Irish Golf News

Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) splashes out of a bunker in the in the final of the 2015 Irish Girl's Close Amateur Championship at Galway Bay Golf Club (18/07/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

Four of the biggest talents in Irish golf will tee it up in the European Young Masters at Golf Club Domaine Impérial in Switzerland tomorrow.

Killarney's Mairead Martin, Co Louth's Thomas Mulligan, Kilkenny's Mark Power and Lurgan's Annabel Wilson are the chosen four to play in the 54 hole strokeplay event from 23-25 July.

In what is now a team event, three of the four scores count each day and ILGU representatives Wilson, just 14, and Martin, 15, are certainly used to have come accustomed to playing in such highly regarded tournaments

Martin and Wilson both represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Junior Vagliano Matches which took place at Malone Golf Club in June and while they lost out to the Continent of Europe, they showcased their golfing talents and secured vital points for GB&I.  

It is all golf for the two young guns as Annabel and Mairead have just come from the Irish Girls Close at Galway Bay, where Annabel successfully defended her title. Mairead also shot the lowest round in the strokeplay qualifying, carding a five under par 69. To say these two girls are ‘in-form’ would be an understatement.

Live scoring from Thursday

Justin Kehoe is enjoying life as an amateur golfer. Picture courtesy Justin Kehoe/Facebook

Just like Paul Dunne, Justin Kehoe knows what it’s like to shoot 78 in the Open Championship.

But the difference between the Greystones amateur and the Birr man and who returns to action in amateur championship golf in the South of Ireland at Lahinch today after a 12-year absence, is that he did it in the first round at Carnoustie in 2007 and missed the cut comfortably after a 79 on day two.

It was that 2007 Open that gave Padraig Harrington his first major and inspired youngsters like Dunne to believe that Irish players were capable of achieving great things in the game.

Kehoe did more than his bit in the amateur game, winning the “South” in 2001 with a 6 and 4 demolition of Stephen Browne before going on to turn professional.

Reinstated as an amateur three years ago, he understands better then most the true enormity of Dunne’s incredible achievement over the Old Course, where rounds of 69, 69 and 66 sent him out in the final group with a share of the lead.

“It is incredible what Paul did. Imagine making the final group on the last day of The Open!” said 35-year old Kehoe, who played professional golf for six years before reality hit home and he decided to become a chartered accountant, qualifying last December. “What an achievement. It is the stuff of boyhood dreams. Incredible golf.”

The Shinrone native is playing off scratch again and dipped his toes into the competitive waters again this year, purely for fun.

“I played a few scratch Cups this year and Barton Shield and Senior Cup for  Limerick but that’s about it,” he said. “It’s going to be a new experience for me — all over  again.

“I got ot he quarterfinals in 1998 and 2000 and won in 2001 and got the semis again in 2003, so I have some happy memories of Lahinch.”

Kehoe’s comprehensive win over Browne 14 years ago is still fondly remembered, more for the post-golf singsong than the final itself.

“That was an exceptional day for me,” Kehoe said modestly. “Every putt I looked at went in and even though Stephen might have been a couple under par for the 14 holes we played, I think I had an eagle at the second and seven birdies. 

“I don’t think you’d be able to do that at Lahinch any more because it has obviously changed quite a lot since all the course improvements came into play in 2003.” 

The post-dinner sing-song, where Kehoe played the piano and Browne, son of the tenor Edmund Browne and a trained baritone himself, sang along during that evening’s celebrations, has become the stuff of legend.

“My role has been somewhat overstated,” added Kehoe with chuckle. “I have a reputation for being something of a pianist which I don’t deserve. I might have played a couple of songs and Stephen joined in for one, maybe for Danny Boy. He was  the star attraction, obviously and I was just bungling along.”

Kehoe was far from a bungling amateur and like Browne, he played as a full time amateur for two years and turned professional in 2003

But he has no huge ambitions of upsetting the leading lights chasing international selection in Lahinch.

While Dunne, Cormac Sharvin, Gary Hurley, Jack Hume and Gavin Moynihan, at the Walker Cup squad session at Royal Lytham and St Annes and several other top players resting, many more are chasing the historic title and places in the Irish team that will defend the Home International title at Royal Portrush next month.

Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell and Stackstown’s Richard Bridges are keen to impress Irish tean captain Tony Goode and his selectors and keep their places.

But with one or two spots up for grabs, the likes of the Island’s Paul McBride, Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock), Rowan Lester (Hermitage), North of Ireland runner up Gary Collins (Rosslare), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) and Robin Dawson (Faithlegg) could come into the reckoning if they perform in Lahinch.

Kehoe, who regained his amateur status in 2012, feels suitably chastened about where he stands against the modern amateur given Dunne’s otherworldly performance at St Andrews.

And he has no gripe with the fact that so many want to try their hand at the pro game with up to eight or nine of Ireland’s best, led by Dunne and Moynihan, contemplating the move in September.

“I wouldn’t discourage anyone from turning professional — there is no set route as we have seen from the likes of Ian Poulter, who was a five handicap assistant, or Greg Norman, who was a later starter. 

“But when you see what Paul Dunne did in the Open or how Graeme McDowell or Sergio Garcia won in their fourth starts, in my humble opinion it’s a sign of great things to come.”

Kehoe may still prove a handful should he make the Top 64 in strokeplay qualifying for Friday’s first round of matchplay combat. 

“I have had my amateur career already and I am just going to Lahinch because I have some time to play golf,”  he said.  “I am a long time out of the game and I don’t have any great expectations.” 

South of Ireland Amateur Open, Lahinch Golf ClubStrokeplay qualifying - Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd July

1. 07.00 11.20 Eoghan Long (Monsktown) David McMahon (Tralee) James Monaghan (The Royal Dublin) 
2. 07.10 11.30 Paul O’Neill (Shannon) Dylan Brophy (Castle Knock) Scott Campbell (Ballyclare) 
3. 07.20 11.40 Conor Coyne (Yougal) Karl McCormack (Portarlington) David Finn (Doneraile) 
4. 07.30 11.50 Robert Farrell (New Ross) Kevin Power (Kilkenny) Michael Reddan (Limerick) 
5. 07.40 12.00 Shane Whooley (Muskerry) Peter Kane (Ashbourne) Peter Meaney (Cahir Pk) 
6. 07.50 12.10 Sean Alley (Co Tipperary) Daniel Brennan (Shannon) William Hanna (Kilkeel) 
7. 08.00 12.30 Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West) Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley) Michael O’Kelly (Limerick) 
8. 08.10 12.40 John Greene (Portmarnock) Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Castle) 
9. 08.20 12.50 Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle) Simon Bryan (Delgany) Mathew Kane (Whitehead) 
10. 08.30 13.00 Michael Buggy (Castlecomer) Barry Daly (Edmondstown) Eddie Power (Kilkenny) 
11. 08.50 13.10 John Hickey (Cork) Dan Murphy (Portarlington) Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire) 
12. 09.00 13.20 Paul Buckley (Kanturk/Australia) Colm Crowley (Woodbrook) Gerard Dunne (Co Louth) 
13. 09.10 13.30 Ian Spillane (Mallow) Dean McMahon (Castletroy) Greg Mungoven (Headfort) 
14. 09.20 13.40 Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) John Conroy (Bray) Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) 
15. 09.30 13.50 Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam) Tiarnan McLarnon (Masserene) Conor O’Rourke (Naas) 
16. 09.40 14.00 Pat Murray (Limerick) Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) 
17. 09.50 14.20 Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park) Paul McBride (The Island) Tony Cleary (Woodstock) 
18. 10.00 14.30 Eanna Griffin (Waterford) Geoffrey Lenehan (Portmarnock) Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 
19. 10.10 14.40 Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) Keith Egan (Carton House) Rowan Lester (Hermitage) 
20. 10.20 14.50 Gavin Smyth (Clonmel) Michael Horan (Birr) Des Morgan (New Forest) 
21. 10.40 15.00 Shane Hogan (Nenagh) Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell) Mark Mullen (Rosslare) 
22. 10.50 15.10 Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) Paul McCarthy (Mallow) Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 
23. 11.00 15.20 Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) Ben Corfee (USA) Shane McGlynn (Carton House) 
24. 11.10 15.30 Gary O’Flaherty (Cork) Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) Stephen Watts (Cairndhu) 
25. 11.20 15.40 Keith Daniels (Loughrea) Ryan Long (Cairndhu) Mark MacGrath (Limerick) 
26. 11.30 15.50 Declan McInerney (Lahinch) James Sugrue (Mallow) Alan Purcell (Adare Manor) 
27. 11.40 07.00 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint) Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry) Liam Hutchinson (The Royal Dublin) 
28. 11.50 07.10 Keith Murphy (Charlesland) Philip Spratt (West Waterford) Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk) 
29. 12.00 07.20 Robert Brazill (Naas) Dale Jackson (Massereene) Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu) 
30. 12.10 07.30 Eoghan O’Loughlin (Spanish Pt) Paul O’Sullivan (Bray) Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 
31. 12.30 07.40 Ross Dutton (Tandragee) Declan King (Tramore) Jamie O’Shea (Shannon) 
32. 12.40 07.50 Gary Collins (Rosslare) Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) Robin Dawson (Faithlegg) 
33. 12.50 08.00 Colm Campbell jnr (Warrenpoint) Gary McDermott (Carton House) Richard Bridges (Stackstown) 
34. 13.00 08.10 Daniel Holland (Castle) Thomas O’Connor (Athlone) Colin Fairweather (Knock) 
35. 13.10 08.20 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little) Nicholas Duggan (Dromoland Cst) Graham Nugent (Kilkenny) 
36. 13.20 08.30 Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe) Sean Doyle (Athlone) Darragh Hogan (Killeen Castle) 
37. 13.30 08.50 Stephen Healy (Carton House) Tristan O’Rourke (Nenagh) Liam Grehan (Mullingar/NUIM) 
38. 13.40 09.00 Jake Whelan (Newlands) Jonathon Breen (Kirkistown Castle) Robbie Pierse (Grange) 
39. 13.50 09.10 Justin Kehoe (Limerick) Steffan O’Hara (Co Sligo) Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion) 
40. 14.00 09.20 Cian Geraghty (Laytown/B’town) Tom Griffin (England) Aaron Moore (Adare Manor) 
41. 14.20 09.30 David Foy (Laytown/B’town) Paul Murphy (Rosslare) Mark Timmins (Coollattin) 
42. 14.30 09.40 Stephen Barker (Mourne) Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire) Ronan O’Grady (Tullamore) 
43. 14.40 09.50 Matthew McClean (Balmoral) Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin) Darragh Smith (Castle) 
44. 14.50 10.00 Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock) Tommy O’Driscoll (Killarney) Thomas Neenan (Lahinch) 
45. 15.00 10.10 Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin) Marc Nolan (Delgany) David Reddan jnr (Nenagh) 
46. 15.10 10.20 John Reynolds (Dungarvan) Sean Walsh (Carton House/NUIM) Alexander Purdy (Ballyclare) 
47. 15.20 10.40 Ross Kenny (Millicent) Jason O’Leary (Dromoland Castle) Joe Lyons (Galway) 
48. 15.30 10.50 Owen O’Brien (Limerick) Eoin O’Connor (Ballybunion) Tony O’Leary (Wexford) 
49. 15.40 11.00 Paul Behan (St Annes) Adam Doran (Ardee) Jack Walsh (Caslte) 
50. 15.50 11.10 Sean Poucher (Limerick) Edward Stack (Ballybunion) Evan Farrell (Ardee) 

