillane (Mallow Golf Club) 77 81, Robbie Pierse (Grange) 77 81

159 Keith Daniels (Loughrea Golf Club) 85 74, Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 84 75, Philip Spratt (West Waterford Golf Club) 82 77, Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club) 82 77, Liam Hutchinson (The Royal Dublin) 80 79, Gavin Smyth (Clonmel Golf Club) 79 80, Eoin O'Connor (Ballybunion Golf Club) 78 81, Mark Timmins (Coollattin Golf Club) 77 82

160 Paul Behan (St. Anne's) 83 77, Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club) 83 77, Shane Hogan (Nenagh Golf Club) 82 78, David Reddan (Nenagh Golf Club) 80 80, Dylan Brophy (Castleknock) 79 81

161 Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin) 85 76, Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock) 84 77, John Reynolds (Dungarvan Golf Club) 83 78, Jason O'Leary (Dromoland Golf Club) 82 79, Jamie O'Shea (Shannon) 79 82, Graham Nugent (Kilkenny Golf Club) 79 82

162 Paul Buckley (Kanturk Golf Club) 81 81

163 Eoghan O' Loughlin (Spanish Point Golf Club) 82 81

164 Scott Campbell (Ballyclare Golf Club) 85 79, Ronan O'Grady (Tullamore Golf Club) 85 79, Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 84 80, David McMahon (Tralee Golf Club) 82 82, Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry Golf Club) 82 82, Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club) 82 82

165 Tom Griffin (Crews Hill Golf Club) 86 79, Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club) 82 83

166 Bob Loftus (Lahinch Golf Club) 88 78, Dean McMahon (Castletroy Golf Club) 85 81, Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 83 83, Peter Meaney (Cahir Park Golf Club) 83 83

167 Aaron Moore (Adare Manor Golf Club) 83 84, Nicky Duggan (Dromoland Golf Club) 79 88

168 Brian Gilligan (Woodstock Golf Club) 88 80

169 Sean Doyle (Athlone Golf Club) 82 87

172 Paul O'Neill (Shannon) 87 85

177 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Golf Club) 95 82

180 John Richard (FRANCE) 93 87

NR Sean Poucher (Limerick Golf Club) 83 NR

70 Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown), Des Morgan (New Forest)

71 Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin), Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West Golf Club), Keith Egan (Carton House Golf Club)

72 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club), Eddie Power (Kilkenny Golf Club), Paul McBride (Island), Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin)

73 Robert Cannon (Balbriggan Golf Club), Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club), William Hanna (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Barry Daly (Edmondstown Golf Club)

74 Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club), Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club), Simon Bryan (Delgany Golf Club), Michael O'Kelly (Limerick Golf Club), Robert Farrell (New Ross Golf Club), Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club), Colin Fairweather (Knock), Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo Golf Club), Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock)

75 Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin), Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club), Mark Mullen (Rosslare Golf Club), Declan McInerney (Lahinch Golf Club), Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club), Stephen Healy (Carton House Golf Club), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth Golf Club), Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin), Michael Buggy (Castlecomer Golf Club), Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club)

76 Thomas O'Connor (Athlone Golf Club), Evan Farrell (Ardee), Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club), Gary Collins (Rosslare Golf Club), Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Gary O'Flaherty (Cork Golf Club), Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club), Justin Kehoe (Limerick Golf Club)

77 Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club), Owen O'Brien (Limerick Golf Club), Ally Purdy (Ballyclare Golf Club), David Finn (Doneraile Golf Club), Tony O'Leary (Wexford Golf Club), Rob Brazill (Naas Golf Club), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club), Shane Whooley (Muskerry Golf Club), Ian Spillane (Mallow Golf Club), Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Greg Mungovan (Headfort Golf Club), Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club), Robbie Pierse (Grange), Mark Timmins (Coollattin Golf Club), Stephen Barker (Mourne), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Jack Pierse (Portmarnock), John Greene (Portmarnock), Darragh Hogan (Killeen Castle)

78 Ed Stack (Ballybunion Golf Club), Eoghan Long (Monkstown Golf Club), Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club), Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin), Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club), Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud), Eoin O'Connor (Ballybunion Golf Club), Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club), Daniel Brennan (Shannon), John Hickey (Cork Golf Club), Rowan Lester (Hermitage Golf Club), Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club), Ben Corfee (USA), Colm Crowley (Woodbrook Golf Club), Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club)

79 Richard Bridges (Stackstown Golf Club), Tristan O'Rourke (Nenagh Golf Club), Jamie O'Shea (Shannon), Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin), Nicky Duggan (Dromoland Golf Club), Graham Nugent (Kilkenny Golf Club), Alan Lowry (Esker Hills), John Conroy (Bray), Declan King (Tramore Golf Club), Gary McDermott (Carton House Golf Club), Thomas Neenan (Lahinch Golf Club), James Monaghan (The Royal Dublin), Dylan Brophy (Castleknock), Gavin Smyth (Clonmel Golf Club), Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell Golf Club)

80 Jack Walsh (Castle), Liam Hutchinson (The Royal Dublin), Dan Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club), Alan Purcell (Adare Manor Golf Club), Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud), Shane McGlynn (Carton House Golf Club), James Sugrue (Mallow Golf Club), Peter Kane (Ashbourne), Ryan O'Doherty (Enniscrone Golf Club), Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club), David Reddan (Nenagh Golf Club)

81 Matthew McClean (Balmoral Golf Club), Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club), David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown), Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary Golf Club), Paul Buckley (Kanturk Golf Club), Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club), Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club), Daniel Holland (Castle), Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk Golf Club), Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club)

82 Paul O'Sullivan (Bray), Philip Spratt (West Waterford Golf Club), Mathew Kane (Whitehead Golf Club), Eoghan O' Loughlin (Spanish Point Golf Club), Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club), David McMahon (Tralee Golf Club), Jason O'Leary (Dromoland Golf Club), Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club), Shane Hogan (Nenagh Golf Club), Jake Whelan (Newlands), Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club), Adam Doran (Ardee), Sean Doyle (Athlone Golf Club), Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry Golf Club)

83 Sean Poucher (Limerick Golf Club), Aaron Moore (Adare Manor Golf Club), Peter Meaney (Cahir Park Golf Club), Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club), Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo Golf Club), John Reynolds (Dungarvan Golf Club), Paul Behan (St. Anne's)

84 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock), Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.), Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club)

85 Dean McMahon (Castletroy Golf Club), Ronan O'Grady (Tullamore Golf Club), Scott Campbell (Ballyclare Golf Club), Keith Daniels (Loughrea Golf Club), Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin)

86 Tom Griffin (Crews Hill Golf Club)

87 Paul O'Neill (Shannon)

88 Bob Loftus (Lahinch Golf Club), Brian Gilligan (Woodstock Golf Club)

93 John Richard (FRANCE)

95 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Golf Club)

Colin Montgomerie. Picture/ Getty Images

Philip Walton is just three shots behind co-leaders Colin Montgomerie and Marco Dawson entering the final day of The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex.

The Malahide star shot a five under par 65 at Sunningdale to move into a share of sixth on seven under par with Fred Couples.

After completing his weather-affected second round by birdieing the 14th hole on Saturday morning for a second consecutive round of 67, a well-rested Montgomerie was quick out of the blocks when he began his third round nine hours later.  

Starting two shots behind pacesetter Dawson, Montgomerie immediately rattled off three birdies in a row to join the American at the top of the leaderboard, with Dawson also birdieing the opening hole.

Dawson eventually sho a 68 to Montgomerie’s 66 to leave them on 10 under, one clear of Bernhard Langer (68) with Peter Fowler (68) tied fourth with Miguel Angel Jimenez on eight under.

Montgomerie is bidding to add the Senior Open crown to the three Senior Major Championships he has already won since turning 50 - two US Senior PGA Championships and the 2014 US Senior Open.

The biggest mover of the day was Walton, who followed a second round of 67 with seven birdies and a bogey in the 17 holes he completed in round three to move to eight under par. 

He was just two shots back with one hole to complete but he bogeyed the 18th on Sunday morning to end the third roind tied with Couples, the 2012 Senior Open Champion, on seven under.

Des Smyth and Ronan Rafferty missed the halfway cut.

McGee best in France

European Challenge Tour — Ruaidhri McGee shot a 73 and Niall Kearney slipped to a 77 as New Zealand’s Ryan Fox birdied the closing hole to take a three shot lead into the final round of the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in France.

McGee ended the day on three under, 13 shots being Fox while Kearney’s disappointing third round relegated him to two under with Simon Thornton a shot further back after a 74.

Chris Selfridge shot a five over 76 to find himself near the back of the field on one-over as Fox maintained his impressive bid for a maiden European Challenge Tour title in just his fourth appearance.

The 28-year old has led for the duration of the tournament at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, following a course record 62 on Thursday and second round of 67 with a three under par third round of 68, for a 16 under par total.

County Cavan Golf Club

Belvoir Park's Andrew Morris fired six birdies in a super 67 to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Eddie McCormack into the final round of the Ulster Mid-Amateur at County Cavan.

The former Ulster interprovincial leads on one under par 139 from Cavan native McCormack with former South and East of Ireland winner Jim Carvill lurking just five shots off the lead after rounds of 71 an d73.

Ulster Mid-Amateur Championship, Co Cavan (Par 70)

Detailed scoring

139 Andrew Morris (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 72 67 

140 Eddie Mccormack (Galway Bay Golf Club) 69 71 

144 Jim Carvill (Banbridge Golf Club) 71 73 

147 Tony McClements (Holywood Golf Club) 73 74 

149 Shane Underwood (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 75 74 , Fergal Dunne (Co. Cavan Golf Club) 71 78 

150 Noel Crawford (Mourne) 74 76 

151 George Armstrong (Carrickfergus Golf Club) 76 75 , Crangle Joe (Cliftonville Golf Club) 75 76 

152 Andrew Norrby (Balmoral Golf Club) 78 74 , Enda Brady (Headfort Golf Club) 74 78 

155 Edward Kellett (Co. Cavan Golf Club) 78 77 , Patrick Bevins (Carlow Golf Club) 78 77 

156 Paul Reilly (Co. Louth Golf Club) 81 75 

159 William Doggart (Clandeboye) 81 78 

160 Randal Cross (Enniscrone Golf Club) 79 81 

163 Alan Hopley (Clandeboye) 82 81 

164 Sean O Donnell (Co. Cavan Golf Club) 80 84 

WD/DQ Frank O'Donoghue (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 78 DQ , Alan Doherty (Corrstown Golf Club) 77 75 WD, Stuart Carter (Mountrath Golf Club) 79 75 WD, Brian Scullion (Lurgan Golf Club) 76 83 WD, Aidan Maguire (Headfort Golf Club) 76 85 WD, Graham Smith (Corballis Links Golf Club) 83 80 WD, Kevin Sheehy (Athlone Golf Club) DQ WD , Barry Gormley (USA) WD WD 

RUNNING REPORT — Keith Egan proved that his brother Tom is not the only dangerous fighter in the family when he took out veteran Pat Murray with a brilliant birdie at the 23rd to reach the semi-finals of the South of Ireland Amateur Open at Lahinch.

The 22-year old Kildare native, just back from college in the Atlanta and playing out of Carton House, knocked out leading qualifier Paul McBride in the last 16 and then had to birdie the 18th just to take 2012 champion Murray into extra holes having been one up with three to play.

Murray won the 16th in birdie and the 17th in par but lost the 18th where Egan made a super chip and putt four from the apron.

They halved the 19th, 20th and 21st in par-birdie-par figures before Murray holed an 18 footer for birdie at the 22nd, the Klondyke, to put one foot in the last four once more.

But Egan had other ideas and he drained a 10 footer to halve in birdies and then snatched the match at the par-three 23rd, the Dell, where he hit a three-quarter eight-iron to three feet

Here's Keith Egan on 15 pic.twitter.com/wgFIaC3QH9

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 25, 2015

Murray’s 20 footer horshoed out and Egan calmly holed his birdie putt to clinch a semi-final showdown with Knock’s Colin Fairweather, who beat Laytown and Bettystown’s Cian Geraghty 3 and 1.

“You know if you can beat Pat Murray around Lahinch you are not going to be far off winning,” said Egan, whose brother Tom is Mixed Martial Arts specialist, currently in training in the US with UFC star Conor McGregor. “I came here with one intention only and that’s to win. I was quietly confident that I had a good chance and could go far and give anyone a game,”

After proving himself with a solid win over title favourite McBride, Egan was thrilled to sneak past the wily Murray, adding: "I am absolutely delighted, especially after being one down playing the last. I knew playing Pat that I had to be patient and make no mistakes and I didn't make a bogey until the 16th and I was one up going down 15, so it was very tough going. 

"We knew it was going to take a quality shot to win the match and I was fortunate enough to hit a good shot on the last hole there.

"I was expecting Pat to hole that putt (on the 23rd) because he had been putting well all day but I'm glad to get away with the win.

"I knew I was due a putt and hadn't hoped anything until the 22nd. But I knew I had to hole it so I was more aggressive and maybe that's what made the difference."

A former member of the Curragh, Egan is a student at Clayton State University in Atlanta and home to test himself on the amateur scene this summer.

A former Irish Under 15 and the Irish Boys international, he made the last 16 in Lahinch last year but lost to Eanna Griffin.

"I love Lahinch," he said. "It's the best conditioned links I've ever played. Maybe it's because of that we are enjoying  it so much that we are doing well."

As for his brother, he said: "His name is Tom Egan and he's a professional MMA fighter. He was training with Conor McGregor in the build up to his (recent UFC fight) He's 27. I don't mess with him but he doesn't mess with me either. He knows I'm stronger."

Here's @mur_pat driving 13 @LahinchGolfClub pic.twitter.com/Z0EHOb46aN

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 25, 2015

Murray had played sensational golf in the morning to beat the defending champion Stuart Bleakley 2 and 1. 

But Egan would not go away, even when Murray hung tough and edged from one down after 15 to one up with one to play.

Murray said: "I was one down playing 12, birdied 12 to halve it. Halved 13 in birdies, 14 in pars, 15 in pars, won 16 with a birdie and had a birdie putt on 17. Par 18, par 19, birdie 20, par 21, birdie 22, and you saw what happened on 23, that putt was in the middle of the hole going down the hill but... Keith is a good player and he did what he had to do. I've been on the other side of those matches before and today was his turn."

Tullamore’s Stuart Grehan can become the first player to do the East of Ireland-South double since Jim Carvill in 2005 following his wins over Des Morgan and Gary Collins.

Grehan face a tough semi-final with Limerick’s Mark MacGrath, a 19 year old Munster interprovicial who learned his golf at Lahinch and played superbly to beat Niall Gorey from Palmerstown Stud 2 and 1 in the morning before getting to five under as he beat Royal Dublin’s Jeff Hopkins 3 and 1 in a high quality quarter-final.

"I was four up after 11," Grehan said of his match with Collins. "And Gary won 12 in par and birdied 13 and 14 to back to to one down. Luckily down the stretch I got up and down on 15 to go back to two up and made a solid par on 16 and Gary unfortunately bogey so 3 and 2 and I'm very happy with that."

Fairweather had a ding-dong battle with Laytown and Bettystown talent Geraghty to win 3 and 1 and he was happy to make it to his second South of Ireland semi-final since 2012.

"I was two down early and I just said to myself, be patient and just play the course as if you were playing strokeplay," 24-year old Fairweather said. "I just managed to make a few pars and then momentum went my way again."

The match was all square as they played the 14th where Fairweather almost holed his six-iron, hitting his approach to six inches to go one up, took the 15th in par to go two ahead and closed out the match at the 17th after Geraghty had missed a good birdie chance on the previous green.

"It's good to know I can come back on matches," he added. "It's good for the confidence. The semis? I've been to a few last 16s and maybe I should be challenging more for these things. I practice really hard all the time and  it's good to see it paying off."

It was a similar birdie-fest in the MacGrath-Jeff Hopkins match that ended in victory for the local boy.

"I was five under through 13 and we were all square," Hopkins said after his defeat. "There were a lot of birdies and really good golf and I had seven, he had eight.. When you are beat by the better man on the day you just take it on the chin. I had a good week, all in all, and on to the next one."

 

South of Ireland 2015LAHINCH GOLF CLUB (PAR 72)FINAL - SUNDAY 26 JULY 

1. 2.0pm

SEMI-FINALS - SUNDAY 26 JULY

1. 8.30 Keith Egan (Carton House) v Colin Fairweather (Knock) 
2. 8.45 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) v Mark MacGrath (Limerick

QUARTER-FINALS - SATURDAY 25 JULY

1. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Pat Murray (Limerick) 23rd
2. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 3/1
3. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Gary Collins (Rosslare) 3/2
4. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 3/1

THIRD ROUND - SATURDAY 25 JULY

1. Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) 2/1 
2. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Paul McBride (The Island) 2/1
3. Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 3/2
4. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt John Conroy (Bray) 4/3
5. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Des Morgan (New Forest) 3/2
6. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) 5/3
7. Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) 4/3
8. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) 2/1.

Pat Murray birdies the 17th to end the title defence of Shandon Park's Stuart Bleakley

Pat Murray kept his dream of second South of Ireland and a third amateur major alive when he came back from two down after 12 to oust defending champion Stuart Bleakley in the third round at Lahinch.

The 44-year old Limerick based Tipperary man won three holes on the spin to go one up and then close out a 2 and 1 victory with a birdie from 11 feet at the 17th.

The 2012 champion faces surprise package Keith Egan from Carton House, the man who eliminated Rowan Lester in extra holes on Friday, after the Dubliner shocked leading qualifier Paul McBride 2 and 1 in his third round match.

Laytown and Bettystown's Cian Geraghty continued his superb run of form with a 3 and 2 win over the fancied Waterford man Eanna Griffin.

Some super golf so far from @ciangeraghty @LahinchGolfClub Driving here on 15. pic.twitter.com/7yY09sOrJs

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 25, 2015

Griffin lost the 11th when Geraghty's pitch hit the pin and stopped dead. He then lost the next two holes to find himself in a hole and couldn't get out.

Geraghty now takes on Knock's Colin Fairweather, a beaten semi-finalists at the hands of Stephen Healy in 2012. The big hitting Ulsterman was in superb form again, beating Bray's John Conroy 4 and 3.

In the bottom half of the draw, Tullamore's Stuart Grehan was too strong from New Forest's Dessie Morgan, winning 3 and 2.

Grehan, who had to come back from two down with two to go to beat his pal Alan Lowry at the 20th on Friday evening, now takes on Rosslare's Gary Collins.

On 15, fine shot by @Tmclarnon15 but Jeff Hopkins hits a better one. @LahinchGolfClub pic.twitter.com/a3JtUqGHJI

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 25, 2015

Gunning for something positive from the season after losing to John Ross Galbraith in the final of the North, Collins has been quietly impressive this week.

He was well into the red when beat Jack "SB" Pierse by one hole in the second round and he went even deeper against Cork's Gary O'Flaherty in today's third round, winning 4 and 3.

"I got the putter going today, which is crucial around here," Collins said.

The winner of Grehan-Collins will take on Limericks' Mark MacGrath or the Royal Dublin's Jeff Hopkins in tomorrow morning's semi-finals.

Hopkins, a tall and talented former footballer with a big game, was impessive as he beat and out of sort Tiarnan McLarnon 4 and 3.

No luck for @NiallGorey_ but he out drives this Hiace van on 17. #speedfreak @LahinchGolfClub pic.twitter.com/EvgOG7N6Qi

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 25, 2015

As for MacGrath, he raced into a two up lead at the turn against Palmerstown Stud's Niall Gorey and despite having his lead reduced to one up with six to go, he took the 15th in par as Gorey missed a short putt and closed out the match at the 17th where the Kildare man missed the green and failed to save par from a tough position.

Finally, here's Mark MacGrath. He's off to college in New Mexico we hear. Andale. @LahinchGolfClub pic.twitter.com/EfopFHBeDi

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 25, 2015 South of Ireland 2015LAHINCH GOLF CLUB (PAR 72)

Matchplay Live scoring GUI

CLUB APP Live scoring

QUARTER-FINALS - SATURDAY 25 JULY

1. (1.30) Pat Murray (Limerick) v Keith Egan (Carton House)
2. (1.45) Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) v Colin Fairweather (Knock)
3. (2.00) Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) v Gary Collins (Rosslare)
4. (2.15) Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) v Mark MacGrath (Limerick)

THIRD ROUND - SATURDAY 25 JULY

1. Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) 2/1 
2. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Paul McBride (The Island) 2/1
3. Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 3/2
4. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt John Conroy (Bray) 4/3
5. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Des Morgan (New Forest) 3/2
6. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) 5/3
7. Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) 4/3
8. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud).2/1

SECOND ROUND - FRIDAY 24 JULY

1. Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) bt Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin) 2/1
2. Pat Murray (Limerick) bt  Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) 3/1
3. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Rowan Lester (Hermitage) 20th
4. Paul McBride (The Island) bt William Hanna (Warrenpoint) 4/3
5. Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Stephen Barker (Mourne) 20th
6. Eanna Griffin (Waterford) bt Paul McCarthy (Mallow) 5/4
7. John Conroy (Bray) bt Liam Grehan (Mullingar) 1 hole
8. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Gary McDermott (Carton House) 6/4 
9. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 20th
10. Des Morgan (New Forest) bt Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) 5/4
11. Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) bt Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 19th
12. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 1 hole
13. Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) bt Joe Lyons (Galway) 6/5
14. Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) 1 up
15. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 2/1
16. Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) bt Conor Coyne (Youghal) 1 hole.

FIRST ROUND - FRIDAY 24 JULY

1. Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) bt Marc Nolan (Delgany) 3/.2
2. Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin) bt Thomas O'Connor (Athlone) 3/2
3. Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) bt Eddie Power (Kilkenny)  1 hole
4. Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle) 1 hole
5. Rowan Lester (Hermitage) bt Stephen Healy (Carton House) 4/3
6. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo) 5/4
7. William Hanna (Warrenpoint) bt Daniel Holland (Castle) 5/4
8. Paul McBride (The Island) bt Shane Whooley (Muskerry) 1 hole
9. Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire) 2/1
10. Stephen Barker (Mourne) bt Barry Anderson (Royal Dublin) 1 hole
11. Eanna Griffin (Waterford) bt Rob Brazill (Naas) 6/4
12. Paul McCarthy (Mallow) bt Declan King (Tramore) 4/3
13. Liam Grehan (Mullingar) bt Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley) 5/4
14. John Conroy (Bray) bt Thomas Neenan (Lahinch) 1 hole
15. Gary McDermott (Carton House) bt Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 2/1
16. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Dan Murphy (Portarlington) 19th
17. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire) 5/4
18. Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) bt Michael Buggy (Castlecomer) 2/1
19. Des Morgan (New Forest) bt Tony O'Leary (Wexford) 4/2
20. Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) bt Adam Doran (Ardee) 2 holes
21. Daniel Brennan (Shannon) bt Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West) 2 holes
22. Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) bt Declan McInerney (Lahinch) 1 hole
23. Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) bt Ed Stack (Ballybunion) 5/4
24. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Barry Daly (Edmondstown) 4/3
25. Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) bt Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu) 4/3
26. Joe Lyons (Galway) bt Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 2 holes
27. Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) bt Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 4/3
28. Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Ally Purdy (Ballyclare) 5/3
29. Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) bt Michael O'Kelly (Limerick) 20th
30. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Sean Walsh (Carton House) 6/5
31. Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) bt Simon Bryan (Delgany) 2/1
32. Conor Coyne (Youghal) bt Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint) 3/2.