 Reserves 1 M Horan (Birr) To M20 instead of Ronan Mullarney 2 Alan Purcell (Adare Manor) To M26 instead of David Ryan 3 Mark Timmins (Coollattin) To M41 instead of Rory Williamson 4 Ronan O’Grady (Tullamore) to M42 instead of Fergal Deasy 5 Karl McCormack (Portarlington) to M 3 instead of Eoghan O’Donnell 6 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Castle) M8 instead of Kyle McCarron  7 Cathal Nolan (Galway) w/d 8 Peter Kane (Ashbourne) to M5 instead of Barry Reddan 9 Nicholas Duggan (Dromoland Castle) M35 instead of Daniel Coyle 10 Tristan O’Rourke (Nenagh) M37 instead of Eugene Smith  11 Eric Byrne (Birr) 12 Darragh Flynn (Carton House) 13 Stefan Greenberg (Tandragee) 14 Alastair McQuillian (Cushendall) 15 Ruairi O’Connor (Co Sligo) 16 Ryan O’Doherty (Enniscrone) 17  David O’Driscolll (Ballybunion) 18 Brian Gilligan (Woodstock) 19 Darren O’Sullivan (Tralee) 20 Jonathan Greer (Greenisland) 21 Bob Loftus (Lahinch) 22  John Richard (France) 23 Alan Harrington (Cork)   Updated 21.7.15 

   

Padraig Harrington confessed that he may have to reassess his putting after slipping to 20th in The Open.

A closing 75 was not what the Dubliner had in mind and he missed out on the playoff by eight shots on seven under.

The two time Open champion, 43, was going for his third Claret Jug and his fourth major after three years in the wilderness.

But after a sensatonal start that brought him three birdies in the first five holes and a share of the lead, he drove into a gorse bush at the sixth, lost a ball and racked up a double bogey six.

The putting gremlins then took over and he had two three putts in a 33-putt round that undid many of the good feelings he had about his charge for the title.

Trying to look on the bright side, he said after his double bogey, bogey finish. "Look, you are better off being in contention and finishing 20th than shooting 66 on a Sunday to finish 20th. 

"Under nice conditions that wouldn't bother me at all. But it’s disappointing, as I said, the last couple of holes even.”

After opening with a pair of birdies to grab a share of the lead, he shaved the hole with a 15 foot eagle try at the fifth and tapped in for birdie to remain in the hunt.

But his challenge petered out as the round progressed and he lost confidence in his feel for pace with his putter - something that even Jordan Spieth find a challenge..

Devastated despite the feel-good factor of contending for a major again, Harrington said: “I did feel good. I felt very good mentally. Not great on the greens at times, but very good mentally up to a certain point. 

“Then the greens kind of got to me and bit. I hit lovely shots really all the way home. Only really that tee shot on 17 wasn’t great, but everything was pretty strong.”

Refusing to blame over aggression for his mistakes, he said: “I had a reasonable 25-footer to go 4-under after five holes, and on the sixth, you could hit it nearly to the front of the green so it was potential”

His tally of 33 putts included two costly three putts and he confessed that he simply lost confidence in his pace.

While he was tied for the lead after his two putt birdie at the fifth, he missed a 15 footer for eagle there.

A double bogey six at the sixth where he drove into deep gorse and lost a ball was the beginning of the end.

And when he then three-putted the par-three eighth, knocking his first putt off the green, he knew he was in trouble

He said: “You know, I hit a lot of putts earlier than that just didn't come out on the line I wanted them to come out on. 

“Even earlier that eight, I just wasn't pure-ing the putts today. I found the greens slow, so every time I was over it, I was trying to think about pace, which maybe was getting to me a little bit.”

A birdie two at the 11th left him four behind but he then dropped two shots in a row, three-putting the 14th and driving into sand at the 15th before following a monster 70 footer for birdie at the 16th with a double bogey-bogey finish.

Playing along Marc Leishman, Harrington admitted he was just truing to stay out of the Australian’s way as he eventually battled his way into a playoff.

Of his six at the 17th,Harrington said: “I was trying to get out of Mark’s way on 17 and I didn’t really get focused in on what I was doing off the tee there. 

“As I said, I hit the ball lovely all day, so I'm happy about that, and putting-wise, need to think a little bit about that going forward. 

"You do have your good and bad days.I played quite nicely tee to green. I just struggled a bit around the greens. But sometimes that happens. 

“As I said, I hit the ball lovely all day, so I'm happy about that, and putting-wise, need to think a little bit about that going forward. You do have your good and bad days.”

Graeme McDowell sees few reasons why Paul Dunne shouldn't give the Walker Cup a miss and take the leap into the professional ranks as soon as possible. But Pádraig Harrington believes he should remain amateur and play at Royal Lytham and St Annes in September, if he’s selected.

Asked his advice, Harrington said: “You know, he can be a pro all his life. The Walker Cup only comes around not very often. I think golf in the Walker Cup and turn pro then.”

The 22-year old Greystones amateur made headlines around the globe and captivated millions of TV viewers worldwide as he led The Open into the final round, eventually finishing 30th after a closing 78.

According to sponsorship analytics firm Apex MG Analytics, coverage of Dunne wearing Under Armour gear he got for free from a family friend in the sports distribution business might have been worth $1.725 million in terms of TV ad time. And that was on Saturday alone.

But without the Claret Jug to go with the great performance, several agents who spoke off the record at St Andrews, doubt that the move would be worth it just yet.

McDowell waited to play in the Walker Cup in 2001 and didn’t turn professional until the summer of 2002, winning in his sixth start (his fourth on the European Tour).  

In fairness to him, his suggestion that Dunne turn professional right away came with the assumption of a good final round and not the 78 that left him fourth of the five amateurs who made the cut.

The silver went to the impressive young American Jordan Niebrugge, who finished in a tie for sixth on 11 under after a 70.

England’s Ashley Chesters tied for 12th with world amateur No 1 Oliver Schniederjans (67) on nine under following a 69 with Dunne 30th on six under and Amateur champion Romain Langasque of France tied 65th on two under after a 74.

“If he has a good finish today, I don’t really know why he needs to wait for the Walker Cup,” McDowell said after a closing 70 left him tied for 49th on four under.

“Listen, the Walker Cup is one of fondest memories of my career but it means nothing as soon as you press the professional button.

“A good finish today is going to put him on the map. He need starts, he’d have an opportunity between now and the end of the season to possibly get his European Tour card and those extra five, six or seven weeks could be beneficial to him. 

“Walker Cup is very special. It’s a tough call. I’d be saying to him to go ahead and take the leap, if he had a good finish. If he blew out today, it’s tough decision to make.”