36-HOLE STROKEPLAY QUALIFYING, 22-23 JULYQUALIFIERS

140 Paul McBride (Island) 72 68 (Leading qualifier), Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 70 70

142 Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 74 68, Colin Fairweather (Knock) 74 68, Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 72 70

144 Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West Golf Club) 71 73

145 Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club) 74 71, Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club) 73 72, Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club) 72 73, Keith Egan (Carton House Golf Club) 71 74

146 Gary Collins (Rosslare Golf Club) 76 70

147 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club) 77 70, Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club) 74 73, Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 74 73, Des Morgan (New Forest) 70 77

148 Thomas Neenan (Lahinch Golf Club) 79 69, Rob Brazill (Naas Golf Club) 77 71, Gary O'Flaherty (Cork Golf Club) 76 72, Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth Golf Club) 75 73, Robert Cannon (Balbriggan Golf Club) 73 75, Eddie Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 72 76, Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) 71 77

149 Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club) 78 71, Stephen Barker (Mourne) 77 72, Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 77 72, Michael Buggy (Castlecomer Golf Club) 75 74, Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 75 74, Simon Bryan (Delgany Golf Club) 74 75, William Hanna (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 73 76

150 Daniel Holland (Castle) 81 69, Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) 80 70, Gary McDermott (Carton House Golf Club) 79 71, Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 79 71, Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 79 71, Rowan Lester (Hermitage Golf Club) 78 72, Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 78 72, Ed Stack (Ballybunion Golf Club) 78 72, Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 76 74, Thomas O'Connor (Athlone Golf Club) 76 74, Declan McInerney (Lahinch Golf Club) 75 75, Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 75 75, Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 74 76

151 John Conroy (Bray) 79 72, Tony O'Leary (Wexford Golf Club) 77 74, Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club) 77 74, Stephen Healy (Carton House Golf Club) 75 76, Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 74 77, Michael O'Kelly (Limerick Golf Club) 74 77

152 Adam Doran (Ardee) 82 70, Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club) 81 71, Declan King (Tramore Golf Club) 79 73, Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 78 74, Ally Purdy (Ballyclare Golf Club) 77 75, Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club) 77 75, Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club) 76 76, Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club) 75 77, Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club) 75 77, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 74 78, Barry Daly (Edmondstown Golf Club) 73 79

153 Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 81 72, Dan Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club) 80 73, Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club) 78 75, Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 78 75, Shane Whooley (Muskerry Golf Club) 77 76, 

NON-QUALIFIERS

153 Justin Kehoe (Limerick Golf Club) 76 77

154 Jake Whelan (Newlands) 82 72, Peter Kane (Ashbourne) 80 74, Jack Walsh (Castle) 80 74, Eoghan Long (Monkstown Golf Club) 78 76, Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club) 78 76, Colm Crowley (Woodbrook Golf Club) 78 76, David Finn (Doneraile Golf Club) 77 77, Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 77 77, Darragh Hogan (Killeen Castle) 77 77, Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club) 76 78, Evan Farrell (Ardee) 76 78, Robert Farrell (New Ross Golf Club) 74 80

155 Paul O'Sullivan (Bray) 82 73, Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 81 74, David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 81 74, James Sugrue (Mallow Golf Club) 80 75, Shane McGlynn (Carton House Golf Club) 80 75, Ryan O'Doherty (Enniscrone Golf Club) 80 75, Richard Bridges (Stackstown Golf Club) 79 76, Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin) 78 77, Ben Corfee (USA) 78 77

156 Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary Golf Club) 81 75, Matthew McClean (Balmoral Golf Club) 81 75, Alan Purcell (Adare Manor Golf Club) 80 76, Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell Golf Club) 79 77, Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club) 78 78, Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club) 78 78, John Greene (Portmarnock) 77 79, Greg Mungovan (Headfort Golf Club) 77 79, Owen O'Brien (Limerick Golf Club) 77 79, Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 75 81

157 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 84 73, Mathew Kane (Whitehead Golf Club) 82 75, Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club) 80 77, Tristan O'Rourke (Nenagh Golf Club) 79 78, John Hickey (Cork Golf Club) 78 79, Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 77 80, Mark Mullen (Rosslare Golf Club) 75 82

158 Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk Golf Club) 81 77, Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club) 81 77, Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club) 81 77, James Monaghan (The Royal Dublin) 79 79, Ian Spillane (Mallow Golf Club) 77 81, Robbie Pierse (Grange) 77 81

159 Keith Daniels (Loughrea Golf Club) 85 74, Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 84 75, Philip Spratt (West Waterford Golf Club) 82 77, Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club) 82 77, Liam Hutchinson (The Royal Dublin) 80 79, Gavin Smyth (Clonmel Golf Club) 79 80, Eoin O'Connor (Ballybunion Golf Club) 78 81, Mark Timmins (Coollattin Golf Club) 77 82

160 Paul Behan (St. Anne's) 83 77, Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club) 83 77, Shane Hogan (Nenagh Golf Club) 82 78, David Reddan (Nenagh Golf Club) 80 80, Dylan Brophy (Castleknock) 79 81

161 Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin) 85 76, Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock) 84 77, John Reynolds (Dungarvan Golf Club) 83 78, Jason O'Leary (Dromoland Golf Club) 82 79, Jamie O'Shea (Shannon) 79 82, Graham Nugent (Kilkenny Golf Club) 79 82

162 Paul Buckley (Kanturk Golf Club) 81 81

163 Eoghan O' Loughlin (Spanish Point Golf Club) 82 81

164 Scott Campbell (Ballyclare Golf Club) 85 79, Ronan O'Grady (Tullamore Golf Club) 85 79, Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 84 80, David McMahon (Tralee Golf Club) 82 82, Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry Golf Club) 82 82, Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club) 82 82

165 Tom Griffin (Crews Hill Golf Club) 86 79, Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club) 82 83

166 Bob Loftus (Lahinch Golf Club) 88 78, Dean McMahon (Castletroy Golf Club) 85 81, Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 83 83, Peter Meaney (Cahir Park Golf Club) 83 83

167 Aaron Moore (Adare Manor Golf Club) 83 84, Nicky Duggan (Dromoland Golf Club) 79 88

168 Brian Gilligan (Woodstock Golf Club) 88 80

169 Sean Doyle (Athlone Golf Club) 82 87

172 Paul O'Neill (Shannon) 87 85

177 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Golf Club) 95 82

180 John Richard (FRANCE) 93 87

NR Sean Poucher (Limerick Golf Club) 83 NR

ROUND ONE 

70 Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown), Des Morgan (New Forest)

71 Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin), Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West Golf Club), Keith Egan (Carton House Golf Club)

72 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club), Eddie Power (Kilkenny Golf Club), Paul McBride (Island), Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin)

73 Robert Cannon (Balbriggan Golf Club), Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club), William Hanna (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Barry Daly (Edmondstown Golf Club)

74 Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club), Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club), Simon Bryan (Delgany Golf Club), Michael O'Kelly (Limerick Golf Club), Robert Farrell (New Ross Golf Club), Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club), Colin Fairweather (Knock), Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo Golf Club), Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock)

75 Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin), Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club), Mark Mullen (Rosslare Golf Club), Declan McInerney (Lahinch Golf Club), Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club), Stephen Healy (Carton House Golf Club), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth Golf Club), Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin), Michael Buggy (Castlecomer Golf Club), Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club)

76 Thomas O'Connor (Athlone Golf Club), Evan Farrell (Ardee), Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club), Gary Collins (Rosslare Golf Club), Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Gary O'Flaherty (Cork Golf Club), Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club), Justin Kehoe (Limerick Golf Club)

77 Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club), Owen O'Brien (Limerick Golf Club), Ally Purdy (Ballyclare Golf Club), David Finn (Doneraile Golf Club), Tony O'Leary (Wexford Golf Club), Rob Brazill (Naas Golf Club), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club), Shane Whooley (Muskerry Golf Club), Ian Spillane (Mallow Golf Club), Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Greg Mungovan (Headfort Golf Club), Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club), Robbie Pierse (Grange), Mark Timmins (Coollattin Golf Club), Stephen Barker (Mourne), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Jack Pierse (Portmarnock), John Greene (Portmarnock), Darragh Hogan (Killeen Castle)

78 Ed Stack (Ballybunion Golf Club), Eoghan Long (Monkstown Golf Club), Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club), Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin), Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club), Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud), Eoin O'Connor (Ballybunion Golf Club), Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club), Daniel Brennan (Shannon), John Hickey (Cork Golf Club), Rowan Lester (Hermitage Golf Club), Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club), Ben Corfee (USA), Colm Crowley (Woodbrook Golf Club), Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club)

79 Richard Bridges (Stackstown Golf Club), Tristan O'Rourke (Nenagh Golf Club), Jamie O'Shea (Shannon), Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin), Nicky Duggan (Dromoland Golf Club), Graham Nugent (Kilkenny Golf Club), Alan Lowry (Esker Hills), John Conroy (Bray), Declan King (Tramore Golf Club), Gary McDermott (Carton House Golf Club), Thomas Neenan (Lahinch Golf Club), James Monaghan (The Royal Dublin), Dylan Brophy (Castleknock), Gavin Smyth (Clonmel Golf Club), Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell Golf Club)

80 Jack Walsh (Castle), Liam Hutchinson (The Royal Dublin), Dan Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club), Alan Purcell (Adare Manor Golf Club), Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud), Shane McGlynn (Carton House Golf Club), James Sugrue (Mallow Golf Club), Peter Kane (Ashbourne), Ryan O'Doherty (Enniscrone Golf Club), Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club), David Reddan (Nenagh Golf Club)

81 Matthew McClean (Balmoral Golf Club), Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club), David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown), Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary Golf Club), Paul Buckley (Kanturk Golf Club), Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club), Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club), Daniel Holland (Castle), Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk Golf Club), Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club)

82 Paul O'Sullivan (Bray), Philip Spratt (West Waterford Golf Club), Mathew Kane (Whitehead Golf Club), Eoghan O' Loughlin (Spanish Point Golf Club), Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club), David McMahon (Tralee Golf Club), Jason O'Leary (Dromoland Golf Club), Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club), Shane Hogan (Nenagh Golf Club), Jake Whelan (Newlands), Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club), Adam Doran (Ardee), Sean Doyle (Athlone Golf Club), Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry Golf Club)

83 Sean Poucher (Limerick Golf Club), Aaron Moore (Adare Manor Golf Club), Peter Meaney (Cahir Park Golf Club), Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club), Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo Golf Club), John Reynolds (Dungarvan Golf Club), Paul Behan (St. Anne's)

84 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock), Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.), Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club)

85 Dean McMahon (Castletroy Golf Club), Ronan O'Grady (Tullamore Golf Club), Scott Campbell (Ballyclare Golf Club), Keith Daniels (Loughrea Golf Club), Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin)

86 Tom Griffin (Crews Hill Golf Club)

87 Paul O'Neill (Shannon)

88 Bob Loftus (Lahinch Golf Club), Brian Gilligan (Woodstock Golf Club)

93 John Richard (FRANCE)

95 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Golf Club)

PGA TOUR —Graeme McDowell missed his sixth cut of the season in the RBC Canadian Open.

The former US Open winner, who turns 36 next Thursday, was three over early and six over for the tournament before he played his last 12 holes in three under for a 72 and a three over total.

Poor off the tee and below his best on the greens, the world No 58's total of 147 was five shots outside the cut mark and leaves him in danger of falling out of the world's Top 60.

Chad Campbell (66-63) leads by two on 14 under from Brian Harman and  by three from David Heard and Johnson Wagner.

Europro Tour — Alan Dunbar finished tied fourth in the Wealth Design Invitational at Hawkstone Park Golf Club and lies just outside the Top 5 in the Order of Merit who will gain promotion to the Challenge Tour at the end of the season.The former British Amateur champion shot a one under 70 to finish five shots behind winner Andrew Marshall on nine under par with Headfort's Brian Casey tied 28th on four under.

• T4 Alan Dunbar  Team Ireland -9 69 65 70 204 £1,475.00
• T28 Brian Casey  Headfort Golf Club -4 72 67 70 209 £389.00
• MC Tim Rice  Limerick Golf Club  +2 74 70 144
• MC Richard Weldon  Killeen Castle Golf Club  +3 72 73 145
• MC Simon Ward  Belvoir Park  +6 74 74 148

Challenge Tour — Niall Kearney is just four shots behind lead Ryan Fox at the Le Vaudreil Challenge in France after successive 67s.

The field has fun in Waterville

Marty and Julia Carr have a four point lead over Liam and Hannah reidy heading into today's final round of the 8th Father and Daughter Classic at Waterville Golf Links.