Without the fairytale win or the Silver Medal, Dunne is playing with little collateral, unlike Shane Lowry, who earned a two-year European Tour exemption until the end of 2011 for winning the 2009 Nissan Irish Open as an amateur.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one agent said: “His profile is much higher now and obviously and the goalposts would have moved.

“His goal before this week was Walker Cup and I’d say he has to take stock tomorrow morning. It’s a question of getting today in the books and then sitting down with the people around him and saying, how do things feel.” 

Dunne plans to be at Walker Cup venue Royal Lytham and St Annes today (Tuesday) and tomorrow for a 20-man Walker Cup squad session.

But without the Claret Jug, his performance is worth little in terms of cash and a Walker Cup appearance followed by a few chosen invitations and a trip to Q-School looks more likely.

Yes, he could sign with an agency that could promise him a cash sum of “a hundred grand or more” in the short term, one insider said. And he would likely command invitations to events like the Portugal Masters and the Alfred Dunhill Links, which would mean a return to the Old Course.

But even had he won The Open, Dunne would not have become a millionaire overnight as he’s not a massive draw and would not command huge signing on money with a manufacturer.

Yes, the exemptions would have been gold dust but he woudl still have to go out and prove himself and earn his cash the hard way. 

“Not many guys who can go out there and hit the ground running and everything goes smoothly,” one agent said.

McDowell still believes that Dunne has what it takes to make it and it’s hard to disagree looking at his performance at St Andrews.

“Listening to his press conference, he seems like he’s a pretty wise old owl, he has that Jordan (Spieth) maturity to him,” McDowell said. “I played with him this week in practice and he hit golf ball very well. 

“He’s very strong, has a very technically sound swing and seems cool and unflappable. It’s an amazing performance, no matter what happens today. 

“With the kids nowadays, there’s a readiness there now that wasn’t there I was turning pro. 

“These kids are all exposed now. They come out ready to win big tournaments. Rory and Jordan has raised the bar. You don’t have to be a mature veteran in your 30s to be able to compete in top tournaments.”

Paul Dunne. Picture courtesy, The R and A

Devastated Paul Dunne looked like he was seeing the end of the world but he’ll wake up today realising he thrilled the planet with his awesome Open show.

A closing 78 featured some nightmare moments that cost the 22-year old Greystones ace his dream of the top amateur’s Silver Medal.

Yes, he ended up in a share 30th with the likes US Ryder Cup stars Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk and Jimmy Walker. 

And he can still look back with pride on the fact he was co-leading the world’s biggest tournament into the final day and never folded even after a nightmare start yesterday.

Jordan Spieth even found the strength in his own disappointment to give Dunne his hand behind the scorers' hut at the 18th.

The Masters and US Open champion was trying to win three majors in a row and had just missed out on the chance to force a playoff after a bogey-par finish.

But he still went up to Dunne in the mixed zone  and congratulated him on his performance. The pair shook hands and climbed the mental bridge that was installed specially for The Open, leaving the arena to reflect on what might have been.

It was a shame he felt so bitterly disappointed not to deliver a big performance, but he will soon realise that this was a surreal experience that it will stand to him when he’s a seasoned pro chasing major glory.

“I probably wouldn’t have believed you if you’d told me that a few weeks ago,” he said of his fairytale journey to St Andrews and the rounds of 69, 679 and 66 that gave him a share of the 54-hole lead.

“Yeah, it was great. The first three days were brilliant. I'm just kind of still in disappointment from today. But what an experience. 

“The crowds have been absolutely brilliant. So a big thank you to them. Thanks for everyone to come over to support, and hopefully I can be back sometime soon.”

With a lone piper piping in the St Andrews afternoon, Dunne teed off to a massive roar from the Greystones faithful who’d made the trip.

He had an easy second shot to the green but later admitted he was thrown off as he chunked his wedge and came up just a few feet short of the stream that protects the green.

He made an easy bogey five and did well to escape with just a bogey five at the second, where he had to reload twice fearing he’d lost two balls in the gorse.

Luckily his first tee shot sailed so far right that it missed the bushes and ended up on the putting green on the Jubilee Course, nearly 100 yards right of the second fairway.

He had hit two provisional balls into the gorse on the right and looked to be heading for a massive disaster before he was told that the first ball had been found.

And after a free drop, he almost made par, coming up short of the green before failing to chip and putt.

He said: “I just never really got settled into the round. I got off to a bit of a rough start and didn’t make my score on the front nine and threw away some shots on the back nine. 

“It’s disappointing but great to see Louis birdie the last and get into the playoff.”

That bogey-bogey start wrecked his concentration and while he bounced back with birdies at the third and fifth to turn in level par, just three off the lead, he struggled home in six over 42 with four bogeys and a double bogey six on his card.

Asked about his nerves, he said: “I wasn’t too bad starting. I just hit three wedge shots fat and one thin. 

“I don’t think i’ve done that ever. I don’t know where that came from. It kind of surprised me on the first. 

“After I hit that second shot it kind of rattled me a little bit and I never got settled after that.

“Obviously I’m just disappointed now but in the next while when I look back and I’m sure I’ll learn something from it.

“Disappointed really sums it up. I’ll look back on it in the next few days and see what I’ll take from it and see how I was feeling over different shots, how I handled myself on them and see how I can do that better in the future,

“Hopefully I can learn from it and improve going forward.”

After bogeys the 10th and 12th, he double bogeyed the 13th and then bogeyed the last two holes, knifing a wedge through the green at the 18th as Oosthuizen got up and down for birdie to force a playoff.

Struggling to put a positive spin on the day, Dunne all but admitted that turning pro was on his mind but may now be on the back burner after a poor final day.

Asked about turning professional immediately, he said: “Not after shooting 78. I don’t know. 

“My original plan was to turn pro after the Walker Cup. I haven’t really thought about it. I’ve just been thinking about this week.

“I've got to go tomorrow morning to a Walker Cup practice session at Lytham, so I'll just think about it for the next few days and make a decision, but right now nothing concrete.”

Patrick Devine. Image: Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Royal Dublin's Patrick Devine hopes to emulate the greatest week of his professional life as he bids to reach the final of the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship.

He teams up with Killiney Golf Club’s Leo Hynes for the qualifying event to be held at Headfort Golf Club in Co Meath on Wednesday July 22 and the pair go into the competition with impressive track records.

Devine is a former champion having won the final with Stuart Taylor in 2009 when it was held at Forest Pines Golf Club in Lincolnshire.

And if Hynes qualifies, he will be looking to improve on his joint 16th place finish in last year’s final at St Mellion in Cornwall.

They will be aiming to reach the £35,000 Skycaddie & BMW supported grand final at Carden Park in Cheshire between August 12-14 and Devine has fond memories of his title win six years ago.

“It was probably the greatest day as a PGA player when we won at Forest Pines,” he said. “Everything went to plan, myself and Stuart played well, we made a lot of birdies and had fun doing it at the same time. If you can’t enjoy weeks like that in golf, when can you? It was a fantastic tournament for us and I remember it well.”

Devine hopes that he and Hynes will find the winning formula.

“We’ve known each other since we were amateurs, we go way back,” said Devine. “But we’ve never played together in this competition before.

“I hope it’s a good combination and I know Leo played in the final last year. He did well and would want to improve on that. If we can get to the final, we’d be trying to win it.”

Devine also admits this year’s final venue - the Jack Nickalus designed course at Carden Park - is another incentive.

“I’ve already had a look at the course graphics online,” he said. “When you can see the standard of the venue where the final’s going to be held, that’s something that makes you want to play there.”

Also playing at Headfort will be: Scott Kirkpatrick and Mark Gallagher (Ardee Golf Club); Conor Deegan and Kevin Kelliher (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club); David Rock and Robin Machin (County Meath Golf Club); Brian Kerley (Green Life Golf Centre) and Robert Giles (Greenore Golf Club) and David Hughes and Noel Murray (Massereene Golf Club).

View the full list of entries and event information for the regional qualifier at Co Meath.

Paul Dunne came into the week dreaming of winning the Silver Medal awarded to the leading amateur. Now the Champion Golfer's Gold Medal is in his grasp.

He stood out like a beacon. Not David Leadbetter, who was raving about the two amateurs in the Top 6 — co-leader Paul Dunne and American Jordan Niebrugge, who is three off the pace in sixth — but golf guru extraordinaire Dr Bob Rotella.

Forget that it's been three years since Harrington popped up out of nowhereville and almost won the US Open at Olympic Club in 2012, Ireland's three-time major winner and two-time Open champion is lurking. Seriously lurking.

That he shot a  seven under 65 was no surprise. That he hit it close, a lot, is impressive. That he holed a mile of putts under pressure was even more significant and Dr Bob looked excited even if there are 42 players covered by seven shots at the Home of Golf.

"He's great, he's in a wonderful place, I don't know how he could be any better," Rotella said as he headed out onto Golf Place. "He's been feeling real good all week and he's happy with everything. He's really got peace of mind, just playing his game, playing golf and keeping the pressure off himself.

"And when he does that he can play, as you see with his putter. He's putting well. And Paul Dunne... amazing." 

Harrington is full of admiration for the Greystones amateur — when he was 22 he was trying to win the North of Ireland during Open week. But it’s every man for himself in the final round of The Open and the 43-year old Dubliner is just two behind on 10 under after a sensational 65 that showed all the hallmarks of a man ready to win Major No 4.