8th Father and Daughter, Waterville Golf LinksResults 1st Round - Friday 24th July Team Name Points 

1st Marty & Julia Carr 47 IRE 

2nd Liam & Hannah Reidy 43 IRE 

3rd Gerry Carr & Katherine Kelter 40 IRE/USA 

4th Haig & Lina Ariyan 38 USA 

4th Jim & Annie Layden 38 USA 

4th Glen & Cameron March 38 USA 

7th Jeffrey & Caroline Kelter 37 USA 

7th Brady & Madison Riggs 37 USA 

7th Peter Huggard & Katie Layden 37 IRE/USA 

10th Roddy & Sophie Carr 36 IRE 

10th Ian & Stephanie Curnoe 36 UK 

12th Michael Bowe & Hannah Downton 33 IRE/CAN 

13th Rocky & Paige Downton 32 CAN 

14th Mike & Caitlin Millard 30 USA 

14th Joe & Maggie Morrison 30 USA 

14th Peter Keighery & Mary Layden 30 IRE/USA 

14th Charley & Isabel Moore 30 USA 

14th Chris & Zoe Cosgrove 30 IRE  

 Final Round - Saturday 25th July 2nd Round Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 

10:40 Gerry Carr Katherine Kelter Jeffrey Kelter Caroline Kelter 

10:50 Chris Cosgrove Zoe Cosgrove Charley Moore Isabel Moore 

11:00 Peter Keighery Katie Layden Peter Huggard Mary Layden 

11:10 Joe Morrison Maggie Morrison Mike Millard Caitlin Millard 

11:20 Roddy Carr Sophie Carr Rocky Downton Paige Downton 

11:30 Michael Bowe Hannah Downton Ian Curnoe Stephanie Curnoe 

11:40 Brady Riggs Madison Riggs Glen March Cameron March 

11:50 Jim Layden Annie Layden Haig Ariyan Lina Ariyan 

12:00 Marty Carr Julia Carr Liam Reidy Hannah Reidy.

Paul Mcbride. picture: pat cashman

Defending champion Stuart Bleakley insists that reputations will count for nothing when he tees it up against Lahinch legend Pat Murray in the last 16 of the South of Ireland Amateur Open on Saturday.

On a day when Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell sensationally crashed out in the first round, the 20-year old from Shandon Park beat Delgany’s Marc Nolan 3 and 2 and Royal Dublin’s Shaun Carter 2 and 1 to set up a major showdown with the 2012 champion today.

“It is just a name on the board to me,” 20-year old Bleakley said coldly of his clash with Murray. “I will go out and see what happens. I’m hitting it well.”

If all goes to plan for the Ulster raiders, Bleakley could face Colin Fairweather in tomorrow morning’s semi-finals after the Knock man, a beaten semi-finalist three years ago, edged out  Portarlingthon’s Dan Murphy at the 19th and then rediscovered his swing in time to crush Carton House’s Gary McDermott 6 and 5.

Murray celebrated his 44th birthday with a brace of wins and the Limerick veteran, who ended years of heartbreak with his victory in the championship three years ago, feels good after overcoming Kirkistown Castle’s Jonathan Breen by one hole and Galgorm Castle’s Michael Reid 3 and 1 on another day of squally showers and strong, northwest winds at the pristine Co Clare links

“I can do it again,” Murray said. “If this wind keeps up  it is not going to be blistering golf that’s going to win. Pars are your friend here."

The trouble for both Bleakley, Murray and Fairweather is the presence of leading qualifier Paul McBride from The Island in their half of the draw. And then there's Cian Geraghty and Eanna Griffin, who were lethal in their own way for the first day of mano a mano combat in the dunes.

McBride might only be a 19-year old, but he looks certain to get a full international cap and looks very much like the man to beat this week after Campbell fell at the first hurdle to the hot-putting of Youghal’s Conor Coyne, who would later lose to Palmerston Stud’s Niall Gorey at the 18th.

McBride was two down after seven in the morning but he showed his class on the back nine to beat Muskerry’s Shane Whooley with a birdie at the last before cruising to a 4 and 3 win over Warrenpoint’s William Hanna in the afternoon.

“I felt I was a bit quick this morning so I just slowed everything down,” said impressive Wake Forest freshman, who made birdies at the fourth and fifth followed by four in a row from the 11th to close out his match with Ulster interprovincial Hanna.

“I even slowed down walking, surprisingly for me, because I am usually very quick.  And I think Lahinch suits me y game. You don’t actually  have to be too straight off the tee but you have to be good with your irons and usually I am good with my irons.”

East of Ireland champion Stuart Grehan birdied the 17th and 18th to take Esker Hills' Alan Lowry, his close pal and Maynooth University team mate, to extra holes.

After halving the 19th in par, he hit a huge drive and reduced the 20th to a drive, an eight iron and two putts as Lowry failed to get up and down from greenside side. 

Graham's reward is  a last 16 showdown with New Forest’s Dessie Morgan, who beat Robbie Cannon 5 and 4 in the afternoon.

At the bottom fo the draw Masserreene’s talented Interprovincial Tiarnan McLarnon beat Cairndhu’s Neil McKinstry (4 and 3 and veteran Joe Lyons 6 and 5 to set up a third round match with Royal Dublin’s Jeff Hopkins, who is never an easy opponent.

Limerick’s Mark MacGrath will face Palmerston Stud’s Niall Gorey, who saw off Campbell’s vanquisher Coyne at the 18th.

MacGrath ended the odyssey of the young Portmarnock man Geoff Lenehan, who got out of jail spectacularly in the morning, hitting  four iron almost stone dead at the last to take Limerick's Michael O'Kelly to extra holes and then beat him with a fine birdie four at the 20th.

Playing under later afternoon cloud, Lenehan could not emerge into the sunlight for a second time in a tight game with local boy MacGrath, who turned things around late in the day to clinch a 2 and 1 win and a showdown with Kildare based former Musketry man Niall Gorey, now playing out of the Palmerston Stud stable.

Despite struggling to an 80 in the first round of qualifying, Gorey qualified with ease and quietly slipped into the last 16 following wins over Simon Bryan and Coyne, the conqueror of Campbell.

The Warrenpoint international was bitterly disappointed to fall by 3 and 2 to a more clinical opponent but he hopes he has done enough this year to retain his place in the Irish team for next month’s Home Internationals.

“I am disappointed but happy I how I played for the two qualifying days,” said Campbell, whose next outing is in next week’s Challenge Tour event at Galgorm Castle. “Hopefully I have done enough to keep my place in the Irish team. It was good to be a part of that win last year.”

South of Ireland Amateur Open, LahinchTHIRD ROUND - SATURDAY 25 JULY

1. 08.00 Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) v Pat Murray (Limerick)
2. 08.10 Keith Egan (Carton House) v Paul McBride (The Island)
3. 08.20 Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) v Eanna Griffin (Waterford)
4. 08.30 John Conroy (Bray) v Colin Fairweather (Knock)
5. 08.40 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) v Des Morgan (New Forest)
6. 08.50 Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) v Gary Collins (Rosslare)
7. 09.00 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) v Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin)
8. 09.10 Mark MacGrath (Limerick) v Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud).

SECOND ROUND

1. Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) bt Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin) 2/1
2. Pat Murray (Limerick) bt  Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) 3/1
3. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Rowan Lester (Hermitage) 20th
4. Paul McBride (The Island) bt William Hanna (Warrenpoint) 4/3
5. Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Stephen Barker (Mourne) 20th
6. Eanna Griffin (Waterford) bt Paul McCarthy (Mallow) 5/4
7. John Conroy (Bray) bt Liam Grehan (Mullingar) 1 hole
8. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Gary McDermott (Carton House) 6/4 
9. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 20th
10. Des Morgan (New Forest) bt Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) 5/4
11. Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) bt Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 19th
12. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 1 hole
13. Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) bt Joe Lyons (Galway) 6/5
14. Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) 1 up
15. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 2/1
16. Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) bt Conor Coyne (Youghal) 1 hole.

FIRST ROUND

1. Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) bt Marc Nolan (Delgany) 3/.2
2. Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin) bt Thomas O'Connor (Athlone) 3/2
3. Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) bt Eddie Power (Kilkenny)  1 hole
4. Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle) 1 hole
5. Rowan Lester (Hermitage) bt Stephen Healy (Carton House) 4/3
6. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo) 5/4
7. William Hanna (Warrenpoint) bt Daniel Holland (Castle) 5/4
8. Paul McBride (The Island) bt Shane Whooley (Muskerry) 1 hole
9. Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire) 2/1
10. Stephen Barker (Mourne) bt Barry Anderson (Royal Dublin) 1 hole
11. Eanna Griffin (Waterford) bt Rob Brazill (Naas) 6/4
12. Paul McCarthy (Mallow) bt Declan King (Tramore) 4/3
13. Liam Grehan (Mullingar) bt Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley) 5/4
14. John Conroy (Bray) bt Thomas Neenan (Lahinch) 1 hole
15. Gary McDermott (Carton House) bt Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 2/1
16. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Dan Murphy (Portarlington) 19th
17. Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire) 5/4
18. Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) bt Michael Buggy (Castlecomer) 2/1
19. Des Morgan (New Forest) bt Tony O'Leary (Wexford) 4/2
20. Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) bt Adam Doran (Ardee) 2 holes
21. Daniel Brennan (Shannon) bt Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West) 2 holes
22. Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) bt Declan McInerney (Lahinch) 1 hole
23. Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) bt Ed Stack (Ballybunion) 5/4
24. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Barry Daly (Edmondstown) 4/3
25. Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) bt Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu) 4/3
26. Joe Lyons (Galway) bt Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 2 holes
27. Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) bt Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 4/3
28. Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Ally Purdy (Ballyclare) 5/3
29. Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) bt Michael O'Kelly (Limerick) 20th
30. Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Sean Walsh (Carton House) 6/5
31. Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) bt Simon Bryan (Delgany) 2/1
32. Conor Coyne (Youghal) bt Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint) 3/2.

A resigned Graeme McDowell at the RBC Canadian Open.

PGA Tour — He looked to be turning the corner at The Open but Graeme McDowell stumbled a little in his return to form with a three over 75 in the opening round of the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey.

The Portrush man, down from 15th to 58th in the world since December 31 last, had to dig desperately deep to come back from five over after 11 holes of the opening round.

Forced to scramble early, he bogeyed the eighth and then took four to get down after overshooting the ninth, running up a double bogey six to turn in three over. 

Another six at the 11th, where he hit his approach into a hazard, left him on the ropes. But he fought back well with birdies from 18 feet at the 14th and 11 feet at the 15th only to make six at the par-five 17th by again taking four to get down from rough near the green.

A two-putt birdie four at the 18th gave him a 75 but he's tied for 138th, four shots outside the cut line and 11 behind the consistent Argentinian Emiliano Grillo, who shot an eight under 64 to lead by one from Vaughn Taylor and Brian Harman.

Michael Hoey, Hole in One au trou 3, gagne une police d'assurance de CHF 30'000 Vaudoise Assurances #omegaEUmasters pic.twitter.com/nrizXu0VIw

— Philippe Moix (@PhilippeMoix) July 23, 2015 European Tour — Michael Hoey won an insurance policy with Vaudoise worth 30,000 Swiss Francs (€28,000) when he aced the 177-yard third with an eight-iron to lead the Irish challenge after the first round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans Montana.The Belfast native added five birdies in a five under par 65 to share third place behind Grégory Havret, who also had a hole in one at the 13th en route to a 63 and a one shot lead over Lasse Jensen of Denmark.The aces brought this season's tally to 39, equalling the record of 2006. But apart from Hoey's brilliance, Irish eyes were smiling for Peter Lawrie, who was tied for 20th with the likes of Patrick Reed after opening with a three under 67 in his bid to win back his tour card.Headfort's Damien McGrane, who is struggling to keep his card at 168th in the Race to Dubai, is well down the field on three over after a 73.Havret, a three-time winner on The European Tour, also eagled the driveable seventh at Crans-sur-Sierre, with four birdies and a single bogey giving him a seven under par 63 and one shot lead over Denmark’s Lasse Jensen.For much of the afternoon it had looked like England’s Tyrrell Hatton would lead as he made his way to eight under, but finding water twice on the 18th led to a triple bogey seven and left him in a large group of players tied for third on five under, which includes his compatriot Danny Willett.World Number Ten Sergio Garcia opened with a one under par round of 69, whilst his Ryder Cup team-mate went one better with a 68.American Patrick Reed, playing for the first time in Continental Europe, notched six birdies in a round of 67, whilst his compatriot David Lipsky, the defending champion, carded a 66.

HOLE IN ONE ALERT! @MikeHoeyNI aces the third hole from 177 yards with an 8 iron. #OEM2015 pic.twitter.com/ZUwfYOiVhB

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 23, 2015

 Ryan Fox. Picture: Getty Images

Challenge Tour — Niall Kearney and Chris Selfridge fired four under 67s to share seventh spot after the first round of Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge.

New Zealander Fox finished with four birdies and an eagle in his final six holes to smash the course record with a nine under par round of 62 to lead by one shot from Robert Coles.

Selfridge making an eagle and four birdies and Kearney five birdies and a bogey but it was also a good day for Simon Thornton who shot 68 and Chris Selfridge, who posted a two under 69.

62 R Fox (Nzl); 63 R Coles (Eng); 65 C Arendell (USA); 66 A Hartø (Den), D Bobrowski (Fra) , A Bernadet  (Fra); 67 A Pavan (Ita), H Joannes (Bel), T Linard (Fra), N Bertasio (Ita). Niall Kearney (Irl), C Gloet  (Den), Ruaidhri McGee (Irl), J McLeary  (Sco) , R Evans  (Eng)  E Saltman  (Sco) , A Knappe (Ger), J Fahrbring (Swe),; 68 Simon Thornton (Irl); 69 Chris Selfridge (Nir).

Stephen Grant has been in the wars with a hernia.

Europro Tour — Nobody likes to be injured by Stephen Grant was almost relieved to hear from doctors earlier this week that his recent poor golf hasn't been his fault."Got to the bottom of my constant pain  and nausea," the popular Birr man said in a message. "I have a hernia. Bot ideal but new meds for 6 months and hopefully back golfing next week. As the doctors said, the golf won't make it worse."

Grant confessed: "Mentally a massive weight has been lifted as I thought it was something sinister and was afraid to address it. It's been niggling for a year but before I stopped playing it became agony and I struggled to keep food down so had to be addressed.

"I'm a happy man now."

"Golf next week" is possibly the ex-footballer's magic sponge talking but, no doubt, the Irish golfing world wants to see the former professional footballer back on the fairways soon.As a result of his scan, Grant missed this week's event on the EuroPro Tour, the Wealth Design Invitational at Hawkstone Park Golf Club where Alan Dunbar is tied for fifth, four shots behind leader Daniel Gavins entering today's final round with Headfort's Brian Casey tied 30th on three under. LeaderboardT5 Alan Dunbar  Team Ireland 11:21 AM  -8 69 65 134    
T30 Brian Casey Headfort Golf Club 8:38 AM  -3  72 67 139    
MC Tim Rice  Limerick Golf Club  +2 74 70 144    
MC Richard Weldon  Killeen Castle Golf Club +3 72 73 145    
MC Simon Ward  Unattached +6 74 74 148 

Germany's Bernhard Langer shakes hands with Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez at Sunningdale. Picture: Getty Images

The Senior Open — Bernhard Langer is in a record eight-way share for the lead after the opening round of his defence of the  The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Sunningdale Golf Club.

Langer ripped up the record books on his own 12 months ago as he raced to an unprecedented 13-stroke victory at Royal Porthcawl. But he had to share another piece of history on this occasion following a five under par opening round of 65.

That total was matched by the American quintet of Michael Allen, Bart Bryant, Marco Dawson, Lee Janzen and Jeff Sluman, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez and Lianwei Zhang, who also created history by becoming the first Chinese player to compete in The Senior Open. The previous record for the most players tied for first round lead in the Senior Open was four players, which happened in both 2004 and 2007.

Welshman Mark Mouland, American Brian Henninger and Argentine Cesar Monasterio are one shot behind the leaders on four under par, while Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie and American Tom Watson are among eight players tied a further shot back on three under par.

Des Smyth birdied two of his first three but shot a one over 71 that was matches by Philip Walton, who had two birdies, a bogey and a double bogey six at the fifth. Ronan Rafferty didm't make a birdie in his 76

Complete round one scores (par 70)

65 M Allen (USA), J Sluman (USA), L Janzen (USA), B Langer (Ger), M Jiménez (Esp)  M Dawson (USA), L Zhang (Chn), B Bryant (USA)

66 B Henninger (USA), C Monasterio (Arg), M Mouland (Wal)

67 C Montgomerie (Sco), T Watson (USA), B Andrade (USA), P Goydos (USA), B Cameron (Eng), M Calcavecchia (USA), W Short Jr (USA), J Hart (USA)

68  Mark McNulty (Irl); 71 Philip Walton (Irl), Des Smyth (Irl); 76  Ronan Rafferty (Nir).

Thomas Mulligan. Picture: Pat Cashman

Ireland ended the opening day tied for 13th place at the European Young Masters in Switzerland.

France has a massive, 15-stroke lead on 13 under par from England and Belgium with Ireland 24 shots behind on 11 over at Golf Club Domaine Impérial.

Thomas Mulligan and Mark Power shot five over 77s to share 34th amongst the boys as Antoine Auboin of France shot an incredible, eight under par 64 to lead by four strokes from Belgium's Lucas Becht. Scores

In the girls' event,  Pauline Roussin-Bouchard of France shot a three under 69 to lead by a shot from compatriot Charlotte Lafourcade with Mairead Martin and Annabel Wilson tied 10th on three over after 75s. Scores

Team scores

Paula Grant (Lisburn) during the Irish Women's Open Strokeplay Championship at Douglas in May. Picture by Pat Cashman

Ireland's top women are well off the pace in the International European Ladies' Amateur Championship at Murhof in Austria.

As India's Aditi Ashok added a four under 68 to her opening 67 to lead by a shot on nine under from Spanish pair Ana Pelaez (71-65) and Nuria Itturios (70-66), Olivia Mehaffey is the best of the Irish on three over.

Olivia is tied for 47th after rounds of 70 and 77 with Paula Grant (77 72) tied 67th on five over and Castletroy's Chloe Ryan (74 76) a shot further back on six over.

Skerries' Maria Dunne (79 74) birdied her final hole to finish on nine over with Mary Doyle (82 80) back on 162. 

Scoreboard

The top sixty plus ties will play the final round of 18 holes on Saturday.

Leinster on the Double: Michael Connaughton (President, Golfing Union of Ireland) presenting John McGrath (Captain, Under 18) and Kevin Raftery (Captain, Under 16) with their trophies after their victory at the Boys Interprovincial Championship at Athlone Golf Club today (23/07/2015).  Also in the picture is John Ferriter (Chairman, Leinster Golf), John Cullen (Manager Under 18) and Henry Lee (Manager Under 16) and both team members. Picture by Pat Cashman

Leinster won the Boys and the Under 16 Boys interprovincial Matches at Athlone. In the Boys Matches, Kevin Le Blanc, Alan Fahy and Michael Ryan won both of their games as Leinster beat Ulster 6-4 in the title decider. In the Under 16 Matches, Leinster came back from defeat to Munster on the first day with wins over Connacht and Ulster. 

Owen Crooks (Ulster) driving at the 11th hole during the final day of the Boys Interprovincial Championship matches at Athlone Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Marc Norton and Marc McKinstry (Ulster) lining up their putt on the 18th green the third day of the Boys Interprovincial Championship matches at Athlone Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Marc Norton (Ulster) driving from the 17th tee during the third day of the Boys Interprovincial Championship matches at Athlone Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Marc Boucher (Leinster) driving from the 17th tee during the third day of the Boys Interprovincial Championship matches at Athlone Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Kevin Le Blanc and Marc Boucher (Leinster) celebrate their one hole win in the foursomes on the 18th green during the third day of the Boys Interprovincial Championship. Picture by Pat Cashman

John Murphy (Munster) bunkered at the 10th green.  Picture by Pat Cashman

Jack Doherty (Leinster) reacts to his chip on the final green during the third day of the Boys Interprovincial Championship Picture by Pat Cashman

Boys Interprovincial Championship, Athlone Golf ClubFinal Standings

1. Leinster (3 wins, 19 points)
2. Ulster (2 wins, 17 points)
3. Munster 1 wins, 13 points)
4. Connacht (0 wins, 11 points)

DAY 3Munster 6 Connacht 4 (Munster names first)Foursomes

1. Sean Desmond & Luke Cummins beat Mikey Burke & Michael O’Farrell 5/4
2. Cathal Butler & Mark Healy beat Devin Morley & Louis O’Hara 2/1
3. Joseph O’Neill & John Murphy beat David Brady & Cian Feeney 2 holes

Singles

1. John Murphy beat  Devin Morley 3/2
2. Cathal Butler lost to David Brady 2 holes
3. Joseph O’Neill lost to Louis O’Hara 1 hole
4. Sean Desmond halved with Anton Brennan 
5. John Molyneaux halved with Mikey Burke 
6. Mark Healy lost to Michael O’Farrell 2 holes
7. Luke Cummins beat Cian Feeney 1 hole

Leinster 6 Ulster 4Foursomes

1. Kevin Le Blanc & Marc Boucher beat Marc McKinstry & Marc Norton 1 hole
2. Conor Purcell & Alan Fahy beat Peter Kerr & William Small 4/3
3. Eoin Leonard & Michael Ryan beat Matthew Fitzsimons & Owen Crooks 4/2

Singles

1. Kevin Le Blanc beat Owen Crooks 3/2
2. Marc Boucher lost to Marc McKinstry 1 hole
3. Alan Fahy beat Rory Williamson 3/2
4. Conor Purcell lost to Peter Kerr 5/4
5. Michael Ryan beat Matthew Fitzsimons 4/3
6. Gavin Fitzmaurice lost to Marc Norton 3/1
7. Eoin Leonard lost to William Small 3/2

DAY 2Leinster 7 Munster 3 (Leinster names first)Foursomes

1. Kevin Le Blanc & Marc Boucher bt Cathal Butler & John Murphy 6/4
2. Eoin Leonard & Michael Ryan beat Sean Desmond & Luke Cummins 1 hole
3. Conor Purcell & Alan Fahy beat Joseph O’Neill & John Molyneaux 6/4

Singles

1. Kevin Le Blanc lost to Cathal Butler 1 hole
2. Marc Boucher beat Sean Desmond 1 hole
3. Conor Purcell lost to John Murphy 4/2
4. Michael Ryan beat Luke Cummins 2 holes
5. Alan Fahy beat Mark Healy 1 hole
6. Gavin Fitzmaurice lost to Joseph O’Neill 2/1                          
7. Eoin Leonard beat John Molyneaux 4/3

Ulster 7 Connacht 3 (Ulster names first)Foursomes

1. Marc Norton & Marc McKinstry beat  David Brady & Cian Feeney 3/1
2. Peter Kerr & William Small  beat  Devin Morley & Michael O’Farrell 5/3
3. Matthew Fitzsimons & Rory Williamson beat  Anton Brennan & Louis O’Hara 2/1

Singles

1. Rory Williamson lost to Devin Morley 2 holes
2. Peter Kerr lost to David Brady 6/4
3. Marc McKinstry beat  Mikey Burke 3/1
4. Marc Norton beat  Cian Feeney 4/3
5. William Small lost to Louis O’Hara 3/1
6. Owen Crooks beat  Michael O’Farrell 2/1
7. Matthew Fitzsimons beat  Anton Brennan 4/2

DAY 1Leinster 6 Connacht 4 (Leinster names first) Foursomes

1. Kevin Le Blanc & Marc Boucher beat Devin Morley & Anton Brennan 5/3
2. Conor Purcell & Alan Fahy lost to David Brady & Cian Feeney 2/1
3. Eoin Leonard & Michael Ryan Beat Mikey Burke & Michael O’Farrell 2 holes

Singles

1. Kevin Le Blanc lost to Devin Morley 6/5
2. Gavin Fitzmaurice lost to Louis O’Hara 3/2
3. Conor Purcell lost to David Brady 1 hole
4. Alan Fahy beat Michael O’Farrell 4/3
5. Michael Ryan beat Mikey Burke 6/4
6. Marc Boucher beat Cian Feeney 4/3
7. Eoin Leonard beat Anton Brennan 1 hole

Ulster 6 Munster 4 (Ulster names first)Foursomes

1. Marc Norton & Marc McKinstry beat Cathal Butler & John Murphy 3/2
2. Wiliam Small & Peter Kerr beat John Molyneaux & Joseph O’Neill 2/1
3. Owen Crooks & Rory Williamson beat Sean Desmond & Luke Cummins 1 hole

Singles

1. Peter Kerr lost to Cathal Butler 1 hole
2. Marc McKinstry lost to Sean Desmond 3/2
3. Rory Williamson beat John Murphy 3/2
4. Owen Crooks lost to Luke Cummins 1 hole
5. Marc Norton beat Joseph O’Neill 1 hole
6. Matthew Fitzsimons beat Mark Healy 1 hole
7. William Small lost to John Molyneaux 1 hole