Asked about Dunne's performance at the age of 22, Harrington bowed his head and said: ”It is phenomenal. His first-round score was a tremendous achievement, then to back it up and shoot another 69 in the second round was really gutsy. Now to go out there and be leading the tournament, you can't take that away from him ever. 

“He's led The Open Championship a long way into the event as an amateur. That is as rare as it comes. There's not too many people who have been leading into the third round as an amateur. 

“Hopefully he continues to play great. But as I said, tomorrow it will be all about me when I'm on the golf course in my own game. 

“If I don't win, I hope he does. But as I said, we're coming down the stretch, I'd be fighting for myself as much as anything else.

“It is nice to see another player coming out of Ireland, a young guy. I don't know him well or anything like that, but the little golf I follow, I know he's meant to be a very gutsy player, and it's nice to see.

“We had Shane Lowry win a Tour event as an amateur. It certainly wouldn’t be beyond belief to see him continue on and win it from here.”

Harrington was speaking as Dunne came down the stretch and the young Wicklow man got even better as the pressure augmented. But more of that anon

Dr Bob Rotella and Pádraig Harrington at Royal Birkdale in 2008

As for the two-time Open winner, he started the day seven shots behind  DustinJohnson on three under and played superb golf, picking up seven birdies with no mistakes to sit alone in fourth

Beaming afterward, Harrington said: “I always wanted to shoot 65 on the Sunday of an Open. Obviously there's another round to go tomorrow. Today was very, very important. 

“This is not a golf course that the leaders tend to come back on, so you really do have to be somewhat there or thereabouts going into Sunday. 

“I'm not sure of the forecast but if it’s a nice day tomorrow you're realistically talking 16-17 under being a possible winning score, so you ain't going to do that from 6- or 7-under. 

“So it was a big day to shoot a good score, to get yourself in contention. We'll have something to play for tomorrow.”

While Harrington contended for the US Open at Merion in 2012 but he’s had a miserable time in recent year, slumping to 371st in the world before winning the Honda Classic in a playoff on March 1.

He insists he’s a different man to the player who won three majors in 13 months and had to find a way to motivate himself again.

Trying to recall the last time he had a chance to win a major, he said: “I had a really good chance at the Olympic Club coming down the last at the U.S. Open on 2012. That’s probably my last really decent chance of winning. 

“I think I've found myself in a nice place so far this week, and regardless of what happens tomorrow, the attitude I've taken this week is the attitude I need to take going forward. 

“As I've always pointed out, I have to find a new way of playing golf. I’m not the person I was 10 years ago. 

"We all gain experience. We all gain some scar tissue with that experience, and you have to deal with who you are now. 

"I like the idea of it. I like the challenge. It’s a new challenge, and that keeps me motivated. 

“You can’t win your first major a second time, but I’m sure enjoying trying to find a new way of playing golf with the new person I am.”

Dunne's performance was otherworldly considering the context but he's somehow managed to live the cliché of "one shot at a time" and play his normal game.

Paul Dunne

As Jordan Spieth explained afterwards, once the modern amateur gets over the early nerves and finds his feet, he can perform at this level.

Q. Jordan, how surprised or not surprised are you that in such a major professional tournament we've got two young amateurs, one from Ireland and one from America, right up there in the top six?
JORDAN SPIETH: I would say I'm not extremely surprised. I think in years to come, you're going to see more and more of it. The amateur game has changed to be more like the professional game in the way that there's more tournaments, there's better golf courses, harder golf courses and better competition. That's what I felt like when I was playing junior golf into amateur golf. It was almost a mini-PGA Tour. By a mini-PGA Tour, it's just less events in junior golf, then you play a little more in college and amateur golf, and then you come out on Tour and step it up another level. But they're still playing -- there's some great players. There's guys that -- there will be an amateur that wins a PGA event or something like that, possibly even a major, I think, at some point in the next decade or so just because the game in amateur golf across the world now I think is getting more diverse and more intense, and I think it's awesome for guys to step up and do this.Q. They seem so calm.
JORDAN SPIETH: Yeah, I haven't seen any of it this week, but I've certainly experienced it, whether myself or through others in majors. Not me in majors as an amateur, but seeing other guys do it. There's just no fear. They're just coming in with no fear and being able to really settle in. I think getting off to a good start is really important for amateurs playing in a professional tournament, just given, they're like, okay, well, now it's a new situation, now I've managed what happened, now I know I can do this, and I think that's what these guys did, they got off to a good start, and from there they know they can attack the course. To me it's not much of a surprise. I think it's awesome. I think it's an incredible experience in order to have that confidence once they do decide to turn pro if they decide to turn pro, and we certainly expect them to make a run tomorrow and don't consider them really falling off at all. I think it just adds to the amount of guys you have to beat.

Only one person truly believes that Dunne to go on and win The Open today and his name is Paul Dunne.

The Greystones wonder-kid grabbed a “surreal” share of the lead and those who know him are convinced he won’t beat himself.

Fellow Greystones Golf Club man Alan Murray is on his bag and knows him better than most as his former coach at the University of Alabama Birmingham.

Before the event even started, Murray said: “You root for those guys - the ones who go about it the right way... he’s one of life’s winners.

“Mentally he is very strong. For want of a better term, he’s one tough cookie and he will rarely beat himself.”

Dunne, 22, shot a bogey free 66 to make history by becoming the first Irish amateur to lead The Open at the end of a round, shaving a stroke off the lowest Open round by an amateur on the Old Course.

Paul Dunne after holing from off the green at the seventh

He shares top spot on 12 under par with 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Aussie ace Jason Day with the reigning Masters and US Open champion Spieth lurking just a shot behind.

With Harrington only two back on 10 under, Dunne has every right to run and hide. But he’s cool as a cucumber after smashing the 54-hole record for an amateur in the Open by five strokes — after all, he’s one of the best amateurs in the world.

Confessing he’s a little out of his comfort zone, Dunne gave a reporter, who wants to know if it was "surreal" he was leading, the answer he wanted.

“Yeah, it's surreal I'm leading The Open, but I can easily believe that I shot the three scores that I shot," he said in a packed media centre environment normally reserved for the likes of Rory McIlroy or Harrington, or Graeme McDowell.

“If we were playing an amateur event here, I wouldn't be too surprised by the scores I shot. It's just lucky that it happens to be in the biggest event in the world.”

That comment brought some laugher but Dunne's no joke.

“Hopefully I can do it again tomorrow, but whether I do or not, you know, I'll survive either way,” he said in a demonstration of his cool, clear way of thinking things through.

After a round featuring six birdies and no mistakes, he confessed that to lead a major into the final round in just his second professional event, is amazing.

But he still has work to do on an incredible leaderboard where the top 32 players are covered by just six shots and the top 17 by just four.

He said: “It’s something I'll look back on and think is cool, but mid-tournament I'm just going to keep trying to focus on playing my shots and getting ready for tomorrow and just playing the best that I can, really.

“It feels great. I felt like I had so much support from the crowd today. I kind of felt like I was at home. Every shot I hit was getting cheered from start to finish, so big thanks to the crowd out there. 

“They kept me lifted the whole way through. It was great to play with Louis Oosthuizen today. He's obviously a great role model for me, great player, someone I look up to. 

“He was a really nice playing partner, so yeah, just really enjoyed it. It was such a fun day.”

As Harrington blasted seven birdies in a 65 to set the target at 10 under put himself in position to win Major No 4 and his third Open, overnight leader Dustin Johnson crashed to a 75 that left him five behind the leaders.

With Murray playing a blinder on the bag, Dunne forged ahead.

He birdied the first from two feet, the fourth from 15 feet and saved par after hitting his first bunker of the week at the fifth.

A birdie from 50 feet off the green at the seventh got him to nine under and the then birdied the ninth from five feet to get within one of the leader.

When he birdied the 10th from 15 feet, he was 11 under par and leading the Open but there was more to come as he went shot for shot with Oosthuizen, who won the Claret Jug the last time at St Andrews.

Four pars followed before he hit a 167-yard seven iron to 20 feet at the 15th and rolled in the putt to lead the Open on his own.

He even hit a high cut tee shot over the corner of the Old Course Hotel at the 17th that scared the living daylights out of his South African playing partner.

His approach, a four iron from 220 yards to 20 feet, impressed Oosthuizen even more.

“He's played unbelievable" the South African said. "That second shot on 17 was one of the best I've seen. Can he win? Absolutely. The way he played today, definitely.

"I think obviously everyone within three, four shots has got a really good chance of winning, and it's all about composure now and tomorrow really your thought process on how you're going to handle the pressure.”

Great Greystones support for @dunners11 What a performance. pic.twitter.com/nC7cKAao8S

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 19, 2015

Dunne targeted a 69 going out but when he turned in 32, he lowered his target to 66.

Asked how he’d approach the final day, he said: “I think it'll be the same as the last three days, just look at the weather, see what the weather is going to throw at us and then put a number in my head that I think I need to shoot. 

“I'm not really going to think about winning or where I'm going to finish until the last few holes. 

“If my strategy needs to change a little bit. But yeah, I can't control what other people do. Everyone could go out and shoot 63 or everyone could shoot 75. 

“All I can do is control committing to my shots and hopefully leaves me in good stead at the end of the day.”

He's a man in demand even if he isn’t a man with a grand plan for the professional ranks just yet.

While the future of players like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth was decided or at least outlined long before they signed professional forms, Dunne has no agreements with any agents or representatives just yet

That wouldn’t be against the rules of Amateur Status as top amateurs can now sign pre-contracts with agencies as the finish up their amateurs careers.

And while Dunne might be wearing an Under Armour cap and top rather than the UAB or Golfing Union of Ireland uniforms he’s sported for the last few years, he hasn’t signed with anyone just yet.

Winning The Open would likely end his interest in the Walker Cup this September and there were at least three player agents lurking near the scoring area after his round. Some had other business there but they were also making sure they were present to spot the movers and shakers.

The family has received “a couple of calls” in the last few days but for now, they are just pinching themselves at the thought that he could win The Open.

His father Collie, mother Michelle and brother David were with him every step of the way yesterday as was his sister.

His father, a former amateur rugby start with Greystones, admitted that cardiac arrest was never far from his mind as his son surged into the lead.

“It’s that kind of feeling,” Dunne Snr, a financial controller in The Irish Times, said of the day. 

“Your heart is pumping so much you are looking actually for somebody to jump start your heart again. Those are type of feelings you get.

“It is a lot easier when you are out on the course and you can see the shots but the excitement is tremendous - the roars from the crowd, the excitement when the putts go in — it’s amazing.”

A huge posse from Greystones followed the 22-year old across the links with the head professional Karl Holmes leading the way.

“All the members and the pro from Greystones are out,” said Dunne Snr, who admits that his youngest son is a hard worker. “Paul always been a hard worker from day one though I’d say he gets it from his mum, Michelle.

“I played ruby but Paul always played a few sports - football and gaelic and tennis too. But golf took over. 

“When he decided to go to UAB it was hard to say goodbye but the fact that Alan Murray from our home club was there made it a lot easier. He’s an incredible guy, a super coach and a great caddie. They are having a lot of fun.

“He went to Alabama to push on with his game and the fact that Graeme McDowell had gone there was just a bonus.

“He works hard in the gym. physically he works hard and gets up at six am. Nobody works harder than he does himself.”

As Dunne was coming into the Media Centre for his press conference, he was congratulated by Des Smyth, who is working for BBC Five Live.

“It’s marvellous what he is doing,” said Smyth, who had chances to win the Open in his heyday. “And it’s been done before by Bobby Jones. 

“How will he feel? It’s very exciting. And he’ll be up for it. He will be nervous sure, but he’s young and he’ll enjoy it. It’s a wonderful buzz.”

Paul Dunne. Picture Pat Cashman

Wicklow has produced a long list of top golfers from Delgany’s Harry Bradshaw and Eamonn Darcy to Bray’s Keith Nolan and Greystones’ Jimmy Martin. Now it appears that Paul Dunne, another Greystones man, will follow those illustrious names into the professional ranks. And while a man’s destiny is always clouded in mystery at this early stage of his career, those who know him best say he’s got that special X factor that marks him out as one of the chosen few.

As a graduate of the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB), he’s at least managed to emerge from the shadow of his fellow UAB man Graeme McDowell, who was a semester short of getting this degree because he opted to turn professional instead.

McDowell’s stellar achievements as a collegiate golfer are beyond almost everyone—he beat Tiger’s scoring average in his final year— and there was a wry smile of resignation on Dunne’s face when he finished fifth in the NCAA Division 1 Tournament Finals at the Concession in Florida in May.

"I didn't know I finished one behind where Graeme did so that would have been nice to pip him,” Dunne says to camera shortly after discovering he’s ended up one place spot of the college-best fourth place achieved by McDowell in the 2002 NCAAs. “It feels like his records are unattainable at the school.”

Comparisons are odious, especially when it comes to a 22-year old and McDowell who won the 2010 US Open having attained 24 Top 10s in 41 collegiate starts for UAB, the 2002 Fred Haskins Award and nine wins in his three years at the school.

Dunne didn’t achieve those levels of success but he did make the Division I PING All-America Honourable Mention list, joining McDowell (2000-01, 2001-02) with consecutive All-America selections.

That’s a very big deal in US college golf but winning a Walker Cup cap is next on Dunne’s list of career goals before he takes the plunge and heads to the Q-School later in the autumn. 

And while there is always nervousness about the bravery of Great Britain and Ireland selectors when it comes to picking Irishmen — we have five or six viable candidates for places this year — Dunne is considered a certainty for a place in Nigel Edwards’ team to face the USA at Royal Lytham and St Annes from September 12-13.

At least, that’s how UAB’s Head Coach Alan Murray, another product of Greystones, feels about his star player. 

After all, Dunne is a former winner of the Irish Boys, the Irish Youths and the East of Ireland titles on the domestic circuit. He’s a star who played in The Open last year, won the St Andrew Trophy with the cream of Great Britain & Ireland, denied the USA the Palmer Cup with the top European college players and was a member of the Irish team that won the Home Internationals and finished second in the European Team Championships.

“An American magazine asked me about Paul and the Walker Cup earlier this year and I said if they have 10 guys better than him, I’d love to see that team. I don’t think GB&I have 10 better guys. I’d certainly have him. 

“He’s a great lad, very focussed — as efficient with his time as anyone I have ever seen. He gets the most out of every day, which for a young guy is really impressive. He is always out there working on his game with a purpose.”

Murray picks out Dunne’s determination, his short game and his intelligence as his greatest assets, which immediately brings to mind McDowell and Pádraig Harrington, who of the brightest and most hard-working pros out there

“His short game is ridiculous, the best short game I have ever seen,” Murray says, which is also a quality he shares with the two major winning Ryder Cup stars. “He chips it stiff more than anyone I can remember. He is just one of life’s winners — great student, gets As all the time in class, consistent across the board with everything the does.…

“At workouts he was the strongest, the fastest…. he’s just a winner. Anything he does in life, he is going to be successful at it. That’s my opinion. I would never be surprised by anything good that he does.

“He is very disciplined and level headed. There is stuff he wants to get done and he has a clear belief in how he is going to get where he wants to go. If you spend any amount of time with him you quickly understand why he is as good as he is. 

“They love making the comparison over here with Graeme who went to UAB and is a highly intelligent guy. Graeme was a winner. He had that special X factor and I can see similarities between them from that point of view. But Paul is his own man, it is unfair to compare him to what Graeme has done in the game.

“Graeme had an exceptional college and amateur career. Graeme was off the charts. One thing I would say about Paul is that the sports information people at UAB interviewed him straight after his last round at NCAA finals and he had already figured out where he went wrong. 

“He had already mentally processed the round. I was with him for every shot and he is so competitive, he wanted to win. He was a little bit disappointed not to win and yet you could see he was already figuring out how he was going to get better. To be so young and already to be thinking along those lines is very impressive, I think.”

Dunne knows his driving and his putting could improve but it’s course management that appears to get most of his attention and as he received plaudits for winning Final Qualifying for The Open at Woburn for the second year running, you sensed he was reacting at some level to the three back nine double bogeys that had left him tied for ninth behind Irish team mate Cormac Sharvin in the previous weekend’s Brabazon Trophy at Hollinwell.

“I look back join the last round in the Brabazon and I was making mistakes I was making when I was 15,” he says, minutes after carding rounds of 70 and 65 to leave the likes of Retief Goosen and Colin Montgomerie trailing to win Final Qualifying for the Open by three shots at Woburn. “I was immature, not picking shots, not picking targets, just getting up and hitting it rather than actually having a bit of maturity… so that was good for this week. It toughened me up a little mentally.”

As a man with a degree in Investment Finance, he certainly knows how to weigh up risk and reward and he does not even begin to compare himself to two players who should have been graduating from college with him this year but are already PGA Tour stars.

Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth and rookie superstar Justin Thomas should, by rights, have been completing their college careers alongside Dunne in the NCAA Tournament.

That they left college after one year in the case of Spieth or two, when it comes to Thomas, says a lot about their ability.

But their lives tell Dunne little about where he stands as he prepares to say goodbye to the amateur ranks.

“It hasn’t hit me yet and won’t hit me until August time when I am used to going back to UAB,” Dunne says. “Every year ti has been the same thing, go home and play the summer tournaments around Europe and then head back to the US. It’s when I start doing something different around August or September that it will hit me.”

When it comes to his game, he’s more confident that ever.

“Day in, day out I’ve played better this year than ever in my life,” Dunne says on his last day in Alabama as he prepares to close his bank account and move out of his digs after four years. “It hasn’t been showing my results until recently — I finished with three top 10s in he a row — so I am heading home feeling good.”

His ambition is to make that Walker Cup team and he’s got a good feeling about seeing Irish team mates Gavin Moynihan, Gary Hurley, Cormac Sharvin, Jack Hume and Dermot McElroy join him

“I think it is is a pretty realistic goal for all of us,” he says of a possible five or six-man Irish presence in the 10-man Walker Cup side. “Obviously I think we all want to make it and we are all focussing on playing well to make the team. 