Boys Under 16 Interprovincial ChampionshipFinal Standings

1. Leinster (2 wins, 8.5 points)
2. Ulster (2 wins, 7.5 points)
3. Connacht (1 win, 7.5 points)
4. Munster (1 win, 6.5 points)

Wednesday 22 JulyUlster 3 Connacht 2 (Ulster names first)

1. Jordan Logue & Jack Madden halved with Allan Hill & Ross Kelly 
2. Reece Black lost to Harry Gillivan 5/3
3. Ronan McCambridge halved with Paddy Culhane 
4. Conor McDonald beat  Andrew Hickey 3/2
5. David Cunningham beat Liam Power 4/3

Leinster 2 Munster 3 (Leinster names first)

1. Cameron Raymond & AJ McCabe beat Greg Barrett & Charlie Dawson 
2. John Brady lost to Edward Walsh
3. Jack Doherty beat Adam Boland
4. Jack McGarry lost to Ian Halpin
5. Charlie Denvir lost to Andrew Mulhall

Thursday 23 July Ulster 1.5 Leinster 3.5 (Ulster names first)

1. Ronan McCambridge & David Cunningham lost to Jack Doherty & Charlie Denvir 1 hole
2. Reece Black beat AJ McCabe 2/1 
3. Conor McDonald lost to Jack McGarry 5/3
4. Jordan Logue lost to John Brady 5/4
5. Jack Madden halved with Cameron Raymond

Munster v Connacht (Munster names first)

1. Edward Walsh & Ian Halpin halved with Harry Gillivan & Andrew Hickey
2. Charlie Dawson lost to Paddy Culhane 3/2
3. Greg Barrett lost to Allan Hill 3/1
4. Adam Boland lost to Ross Kelly 4/3
5. Andrew Mulhall v Liam Power

Leinster 3 Connacht 2 (Leinster names first)

1. Jack McGarry & John Brady beat Paddy Culhane & Liam Power 6/4
2. AJ McCabe beat Harry Gillivan 3/2
3. Charlie Denvir lost to Ross Kelly 4/3
4. Jack Doherty halved with Allan Hill 
5. Cameron Raymond halved with Andrew Hickey

Ulster 3 Munster 2 (Ulster names first)

1. Reece Black & Conor McDonald beat Andrew Mulhall & Adam Boland 1 hole
2. David Cunningham beat Edward Walsh 6/4
3. Ronan McCambridge lost to Greg Barrett 2/1
4. Jordan Logue lost to Charlie Dawson 2 holes
5. Jack Madden beat Ian Halpin 4/3.

Paul McBride was inspired by Paul Dunne’s “ unbelievable” Open Championship performance as he headed the qualifiers for the South of Ireland Amateur Open at pristine Lahinch.

The 19-year old interprovincial from The Island added a four under par 68 to his opening 72 to edge out Laytown and Bettystown’s Cian Geraghty (70-70) for the medal on four under 140 and strengthened his case for a full Irish call up for next month’s defence of the Home Internationals at Royal Portrush.

The fair-haired, Dubliner — recently returned from a successful freshman year at Wake Forest University — erased bogeys at the fifth and seventh with birdies second, ninth 13th and 18th and an eagle three from 20 feet at the fourth. 

And he confessed that it was his love of the course and Dunne’s amazing performance at St Andrews that got him in the mood on his first visit to the Co Clare links.

“| love the course,” said McBride. “It is probably the best conditioned we have played this year. The greens are really good and really fast and my putting is really good, probably because I am used to the fast greens being in the States. I’m very happy."

McBride said he hopes to give the Irish selectors food for thought this week — but inspired after watching Dunne play in the final group on the final day of The Open at St Andrews, his confidence is high.

Sunset at Lahinch

“It was great for Dunners,” he said on a day when Lahinch played far easier that on Wednesday with tees moved up some 198 yards and pins cut in more accessible positions. 

“It’s unbelievable. It makes us realise that the gap between the pros and the top amateurs is not that wide.”

Geraghty carded a second successive 70, even if it did require a holed bunker shot for eagle at the last to pull it off.

McBride and Geraghty finished two strokes ahead of Royal Dublin’s Jeff Hopkins (70), Knock’s Colin Fairweather (68) and Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell (68), last year’s East of Ireland champion.

Like McBride, Campbell is making his first trip to Lahinch and he confessed he was blown away by the quality of the course.

“The golf course is just amazing,” said Campbell, who has had a decent season without doing anything spectacular and after falling to eventual runner up Gary Collins in the “North” he’s hoping to make amends this week.

“I cam away extremely disappointed from the North because I knew I had a great chance of winning if I could beat Gary,” Campbell said.  “The season has been solid and there’s still time to get a win. 

“This will be great course for matchplay with some really great holes out there. Looking at the great winners in the clubhouse is inspiring and even the beaten finalists are some of the best players we’ve ever produced, so I am looking forward to tomorrow."

The cut for the top 64 fell at nine over par 153, which meant an early exit for former winners John Greene and Stephen Walsh and international Richard Bridges.

South of Ireland Amateur Open, Lahinch GC (Par 72)Round One

1 07:00 Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) v Marc Nolan (Delgany)
2 07:09 Thomas O'Connor (Athlone) v Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin)
3 07:18 Eddie Power (Kilkenny) v Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle)
4 07:27 Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle) v Pat Murray (Limerick)
5 07:36 Rowan Lester (Hermitage) v Stephen Healy (Carton House)
6 07:45 Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo) v Keith Egan (Carton House)
7 07:54 William Hanna (Warrenpoint) v Daniel Holland (Castle)
8 08:03 Shane Whooley (Muskerry) v Paul McBride (The Island)
9 08:12 Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) v Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire)
10 08:21 Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) v Stephen Barker (Mourne)
11 08:30 Rob Brazill (Naas) v Eanna Griffin (Waterford)
12 08:39 Declan King (Tramore) v Paul McCarthy (Mallow)
13 08:48 Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley) v Liam Grehan (Mullingar)
14 08:57 John Conroy (Bray) v Thomas Neenan (Lahinch)
15 09:06 Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) v Gary McDermott (Carton House)
16 09:15 Dan Murphy (Portarlington) v Colin Fairweather (Knock)
17 09:24 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) v Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire)
18 09:33 Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) v Michael Buggy (Castlecomer)
19 09:42 Des Morgan (New Forest) v Tony O'Leary (Wexford)
20 09:51 Adam Doran (Ardee) v Robert Cannon (Balbriggan)
21 10:00 Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West) v Daniel Brennan (Shannon)
22 10:09 Declan McInerney (Lahinch) v Gary O'Flaherty (Cork)
23 10:18 Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) v Ed Stack (Ballybunion)
24 10:27 Barry Daly (Edmondstown) v Gary Collins (Rosslare)
25 10:36 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) v Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu)
26 10:45 Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) v Joe Lyons (Galway)
27 10:54 Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) v Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin)
28 11:03 Ally Purdy (Ballyclare) v Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin)
29 11:12 Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) v Michael O'Kelly (Limerick)
30 11:21 Sean Walsh (Carton House) v Mark MacGrath (Limerick)
31 11:30 Simon Bryan (Delgany) v Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud)
32 11:39 Conor Coyne (Youghal) v Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint)

Qualifiers

140 Paul McBride (Island) 72 68 (leading qualifier), Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 70 70

142 Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 74 68, Colin Fairweather (Knock) 74 68, Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 72 70

144 Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West Golf Club) 71 73

145 Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club) 74 71, Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club) 73 72, Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club) 72 73, Keith Egan (Carton House Golf Club) 71 74

146 Gary Collins (Rosslare Golf Club) 76 70

147 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club) 77 70, Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club) 74 73, Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 74 73, Des Morgan (New Forest) 70 77

148 Thomas Neenan (Lahinch Golf Club) 79 69, Rob Brazill (Naas Golf Club) 77 71, Gary O'Flaherty (Cork Golf Club) 76 72, Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth Golf Club) 75 73, Robert Cannon (Balbriggan Golf Club) 73 75, Eddie Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 72 76, Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) 71 77

149 Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club) 78 71, Stephen Barker (Mourne) 77 72, Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 77 72, Michael Buggy (Castlecomer Golf Club) 75 74, Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 75 74, Simon Bryan (Delgany Golf Club) 74 75, William Hanna (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 73 76

150 Daniel Holland (Castle) 81 69, Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) 80 70, Gary McDermott (Carton House Golf Club) 79 71, Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 79 71, Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 79 71, Rowan Lester (Hermitage Golf Club) 78 72, Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 78 72, Ed Stack (Ballybunion Golf Club) 78 72, Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 76 74, Thomas O'Connor (Athlone Golf Club) 76 74, Declan McInerney (Lahinch Golf Club) 75 75, Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 75 75, Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 74 76

151 John Conroy (Bray) 79 72, Tony O'Leary (Wexford Golf Club) 77 74, Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club) 77 74, Stephen Healy (Carton House Golf Club) 75 76, Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 74 77, Michael O'Kelly (Limerick Golf Club) 74 77

152 Adam Doran (Ardee) 82 70, Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club) 81 71, Declan King (Tramore Golf Club) 79 73, Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 78 74, Ally Purdy (Ballyclare Golf Club) 77 75, Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club) 77 75, Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club) 76 76, Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club) 75 77, Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club) 75 77, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 74 78, Barry Daly (Edmondstown Golf Club) 73 79

153 Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 81 72, Dan Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club) 80 73, Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club) 78 75, Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 78 75, Shane Whooley (Muskerry Golf Club) 77 76

Non-Qualifiers

153 Justin Kehoe (Limerick Golf Club) 76 77

154 Jake Whelan (Newlands) 82 72, Peter Kane (Ashbourne) 80 74, Jack Walsh (Castle) 80 74, Eoghan Long (Monkstown Golf Club) 78 76, Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club) 78 76, Colm Crowley (Woodbrook Golf Club) 78 76, David Finn (Doneraile Golf Club) 77 77, Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 77 77, Darragh Hogan (Killeen Castle) 77 77, Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club) 76 78, Evan Farrell (Ardee) 76 78, Robert Farrell (New Ross Golf Club) 74 80

155 Paul O'Sullivan (Bray) 82 73, Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 81 74, David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 81 74, James Sugrue (Mallow Golf Club) 80 75, Shane McGlynn (Carton House Golf Club) 80 75, Ryan O'Doherty (Enniscrone Golf Club) 80 75, Richard Bridges (Stackstown Golf Club) 79 76, Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin) 78 77, Ben Corfee (USA) 78 77

156 Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary Golf Club) 81 75, Matthew McClean (Balmoral Golf Club) 81 75, Alan Purcell (Adare Manor Golf Club) 80 76, Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell Golf Club) 79 77, Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club) 78 78, Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club) 78 78, John Greene (Portmarnock) 77 79, Greg Mungovan (Headfort Golf Club) 77 79, Owen O'Brien (Limerick Golf Club) 77 79, Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 75 81

157 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 84 73, Mathew Kane (Whitehead Golf Club) 82 75, Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club) 80 77, Tristan O'Rourke (Nenagh Golf Club) 79 78, John Hickey (Cork Golf Club) 78 79, Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 77 80, Mark Mullen (Rosslare Golf Club) 75 82

158 Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk Golf Club) 81 77, Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club) 81 77, Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club) 81 77, James Monaghan (The Royal Dublin) 79 79, Ian Spillane (Mallow Golf Club) 77 81, Robbie Pierse (Grange) 77 81

159 Keith Daniels (Loughrea Golf Club) 85 74, Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 84 75, Philip Spratt (West Waterford Golf Club) 82 77, Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club) 82 77, Liam Hutchinson (The Royal Dublin) 80 79, Gavin Smyth (Clonmel Golf Club) 79 80, Eoin O'Connor (Ballybunion Golf Club) 78 81, Mark Timmins (Coollattin Golf Club) 77 82

160 Paul Behan (St. Anne's) 83 77, Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club) 83 77, Shane Hogan (Nenagh Golf Club) 82 78, David Reddan (Nenagh Golf Club) 80 80, Dylan Brophy (Castleknock) 79 81

161 Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin) 85 76, Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock) 84 77, John Reynolds (Dungarvan Golf Club) 83 78, Jason O'Leary (Dromoland Golf Club) 82 79, Jamie O'Shea (Shannon) 79 82, Graham Nugent (Kilkenny Golf Club) 79 82

162 Paul Buckley (Kanturk Golf Club) 81 81

163 Eoghan O' Loughlin (Spanish Point Golf Club) 82 81

164 Scott Campbell (Ballyclare Golf Club) 85 79, Ronan O'Grady (Tullamore Golf Club) 85 79, Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 84 80, David McMahon (Tralee Golf Club) 82 82, Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry Golf Club) 82 82, Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club) 82 82

165 Tom Griffin (Crews Hill Golf Club) 86 79, Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club) 82 83

166 Bob Loftus (Lahinch Golf Club) 88 78, Dean McMahon (Castletroy Golf Club) 85 81, Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 83 83, Peter Meaney (Cahir Park Golf Club) 83 83

167 Aaron Moore (Adare Manor Golf Club) 83 84, Nicky Duggan (Dromoland Golf Club) 79 88

168 Brian Gilligan (Woodstock Golf Club) 88 80

169 Sean Doyle (Athlone Golf Club) 82 87

172 Paul O'Neill (Shannon) 87 85

177 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Golf Club) 95 82

180 John Richard (France) 93 87

NR Sean Poucher (Limerick Golf Club) 83 NR

Alex Gleeson. Picture by Pat Cashman

UCD's Alex Gleeson closed with a one over 73 to win the Boyd Quaich by two strokes over the Old Course at St Andrews on seven under 279.