“I think if you asked any of the six of us now if we think we should be on the team, I think we would all say yes. We all have a lot of confidence in our own games.”

As for Spieth and Thomas, he says: “They felt they were ready and obviously they’ve been going fantastically well. 

“I can’t say how I compare because I don’t know how they felt about their games. They’ve both done phenomenally well but maybe they now feel they are miles ahead of where they were when they left college. It’s hard to compare.

“I do know that the college scene is great and you play the same type of courses you would if you were playing in a tour environment. And I know a lot of people are playing with the midst of turning pro afterwards and preparing for it in their own heads.

“But in terms of predicting who will be on tour as the next Spieth or Thomas, it’s so hard to tell. You get such as small window to do well and get a card so it is whoever can step up when they need to.”

The future, in Dunne’s mind at least, is crystal clear and that’s half the battle.

“I am feeling quite good about everything,” he says. “All the elements are there. My putting is starting to come around. I just need to all to come together.” 

Murray will carry his bag at St Andrews and he’s certainly got no doubts about his star pupil’s ability.

“You root for those guys - the ones who go about it the right way,” Murray says. “He really is giving it his all. He’s giving himself every chance to be successful and when you are talented like he is and you are working hard, success is inevitable, I believe.

“I’ve never had to ask Paul if he had certain stuff done for this classes. He was always on top of that from day one. I have no idea if they are thinking this way about Paul but management companies and agencies look at what these guys are like away from the golf course, and commit a large about of money. They will ask themselves, ‘If we spend x on this guy, how safe a bet is it going got be in this guy’s hands?’ Well, how Paul lives his life is a safe investment in my eyes. 

“His short game is the standout quality or part of his game. But mentally he is very strong. For want of a better term, he’s one tough cookie and he will rarely beat himself.

“Like all good putters, he thinks he can make everything and if there was one aspect he’d say he needs to improve it’s his driving. 

“He has picked up yardage with each year and if he gets it to where he wants to be, the sky’s the limit."

Given his track record so far, Dunne looks like a very good bet indeed to give himself a fighting chance of becoming the next bloom from Co Wicklow, that golfing Garden of Ireland.

Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) bunkered at the 15th green in the final of the 2015 Irish Girl's Close Amateur Championship at Galway Bay Golf Club (18/07/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

Annabel Wilson braved tough weather conditions to impressively retain the Irish Girls Close title with a 4 and 3 win over Shannon's Lisa O’Shea at Galway Bay.

The 14-year old from Lurgan slotted in putt all over the course for a 6 and 5 semi-final win over fellow international and friend Julie McCarthy from Forrest Little.

O'Shea birdied the last to beat Grange's Elisa Corcoran one up in the other semi-final but she had no answer to a ruthless Wilson in the final.

Recently capped by Great Britain and Ireland in the Junior Vagliano Trophy, she opened with a birdie and followed with another at the sixth and turned  four up before closing out the match on the 15th green.

In the plate final Castlewarden's Lauren Walsh beat Laytown and Bettystown's Eleanor Metcalfe one up.

Metcalfe beat Woodstock's Aine Donegan 8 and 7 as Walsh saw off St. Anne's Alice Hutchinson 2 up in the semi-finals but the weather conditions did not phase Metcalfe and Walsh in the final as they attacked the course and were evenly matched right up until the end when Walsh won the final hole to be crowned Irish Plate Close Champion. 

Irene Poynton (Director of Junior Golf, ILGU) presenting Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) with the 2015 Irish Girl's Close Amateur Championship trophy (Blake Cup) after her victory at Galway Bay Golf Club (18/07/2015).Also in the picture is Andy Wilson (Father). Picture by Pat Cashman

Irish Girls Close Championship, Galway Bay

Final - Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) beat Lisa O’Shea (Shannon) 4&3

Plate Final - Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) lost to Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) 1 up

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY RESULTS SEMI-FINALS
Julie McCarthy (Forest Little) lost to Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) 6&5
Elisa Corcoran (Grange) lost to Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) 1up

PLATE MATCHPLAY RESULTS SEMI-FINALS

Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) beat Aine Donegan (Woodstock) 8&7
Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) lost to Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) 2up

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY RESULTS QUARTER-FINALS 

Julie McCarthy (Forest Little) beat Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) 5&3 
Valerie Clancy (Killarney) lost to Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) 3&2
Elisa Corcoran (Grange) beat Catriona Griffin (Killarney) 3&2 
Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) lost to Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) 2&1

PLATE MATCHPLAY RESULTS QUARTER-FINALS

Sarah Molloy (Kilkenny) lost to Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) 5&4
Laura Ryan (Dun Laoghaire) lost to Aine Donegan (Woodstock) 4&3
Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) lost to Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) 4&3
Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) beat Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) 1up

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY RESULTS ROUND 2

Julie McCarthy (Forest Little) beat Rachel Thompson (Cork) 2&1     
Ciara Leonard (Mitchelstown) lost to Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) 2&1       
Valerie Clancy (Killarney) beat Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) 4&3     
Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) beat Grace McGrath (East Cork) 5&3
Mairead Martin (Killarney) lost to Elisa Corcoran (Grange) 2&1       
Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) lost to Catriona Griffin (Killarney) 3&1
Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) beat Molly Dowling (Lucan) 8&6 
Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) lost to Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) 1up

PLATE MATCHPLAY RESULTS ROUND 1

Aoife Ní Thuama (Douglas) lost to Sarah Molloy (Kilkenny) 3&2
Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) beat Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) 4&3
Laura Ryan (Dun Laoghaire) W/O from Ciara Casey (Hermitage)
Aine Donegan (Woodstock) beat Sarah Burke (Mullingar) 4&3
Anna Foster (Elm Park) gave W/O to Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo)
Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) beat Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown) 4&3 
Aideen Walsh (Woodstock) gave W/O to Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden)
Clare Calvert (RCDL) lost to Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) 3&2

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY RESULTS ROUND 1 

Julie McCarthy (Forest Little) beat Aoife Ní Thuama (Douglas) 4&3     
Sarah Molloy (Kilkenny) lost to Rachel Thompson (Cork) 4&3     
Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) lost to Ciara Leonard (Mitchelstown) 3&2     
Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) beat Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) 5&4   
Valerie Clancy (Killarney) beat Laura Ryan (Dun Laoghaire) on the 20th    
Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) beat Ciara Casey (Hermitage) 3&1     
Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) beat Aine Donegan (Woodstock) 5&4     
Sarah Burke (Mullingar) lost to Grace McGrath (East Cork) on the 19th     
Mairead Martin (Killarney) beat Anna Foster (Elm Park) 6&5     
Elisa Corcoran (Grange) beat Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) 2&1     
Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) beat Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) 5&4     
Catriona Griffin (Killarney) beat Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown) 4&3     
Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) beat Aideen Walsh (Woodstock) 5&4     
Molly Dowling (Lucan) beat Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) 1up     
Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) beat Clare Calvert (RCDL) 4&2     
Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) beat Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) 4&3

David Higgins

Waterville's David Higgins made the best of early morning conditions to win the New Ross Pro-Am sponsored by Culcita Garden Furniture.

Higgins, out first at 7.50am, carded a five under par 65 to complete a two shot victory over Damien Mooney (Ballyliffin) and Eamonn Brady (Clontarf GC).

The 42-year-old birdied three of his opening four holes on his way to a four under par front nine of 30. He continued the good form on the back, with birdies at the 13th and 16th before dropping his only shot of the day at the 18th.

Padraig Dooley (Drive Golf Performance) guided his amateur partners to success in the team event with 92 points ahead of a trio of golfers including Rebecca Codd, who was making her debut appearance on the PGA in Ireland circuit.

New Ross Pro-Am Sponsored by Culcita Garden Furniture, New Ross GC (Par 70)

Detailed scores

1 D Higgins (Waterville Golf Links) 65 

T2 D Mooney (Ballyliffin); E Brady (Clontarf GC) 67

T4 G Robinson; C McNamara (Monkstown GC) 68

T6 A Hogan (Edmondstown GC); D Foley (Dromoland Castle GC); G. Donohoe (Rosslare GC); N O'Briain (Old Conna GC); D McGrane; C Molloy (Blackwood Golf Centre); N Murray (Massereene GC) 69

Team Pro-Am

1. Padraig Dooley 92pts
2. Rebecca Codd; David Ryan; Cian McNamara 90pts

Rhys Davies. Picture © Carlos Beautell 

Challenge Tour — Michael McGeady and Chris Selfridge made the cut as Welshman Rhys Davies maintained his four stroke lead at the Fred Olsen Open de España.

Davies added a four under par 67 to his incredible opening 60 at picturesque Tecina Golf to lead by four strokes on 15 under par from England’s Jack Senior (65) and the Netherlands’ Taco Remkes (63)

The 30 year old, who won this tournament six years ago, picked up four shots on the same front nine he cleared in 28 shots on day one to move well clear of the field early on.

Bogeys at the tenth and 11th holes halted his progress, but he bounced back with birdies at the 13th and 17th to ensure he will take a considerable advantage into the weekend.

McGeady had five birdies in a four under 67 to get to seven under and joint 12th as Selfridge made six in a five under 66 to make the three under par cut with a stroke to spare.

But there was no luck for Gareth Shaw or Niall Turner as they missed out by a shot. Scores 

Shaw added a 71 to his opening 69 while Turner followed his encouraging 67 on day one with a 73.

Davies said: “I knew it would be difficult today following up that round. I wasn’t expecting everything to go my way like it did in the first round and that was the case.

“I’m really happy with it though and I putted extremely well. I got off to a flyer and was three under through four, then I just played well for the most part, hitting most fairways and most greens even if everything wasn’t going for me like it was yesterday.”

Alps Tour — France’s Matthieu Pavon defeated Spain’s Gerard Piris at the third extra-hole to win his second Alps Tour title at the Servizitalia Open.Pavon led by three at one stage in the final round before Priris made an albatross at the 16th. Pavon bogyed the last to set up a playoff on the ninth which they birdied twice before the Frenchman prevailed with a third birdie.Playing in the last Alps Tour event before the summer break, Carton House’s David Carey was one over with three holes to play but eagled the 16th and birdied the next for a 71 and a share of fifth.The 18-year old finished on 10 under par, seven off the pace, but earned his first cheque since February (€1,720) to move up to 49th in the Order of Merit behind Pavon.

71 today for -10 total. T5th... Would have liked to go lower today but a pretty good week overall..

— David Carey (@davidcareygolf7) July 17, 2015

Europro Tour — England’s Aaron Rai closed with a 70 and then beat Craig Hinton in a playoff for the Glenfarclas Open after they finished tied on eight under 202.

Rai earned £10,000 with Hinton pocketing £6,000 but there was also some cash for the Irish trio of Alan Dunbar, Brian Casey and Simon Ward. Scores

T42 Alan Dunbar  Team Ireland 71 70 73 214 £327.50    
T48 Brian Casey Headfort Golf Club 72 70 73 215 £300.00    
T55 Simon Ward Unattached 69 74 74 217 £272.50

Amateur ace Paul Dunne emerged as Ireland’s new star on the day the legendary Tom Watson waved goodbye to The Open.

While Dustin Johnson leads by one stroke on 10 under from clubhouse leader Danny Willett with five holes of his delayed second round to play today, Dunne lit up a rollercoaster day for the Irish.

The hugely composed Greystones amateur, 22, posted a second successive 69 to lied tied 10th on six under with the likes of Retief Goosen and Luke Donald, just three shots behind pace-setter Willett.
, 
Even Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth was a shot behind Dunne on five under with five holes to go.

Two-time Open champion Pádraig Harrington is lurking on three under after a battling 69 with Darren Clarke one under for the championship with five holes to play this morning after three hours were lost early yesterday due to torrential rain and flooding.

Graeme McDowell shot a second successviv 72 to make the cut on level par but Shane Lowry was bitterly disappointed to drive the 18th green and then three-putt from long range for a 72.

Devastated to miss the cut, Lowry said: “It’s tough to take. You come off 18th green and you’re robbed.

“It’s a big kick in the you know what. It’s just a big hit not making the cut here because I really felt like I was playing the golf good enough to come in with a top 10 or top 20 finish.”

Lowry made a quadruple bogey eight on the 17th in an opening 73 and confessed that he find it hard to live up to his own high exceptions and those of his fans.

The Clara man said: “If one more person said to me, ‘You’re going to win The Open…’ but look, I just didn’t hole the putts and didn’t get the breaks I needed.

“I think one of the things that's so impressive about Jordan Spieth is that he keeps just answering the expectations placed on him.

“Sometimes you can say and do all you want but deep down they're there in the back of your head and obviously I've got high expectations of myself.

“I wanted to come in here and have a chance of winning this weekend, but unfortunately I'm not even going to be here.”

Paul Dunne. Picture: Pat Cashman

Bunker buster Paul Dunne has set his sights on the Silver Medal after a tactical masterclass in The Open.

The Greystones amateur, 22, plotted his way to a second successive 69 at St Andrews to get to within three of the clubhouse leader Danny Willett on six under par.

And he’s done it like Tiger Woods, avoiding all 112 bunkers on the Old Course for the second day in a row, just as the former world No 1 Woods did for all four days en route to victory in 2000.

Delighted to make the cut with ease after missing out by two shots last year, Dunne said: “It was really enjoyable. I expected the weather to be worse than yesterday, which it was. 

“But because it was just a crosswind all day, I knew there was a couple birdie chances on the back nine, so I thought if I could just get anything in under par it would be a really good score. I was delighted to shoot 69."

On solving the Riddle of the Sands of St Andrews, he said: “I haven’t hit it in one yet. Hopefully that's not a jinx on it tomorrow and I hit every one out there. 

“I've been close to a couple. Yesterday my drive on 14, I hit a bad one, I pulled up it should have gone into the bunker. I got lucky it bounced over one.

“I wouldn't say I've been perfect in avoiding them. I've got a couple lucky breaks here and there, but hopefully I can stay out of them the next two days. That would be great.”

Dunne has set his sights on playing in the Walker Cup this year before turning professional and he’s convinced he has the game to take the pressure.

Explaining why he’s doing so well, Dunne said: “When the atmosphere is like this, it’s kind of like a zoo out there but amateurs, we’re well capable of shooting the scores needed to do well.

“It's just about controlling your emotions when you're out there, not letting it get to you.”

Despite making eight birdies and just two bogeys in two rounds, Dunne is not getting ahead of himself in the battle for the Silver Medal.

He said: “Obviously that would be brilliant to get the silver medal in my last year as an amateur. 

“It would be something I would remember forever but there’s a lot of golf and a lot of bad weather to play in before that.”

After a birdie at the ninth, Dunne picked up a shot at the 14th and then drained a 20 footer at the 15th to move into the Top 10.

He said: “I knew if I made that I’d get on the first page of the leaderboard. It didn’t make me nervous, it just kind of made me excited. 

“I was little disappointed to three-putt 16 and make bogey, but it was nice to get it back at the last.”

Explaining why he’s doing so well, Dunne added: “When the atmosphere is like this, it’s kind of like a zoo out there but amateurs, we’re well capable of shooting the scores needed to do well.

“It's just about controlling your emotions when you're out there, not letting it get to you.”

Despite making eight birdies and just two bogeys in two rounds, Dunne is not getting ahead of himself in the battle for the Silver Medal.

He said: “Obviously that would be brilliant to get the silver medal in my last year as an amateur. 

“It would be something I would remember forever but there’s a lot of golf and a lot of bad weather to play in before that.”

The Wicklow man has hit his target for the first two days. 

On Thursday he wanted to shoot 68 and settled for a 69 while yesterday he opted for 72 but changed to a 70 as the wind changed direction.

After signing for a 69, he said: “I was one-over my number yesterday, one-under today, so I’ll take it.”

Pádraig Harrington waits on the second tee.

Pádraig Harrington wants all hell to break loose at The Open today so he can challenge for his third Claret Jug.

The Irish legend, 43, is six shots behind clubhouse leader Danny Willett after a battling 69 but knows he needs more help from the weekend weather gods if he’s to win his fourth Major.

Too far off the pace for his liking on three under, Harrington looked skyward and roared: “Anything that creates havoc will do me. I’m way, way behind here. 

"The more havoc there is tomorrow the better for me.” 

Winds gusting over 45 mph have been forecast for today and after getting lucky and avoiding yesterday’s rain storm thanks to a three-hour suspension, Harrington wants the weather gods to step in again.

He said: “It’s not like I’m defending anything. I’m not leading the tournament. If I was, I’d like beautiful weather. 

“I want everything possible to be thrown at us tomorrow to possibly catch up.”

The 2007 and 2008 Open winner could have been forced to play in a torrential downpour yesterday but the course flooded some 40 minutes before he was to go off and play was suspended for more than three hours.

Harrington beamed: “We were excepting to have to play but ‘unfortunately’ the town of St. Andrews drains onto the first fairway, so they really couldn't go. We were happy about that.”

Having been forced to get up at 5am, the Dubliner took advantage and snuck into one of the equipment trailers for a 90-minute nap.

He was refreshed when he started just before 11am but it took his game a while to wake up and when he missed a short par putt at the second and then failed to birdie the par-five fifth, he feared the worst at one over.

He admitted: “For a second I started to get into ‘it ain’t gonna be my day, I’m going to miss the cut.’ 

“And then I was thinking to myself — Hold on, my playing partner Marc Warren is leading the tournament and I’m not far behind. 

“Here I am, worried about missing the cut when I can make some birdies and get myself into the tournament.  I picked myself up quickly.”

He birdied the seventh — “Seven was a big putt” — and while he missed chances or made mistakes at the next five holes, his round turned again at the tough 13th, where he made an unexpected birdie from 12 feet.

Harrington confessed: “That turned my round. Instead of thinking, ‘Can I get home in level par to make the cut’, I’m thinking, ‘Can I get home in three or four under par?”

A super pitch and putt birdie at the par-five 14th got him to two under for the day and while he missed a great chance from around four feet after a sensational approach to the tough 17th, he made amends with a birdie from three feet at the last.