His UCD team mate, Jonathan Yates, shot 71 to finish second on five under 281 while IT Sligo's Declan Reidy was eighth on four over 290.

Boyd Quaich 2015 Gross LeaderboardR1R2R3 CSS 72R4 CSS 74TotalPar1st Alex Gleeson
University College Dublin 70696773279-72nd Jonathan Yates
University College Dublin 71716871281-53rd Calum Hill
University of Louisiana Monroe USA 69746871282-44th Craig Howie
Stirling University 71726873284-25th Liam Johnson
Tennessee Chattanooga 68747174287+16th Marco Loubser
University of Pretoria 69757075289+37th Craig Chalmers
Strathclyde University 70707376289+38th Declan Reidy
Institute of Technology Sligo 70767173290+49th Mike Howard
Edinburgh University 67777175290+410th George Williams
Long Island University of Brooklyn USA 70738071294+811th Greg Telfer
Glasgow University 74757472295+912th George Burns
University of St Andrews 70727281295+913th Tom Beasley
University of St Andrews 73747178296+1014th George Duncan
Lincoln Memorial University 72787275297+1115th Ronan Mullarney
Maynooth University 72727677297+1116th Blair Murphy
Heriot Watt University 73777573298+1217th Ross White
Western New Mexico USA 71757775298+1218th David Wilson
New Mexico State University 72747280298+1219th Charles Elfick
University of Cape Town 73757577300+1420th Sean Flanagan
Maynooth University 73737777300+1421st Steven Anderson
Texas Wesleyan 70747383300+1422nd Kirk Thomas II
University of Louisiana Monroe USA 72777479302+1623rd Craig Hughes
Strathclyde University 68777285302+1624th Grant Price
Durham University 68758080303+1725th Andrew Weathers
Tennessee Chattanooga 76746984303+1726th Daniel Gordon
Durham University 73767779305+1927th Rhys Thompson
University of Central Lancashire 73747783307+2128th John Luke Williams
Queens University of Charlotte 76747583308+2229th Luis Hernandez
Queens University of Charlotte USA 73767783309+2330th Christiaan Rossouw
Stellenbosch University 72747888312+26

Alex Gleeson (Castle)during May's East of Ireland Championship at County Louth. Picture by Pat Cashman

Paul Dunne may not have won The Open but UCD's Alex Gleeson has a four-stroke lead entering the final round of the Boyd Quaich on the Old Course at St Andrews.

The Castle player, who is fancied to be named in the Irish team for next month's Home Internationals at Royal Portrush, shot a third round 67 to lead on eight under from fellow UCD team mate Jonathan Yates (68).

Co Sligo's Declan Reidy from IT Sligo is 10th on three over after a 71 with Maynooth's Ronan Mullarney 16th on six over after a third round 76 with Maynooth's Sean Flanagan 22nd on nine over after a 77.

Boyd Quaich Memorial, St Andrews (Old, Par 72)

After 54 holes - Live scoring

1st Alex Gleeson University College Dublin 70 69 67 206 -8
2nd Jonathan Yates University College Dublin 71 71 68 210 -4
3rd Calum Hill University of Louisiana Monroe USA 69 74 68 211 -3
4th Craig Howie Stirling University 71 72 68 211 -3
5th Liam Johnson Tennessee Chattanooga 68 74 71 213 -1
6th Craig Chalmers Strathclyde University 70 70 73 213 -1
7th Marco Loubser University of Pretoria 69 75 70 214 LEVEL
8th George Burns University of St Andrews 70 72 72 214 LEVEL
9th Mike Howard Edinburgh University 67 77 71 215 +1
10th Declan Reidy Institute of Technology Sligo 70 76 71 217 +3
11th Craig Hughes Strathclyde University 68 77 72 217 +3
12th Steven Anderson Texas Wesleyan 70 74 73 217 +3
13th Tom Beasley University of St Andrews 73 74 71 218 +4
14th David Wilson New Mexico State University 72 74 72 218 +4
15th Andrew Weathers Tennessee Chattanooga 76 74 69 219 +5
16th Ronan Mullarney Maynooth University 72 72 76 220 +6
17th George Duncan Lincoln Memorial University 72 78 72 222 +8
18th Kirk Thomas II University of Louisiana Monroe USA 72 77 74 223 +9
19th Greg Telfer Glasgow University 74 75 74 223 +9
20th Charles Elfick University of Cape Town 73 75 75 223 +9
21st Ross White Western New Mexico USA 71 75 77 223 +9
22nd Sean Flanagan Maynooth University 73 73 77 223 +9
23rd George Williams Long Island University of Brooklyn USA 70 73 80 223 +9
24th Grant Price Durham University 68 75 80 223 +9
25th Rhys Thompson University of Central Lancashire 73 74 77 224 +10
26th Christiaan Rossouw Stellenbosch University 72 74 78 224 +10
27th John Luke Williams Queens University of Charlotte 76 74 75 225 +11
28th Blair Murphy Heriot Watt University 73 77 75 225 +11
29th Luis Hernandez Queens University of Charlotte USA 73 76 77 226 +12
30th Daniel Gordon Durham University 73 76 77 226 +12

Lahinch at 3pm on day one of the 2015 South of Ireland Amateur Open

Laytown and Bettystown’s Cian Geraghty produced one of the great comebacks of the season to grab a share the first round lead in strokeplay qualifying for the South of Ireland Amateur Open at Lahinch.

As scores rocketed into the 80s and even the 90s at the storied Co Clare links — only five players broke par —  the 22-year old wielded his putter like a wand and came back from four over after just three holes to card a two under 70 worth a share of top spot with New Forest’s Dessie Morgan.

On a day when 50-year old veteran Eddie Power shot a 72 and his 16 year old son Kevin posted a three over 75 to sit comfortably inside the top 64 who will progress to Friday morning’s first round of matchplay, Geraghty needed all his putting magic to conquer a 20mph southwest wind, slick greens and some challenging pin positions.

Four over after a bogey at the par-five second and a triple bogey seven off a poor drive at the third, Geraghty was out in two over 38 after following a birdie four at the Klondyke (4th) and a bogey four at the Dell (5th) with birdies from 35 feet at the eighth and a foot at the ninth.

He then caught fire on the way home and after a fine four at the 10th, he saved par from 20 feet at the 11th, got up and down from a fairway bunker from 40 yards for birdie at the 12th and then holed birdie putts from 20 feet at the 14th, 25 feet at the 17th and a 10 feet at the 18th.

“I had a 67 in the West this year after a bad first round but considering I was four over after the triple bogey at the third, I was very happy with the way I came back today,” said Geraghty. “I really got the putter going.”

Morgan (34) dropped just one shot at the 16th, where he was bunkered, as he posted a 70 in his first appearance in the South since 2008.

Lahinch in the late afternoon on day one

They lead by one stoke from Stackstown’s Shaun Carter, Carton House’s Keith Egan and Newcastle West’s Andrew McCormack but while most of the fancied contenders avoided disaster, there were some struggles.

American Ben Corfee birdied four of the first five holes but a quadruple bogey eight at the sixth crushed his dreams of a great score and he came home in 42 for a 78 that left him alongside Rowan Lester with international Richard Bridges a shot further back after a 79.

Morgan, who is now the general manager at New Forest Golf Club after a lifetime playing out of Mullingar, was massively surprised by what he found on his first appearance in the South for seven years.

“I haven’t played at Lahinch since 2008 and even the colour of the clubhouse has been transformed,” he said, referring to the changes carried out since General Manager Paddy Keane  came on board at the end of 2011.

“Lahinch just oozes class and you can feel it from the moment you arrive. The new manager and the staff have done an enormous job to bring the club right back to the top. It’s like walking into a different place.”

Morgan, now 34, has yet to win a championship. But three Top-3s in the East and runs to the quarter-finals in North and South and to the final of the West in 2008, where he lost to Shane Lowry, are a testament to the quality of his game. 

“I wouldn’t go to the championships if I didn’t feel I could win or at least compete but it’s also a great chance to catch up with old friends too,” he said after making three birdies and just one bogey.

“The winning of the South wouldn’t be my top priority this week, but you never know.”

Justin Kehoe shot a 76 on his return to the South after a 12-year absence, confessing that he had to dig deep and scramble on the way home having been three over early following a bad bounce off a sprinkler at the second and a double bogey at the third.

The top 64 were on six over 78 or better which leaves  Lester (78), Bridges (79), Barry Anderson (79), Alan Lowry (79), Gary McDermott (79), Niall Gorey (80) and Conor O'Rourke (81) with work to do.

In other Lahinch news, Faithlegg's Robin Dawson, one of the pre-tournament favourites, was forced to withdraw before the start with tonsilitis.

South of Ireland Amateur Open, Lahinch GC (Par 72)

36-hole strokeplay qualifying, Round One CSS 76

Detailed scores

70 Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown), Des Morgan (New Forest)

71 Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin), Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West Golf Club), Keith Egan (Carton House Golf Club)

72 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club), Eddie Power (Kilkenny Golf Club), Paul McBride (Island), Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin)

73 Robert Cannon (Balbriggan Golf Club), Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club), William Hanna (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Barry Daly (Edmondstown Golf Club)

74 Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club), Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club), Simon Bryan (Delgany Golf Club), Michael O'Kelly (Limerick Golf Club), Robert Farrell (New Ross Golf Club), Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club), Colin Fairweather (Knock), Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo Golf Club), Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock)

75 Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin), Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club), Mark Mullen (Rosslare Golf Club), Declan McInerney (Lahinch Golf Club), Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club), Stephen Healy (Carton House Golf Club), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth Golf Club), Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin), Michael Buggy (Castlecomer Golf Club), Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club)

76 Thomas O'Connor (Athlone Golf Club), Evan Farrell (Ardee), Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club), Gary Collins (Rosslare Golf Club), Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Gary O'Flaherty (Cork Golf Club), Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club), Justin Kehoe (Limerick Golf Club)

77 Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club), Owen O'Brien (Limerick Golf Club), Ally Purdy (Ballyclare Golf Club), David Finn (Doneraile Golf Club), Tony O'Leary (Wexford Golf Club), Rob Brazill (Naas Golf Club), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club), Shane Whooley (Muskerry Golf Club), Ian Spillane (Mallow Golf Club), Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Greg Mungovan (Headfort Golf Club), Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club), Robbie Pierse (Grange), Mark Timmins (Coollattin Golf Club), Stephen Barker (Mourne), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Jack Pierse (Portmarnock), John Greene (Portmarnock), Darragh Hogan (Killeen Castle)

78 Ed Stack (Ballybunion Golf Club), Eoghan Long (Monkstown Golf Club), Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club), Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin), Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club), Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud), Eoin O'Connor (Ballybunion Golf Club), Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club), Daniel Brennan (Shannon), John Hickey (Cork Golf Club), Rowan Lester (Hermitage Golf Club), Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club), Ben Corfee (USA), Colm Crowley (Woodbrook Golf Club), Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club)

79 Richard Bridges (Stackstown Golf Club), Tristan O'Rourke (Nenagh Golf Club), Jamie O'Shea (Shannon), Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin), Nicky Duggan (Dromoland Golf Club), Graham Nugent (Kilkenny Golf Club), Alan Lowry (Esker Hills), John Conroy (Bray), Declan King (Tramore Golf Club), Gary McDermott (Carton House Golf Club), Thomas Neenan (Lahinch Golf Club), James Monaghan (The Royal Dublin), Dylan Brophy (Castleknock), Gavin Smyth (Clonmel Golf Club), Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell Golf Club)

80 Jack Walsh (Castle), Liam Hutchinson (The Royal Dublin), Dan Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club), Alan Purcell (Adare Manor Golf Club), Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud), Shane McGlynn (Carton House Golf Club), James Sugrue (Mallow Golf Club), Peter Kane (Ashbourne), Ryan O'Doherty (Enniscrone Golf Club), Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club), David Reddan (Nenagh Golf Club)

81 Matthew McClean (Balmoral Golf Club), Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club), David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown), Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary Golf Club), Paul Buckley (Kanturk Golf Club), Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club), Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club), Daniel Holland (Castle), Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk Golf Club), Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club)

82 Paul O'Sullivan (Bray), Philip Spratt (West Waterford Golf Club), Mathew Kane (Whitehead Golf Club), Eoghan O' Loughlin (Spanish Point Golf Club), Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club), David McMahon (Tralee Golf Club), Jason O'Leary (Dromoland Golf Club), Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club), Shane Hogan (Nenagh Golf Club), Jake Whelan (Newlands), Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club), Adam Doran (Ardee), Sean Doyle (Athlone Golf Club), Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry Golf Club)

83 Sean Poucher (Limerick Golf Club), Aaron Moore (Adare Manor Golf Club), Peter Meaney (Cahir Park Golf Club), Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club), Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo Golf Club), John Reynolds (Dungarvan Golf Club), Paul Behan (St. Anne's)

84 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock), Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.), Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club)

85 Dean McMahon (Castletroy Golf Club), Ronan O'Grady (Tullamore Golf Club), Scott Campbell (Ballyclare Golf Club), Keith Daniels (Loughrea Golf Club), Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin)

86 Tom Griffin (Crews Hill Golf Club)

87 Paul O'Neill (Shannon)

88 Bob Loftus (Lahinch Golf Club), Brian Gilligan (Woodstock Golf Club)

93 John Richard (France)

95 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Golf Club)

Paul Muldowney, Captain Grange GC (left) presents Charlie Denvir (Powerscourt GC) with the Allianz Grange Dublin Boys Championship trophy. Also pictured, Donal Bollard, Allianz.

Powerscourt's Charlie Denvir was the runaway winner of the Paul McGinley endorsed Allianz Grange Dublin Boys 36-holes Golf Championship.

The up and coming Denvir, a 14 year old three handicapper, headed the 70 strong field with a fantastic score of 140 (73-70), finishing a clear six strokes ahead of four handicap Newlands' player Brian Fehily, who shot 73-76 and nine-handicapper Peter Byrne from the home club, who also had rounds of 73 and 76.

It was the 22nd annual staging of the popular event for boys under 16 years of age, which is promoted by the 2014 winning European Ryder Cup golfer McGinley, who learned his golf on the magnificent Grange course.

Allianz Grange Dublin Boys Championship, Grange Golf Club

1. Charlie Denvir (3) Powerscourt 143 (73, 70)
2. Brian Fehily (4) Newlands 149 (73, 76)
3. Peter Byrne (9) Grange 143 73, 76)

• Best Net: Ben Phipps (9) Ardee 134 (67, 67)
• 2nd Net: Eoin Dennehy (7) Castlewarden 138 (73, 65)
• 1st 18 Gross: Evan Hollowed (5) Newlands 72
• 1st 18 Net: Kevin O’Donnell (7) Milltown 68
• 2nd 18 Gross: Patrick Somers (5) Grange 74
• 2nd 18 Net: Kieran Ryan (20) Grange 65 (Last 9).

In addition to Fehily, the other prize winner from the home club was James McCormick (11) 143 (73, 70)

Odhran Maguire (Ulster) holes his putt on on the 10th green in the Boys Under 14 Interprovincial Championship matches at Athlone Golf Club (21/07/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

Talent doesn't always run in families but passion may and you can see it in the face of Ulster's Odhran Maguire who both his matches in the Under 14 Boys Interprovincial Championship at Athlone.

A younger brother of Lisa and world amateur No 1 Leona Maguire, the 13-year old from Ballyconnell won both his matches as Ulster triumphed over Leinster and Munster.

But he wasn't the only player to enjoy a satisfying win with Connacht's Devin Morley taking a big scalp with a 6 and 5 win over Leinster's Kevin Le Blanc in the Boys Interprovincials.

Devin Morley (Connacht) driving at the 11th tee in the Boys Interprovincial Championship matches at Athlone Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Anton Brennan (Connacht) playing his second to the 9th green in the Boys Interprovincial Championship matches. Picture by Pat Cashman

John Murphy (Munster) watching his second shot to the 9th green during the Boys Interprovincial Championship matches. Picture by Pat Cashman

Luke Walsh (Munster) pitching to the 13th green. Picture by Pat Cashman

Odhran Maguire and Jack Duffy (Ulster) lining up their putt on the 12th green in the Boys Under 14 Interprovincial Championship matches. Picture by Pat Cashman

Patrick Callaghan (Connacht) bunkered at the 13th green in the Boys Under 14 Interprovincial Championship matches at Athlone Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Conor Purcell (Leinster) driving at the 11th tee in the Boys Interprovincial Championship matches at Athlone Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Rory Williamson (Ulster) jumping to watch his second shot to the 9th green during the Boys Interprovincial Championship matches at Athlone. Picture by Pat Cashman

Marc Boucher (Leinster)playing his second to the 9th in the Boys Interprovincial Championship matches. Picture by Pat Cashman

Under 14 Interprovincial Championship, Athlone Golf Club
Day 1 - Tuesday 21 July 2015Leinster 2 Ulster 3 (Leinster names first)

1. Robert Galligan & Ronan Cowhey lost to Scott Millar & Aaron Marshall 3/2
2. Josh Mackin lost to Odhran Maguire 4/2
3. Stephan Campbell lost to Jack Duffy 3/1
4. Joshua McCabe beat Tom McKibbin 2/1
5. Sean Doyle beat Ryan McNelis 4/2

Munster 0 Connacht 5 (Munster names first)

1. Max O’Leary & Mark Leahy lost to Luke O’Neill & Darren Leufer 5/3
2. Jack Egan lost to Sean Carroll 4/2
3. Daniel O’Sullivan lost to Patrick Callaghan 2/1
4. Luke Danagher lost to Darragh Connolly 2/1
5. Luke Walsh lost to Eoin McGrath 1 hole

Ulster 4 Munster 1 (Ulster names first)

1. Odhran Maguire & Jack Duffy beat Daniel O’Sullivan & Luke Danagher 4/2
2. Scott Millar lost to Jack Egan 5/4
3. Aaron Marshall beat Luke Walsh 4/3
4. Tom McKibbin beat Mark Leahy  3/2
5. Ryan McNelis beat Max O’Leary 1 hole

Connacht 4 Leinster 1 (Connacht names first)

1. Patrick Callaghan & Darragh Connolly beat Stephan Campbell & Joshua McCabe 3/2
2. Luke O’Neill beat Josh Mackin 4/3
3. Sean Carroll beat Ronan Cowhey 7/6
4. Darren Leufer lost to Robert Galligan 6/5
5. Eoin McGrath beat Sean Doyle 1 hole

Day 2 - Wednesday 22 July 2015Leinster v Munster (Leinster names first - 0833 at eight-minute intervals)

1. Sean Doyle & Josh Mackin v Jack Egan & Luke Walsh
2. Stephan Campbell v Daniel O’Sullivan
3. Joshua McCabe v Mark Leahy
4. Ronan Cowhey v Max O’Leary
5. Robert Galligan v Luke Danaher

Connacht v Ulster (Connacht names first - 0913 at eight-minute intervals)

1. Sean Carroll & Eoin McGrath v Ryan McNelis & Tom McKibbon
2. Darragh Connolly v Odhran Maguire
3. Luke O’Neill v Jack Duffy
4. Patrick Callaghan v Scott Miller
5. Darren Leufer v Aaron Marshall

Boys Interprovincial Championship, Athlone Golf ClubDay 1 - Tuesday 21 July 2015Leinster 6 Connacht 4 (Leinster names first) Foursomes

1. Kevin Le Blanc & Marc Boucher beat Devin Morley & Anton Brennan 5/3
2. Conor Purcell & Alan Fahy lost to David Brady & Cian Feeney 2/1
3. Eoin Leonard & Michael Ryan Beat Mikey Burke & Michael O’Farrell 2 holes

Singles

1. Kevin Le Blanc lost to Devin Morley 6/5
2. Gavin Fitzmaurice lost to Louis O’Hara 3/2
3. Conor Purcell lost to David Brady 1 hole
4. Alan Fahy beat Michael O’Farrell 4/3
5. Michael Ryan beat Mikey Burke 6/4
6. Marc Boucher beat Cian Feeney 4/3
7. Eoin Leonard beat Anton Brennan 1 hole

Ulster 6 Munster 4 (Ulster names first)Foursomes

1. Marc Norton & Marc McKinstry beat Cathal Butler & John Murphy 3/2
2. Wiliam Small & Peter Kerr beat John Molyneaux & Joseph O’Neill 2/1
3. Owen Crooks & Rory Williamson beat Sean Desmond & Luke Cummins 1 hole

Singles

1. Peter Kerr lost to Cathal Butler 1 hole
2. Marc McKinstry lost to Sean Desmond 3/2
3. Rory Williamson beat John Murphy 3/2
4. Owen Crooks lost to Luke Cummins 1 hole
5. Marc Norton beat Joseph O’Neill 1 hole
6. Matthew Fitzsimons beat Mark Healy 1 hole
7. William Small lost to John Molyneaux 1 hole

Day 2 - Wednesday 22 July 2015Leinster v Munster (Leinster names first)Foursomes (0745 at eight-minute intervals)

1. Kevin Le Blanc & Marc Boucher v Cathal Butler & John Murphy
2. Eoin Leonard & Michael Ryan v Sean Desmond & Luke Cummins
3. Conor Purcell & Alan Fahy v Joseph O’Neill & John Molyneaux

Singles (1245 at eight-minute intervals)

1. Kevin Le Blanc v Cathal Butler
2. Marc Boucher v Sean Desmond
3. Conor Purcell v John Murphy
4. Michael Ryan v Luke Cummins
5. Alan Fahy v Mark Healy
6. Gavin Fitzmaurice v Joseph O’Neill
7. Eoin Leonard v John Molyneaux

Ulster v Connacht (Ulster names first)Foursomes (0809 at eight-minute intervals)

1. Marc Norton & Marc McKinstry v David Brady & Cian Feeney
2. Peter Kerr & William Small  v Devin Morley & Michael O’Farrell
3. Matthew Fitzsimons & Rory Williamson v Anton Brennan & Mikey Burke

Singles (1341 at eight-minute intervals)

1. Rory Williamson v Devin Morley
2. Peter Kerr v David Brady
3. Marc McKinstry v Mikey Burke
4. Marc Norton v Cian Feeney
5. William Small v Louis O’Hara
6. Owen Crooks v Michael O’Farrell
7. Matthew Fitzsimons v Anton Brennan

Under 16 Interprovincial Championship, Athlone Golf ClubDay 1 - Wednesday 22 July
Ulster v Connacht (Ulster names first - 1030 at eight-minute intervals)

1. Jordan Logue & Jack Madden v Allan Hill & Ross Kelly
2. Reece Black v Harry Gillivan
3. Ronan McCambridge v Paddy Culhane
4. Conor McDonald v Andrew Hickey
5. David Cunningham v Liam Power

Leinster v Munster (Leinster names first - 1110 at eight-minute intervals)

1. Cameron Raymond & AJ McCabe v Greg Barrett & Charlie Dawson
2. John Brady v Edward Walsh
3. Jack Doherty v Adam Boland
4. Jack McGarry v Ian Halpin
5. Charlie Denvir v Andrew Mulhall