Oelased to get finished with other forced to get up early today to complete their rounds, Harrington added: “It’s great that I don’t have to hang around and think about the cut. 

"It would have been nice to hole the putt on 17 for birdie, but you know, 69 is a decent return.”

Asked if he could draw on his Open wins of 2007 and 2008, he said: “No. If I got in there on Sunday afternoon with nine holes to go, I’d think about it. 

“But I’ve 27 holes to play first. If they go well, then the fact I’ve won in Birkdale, Carnoustie and this year in the Honda would be a big bonus. But not yet.”

Terminator Genisys — As not seen in St Andrews

Pádraig Harrington loves a good “bad” movie and this time around it’s the new Terminator flick.

“I haven’t seen the new one yet so that’s on the cards tonight,” Harrington said after a 69 moved him to three under par.

Told the reviews were terrible, he protested: “Who cares! It’s entertainment.”

The bad news for the Dubliner is that Terminator Genisys wasn’t playing at the New Picture House in St Andrews’ main street and he was limited to Amy,  Ant-Man 3D, Jurassic World and Ted 2.

No doubt “he’ll be back.”

Stat of the day

No one birdied the 17th during Thursday’s first round but it didn’t take long for someone to make a rare three yesterday.

Playing in the first group of the day,  South African Jaco Van Zyl birdied en route to a 69.  

“Hit a good drive down there,” he said. “I think it was 195 yards. Hit a nice little stinger three-iron to about 20-foot and rolled it in.

“I don't think too many people were going to birdie it yesterday with a three-shot par-four, and kind of helps when you're the first group out.”

After an opening 79, the 36-year old is four over and praying for high winds so he can make the cut.

Green fingers

It was all hands on deck at St Andrews on Friday morning as torrential rain flooded the Old Course and forced play to be suspended for three hours.

Head Greenkeeper Gordon Moir usually has just 14 staff and six season greenkeepers but for The Open he’s got 65 and needed them all yesterday to squeegee the water off the course. 

Even with the rain the greens were rolling at just over 10 on the stimpmeter.

Weather warning

Making the cut will be even tougher today with weathermen forecasting 25mph winds, gusting to 40mph with isolated gusts of 45mph at midday. 

With light southeast winds and little rain expected tomorrow (Sunday), it could be a birdie fest.

Low key Zach

Zach Johnson could be the dark horse there punters are looking for this week.

The former Masters winner is two shots behind clubhouse leader Danny Willett on seven under after a 71 and loving his position.

Reminded that he pushed Jordan Spieth all the way ion the John Deere Classic last week, he said: “I kind of feel like I'm always under the radar. I'll let you guys determine that. I think the media drives this

“Granted, the scorecard is obviously a big part of that and I'm not saying I deserve anything more or less. 

“But I've had some decent success over here, nothing significant. Maybe a couple of top 10s, maybe three or four. I'm not even sure. But I love the game over here. I love this tournament.”

Rory trumps Spieth

The European Tour website has been polling its visitors about Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy.

They posed the question: Who will win more majors? 

The answer: McIlroy with 54% to Spieth’s 46%. 

If the American wins here, that result could change fast.

Peter Sinclair (President Ulster Branch G.U.I) and Andrew Spence (Cathedral Eye Clinic - Sponsor) presents the Harriman Cup to John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) on winning the North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Royal Portrush, Dunluce Course on Friday 17th July 2015. Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey

Whitehead’s John Ross Galbraith made up for the disappointment of letting the St Andrews Links Trophy slip away when he beat Rosslare’s Gary Collins with a birdie four on the 20th in high winds at Royal Portrush to capture the North of Ireland Amateur Open title.

Since he emerged as championship winner last year at Seapoint with his victory over Limerick’s Pat Murray in the Irish Amateur Close final, the 21-year old from the small County Antrim club has established himself as one of Ireland’s top amateurs.

And even though 2015 began slowly for him, he’s graudually found his feet, culminating in Friday’s epic win over emerging Rosslare star Collins in a wind-blown decider.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Galbraith, who beat Lurgan’s David Sutton 2 and 1 in his semi-final as Collins edged out Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty at the 20th. 

“It was a grim day and the afternoon was absolutely horrendous. I just could not putt in the wind at all. 

“The wind was very strong — as strong as they havce ever played in — gusting to 40 mph and steady at around 28mph.

“A few guys said this almost makes up for the St Andrews Links Trophy a wee bit. Two disappointments would have been hard to take so it was great to bounce back and get a win quite quickly after.”

While he may not have felt he needed to win to retain his place in the Irish team, Galbraith is now certain to play in next month’s Home Internationals at Royal Portrush, though his first task is on the Challenge Tour in the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle from August 6-9.

He plans to go to the European Tour’s Qualifying School as an amateur and take the next step forward with his career.

“I will go to Q-School at the end of September and see how I get on,” he said after a memorable victory that marks him out as a special talent. 

John Ross Galbraith drives on the fourth. Pictures: Golffile | Thos Caffrey

North of Ireland Amateur Open, Royal Portrush (sponsored by Cathedral Eye Clinic)Final

John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) bt Gary Collins (Rosslare) 20th

Semi-finals

Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) 20th

John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) bt David Sutton (Lurgan) 2/1

How the 2015 North of Ireland Amateur Open was won (courtesy GUI)

Hole 1 - 416 Yards Par 4
Both drives onto the 1st fairway Collins 150 yards from the Green, Galbraith 100 yards
Collins 2nd shot onto the front of the green 60ft from the pin Galbraith's 2nd shot to the left of the green below the bunker
Galbraith's chip shot to 30ft right of pin
Collins putts to 5ft from pin
Galbraith leave putt 5ft short
Collins lips out, next is conceded for a 5
Galbraith holes also for a bogey 5
Match - All Square

Hole 2 - 528 Yards Par 5
Collins drives on the fairway to the left of the right bunker, 240 yards from the green
Galbraith's ball finishes in the semi-rough 207 yards from the green
Collins second through the green into heavy rough
Galbraith lands on the green but finishes on the fringe just off the back of the green
Collins chips to 25 feet onto the lower tier of the green 
Galbraith putts from off the green to 15 feet
Collins putts to 10 feet
Galbraith putts and misses - leaving the ball 4 feet past the pin
Collins holes for a Par 5
Galbraith misses putt for par
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 3 - 174 yards Par 3
Collins tee shot through the back of the green into rough
Galbraith's tee shot also through the back of the green
Collins chip 2 1/2 feet from pin on the left
Galbraith's chip to 10 feet from pin, both with up hill putts
Galbraith misses putt - bogey 4 conceded
Collins misses putt and also has bogey putt conceded
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 4 - 479 Yards Par 4
Collins in second set of bunkers on fairway 131 yards from the green - only option appears to chip out
Galbraith short of the bunkers 137 yards from the green
Galbraith on back of green 35ft from pin
Collins 30 feet short of the Green with his second shot
Collins chips past the hole by 12 feet
Galbraith putts
Galbraith and Collins both hole for Par

Hole 5 - 411 Yards Par 4
Collins and Galbraith drive onto the fairway
Collins chips onto the back of the green 60 feet from the pin
Galbraith onto the green 25 feet from the pin
Collins 15 feet from pin
Galbraith's ball has moved on the green and now lies off the green
Collins ball also moves on the green
Suspension of play considered but both players agree to play on as hole 5 is the most exposed on the course
Following an initial putt from Collins the hole conceded to Galbraith
Match All Square

Hole 6 - 189 Yards Par 3
Collins to the right of the green
Galbraith to the left of the green 25 feet from pin
Collins putts down to 4 1/2 feet to warm applause
Galbraith chips, ball finishes just off the green
Galbraith putts and misses and next is then conceded for a bogey 4
Collins holes putt for a 3
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 7 -  Yards Par 4
Collins drives onto fairway 211 yards to the green
Galbraith on fairway 195 yards from the green
Collins short of the green in the rough
Galbraith to the back left of the green
Collins from the rough 100 yards from the green
Galbraith putts up to 4 1/2 feet
Collins chips onto the Green
Collins holes putt from 6 feet for a bogey 5
Galbraith holes putt for a par 4
Match - All square

Hole 8 - 433 Yards - Par 4
Galbraith 165 yards to green on fairway
Collins 116 yards to the green on fairway
Galbraith on green 30 yards from the hole
Collins 15 feet from the pin
Galbraith putts to 4 1/2 feet
Collins putt is 4in short and is conceded for a par 4
Galbraith misses putt  
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 9 - 475 Yards Par 5
Straight into a very strong wind
Collins 267 yards from the Green 
Galbraith 230 yards from the Green
Collins 130 yards to the green
Galbraith 100 yards to the green 
Collins through the back of the green in deep rough - down hill to the pin
Galbraith on the green 30ft short of the green
Collins takes 2 to get out of the rough and is now 20 feet from pin in 5
Galbraith putts to 4 1/2 feet from the pin in 4
Collins holes putt for a 6
Galbraith misses putt for par but makes return from 2 feet for a bogey 6
Match - Collins 1up 

Hole 10 - 478 Yards Par 5
Collins in semi-rough 261 yards to the green
Galbraith in centre of fairway 256 yards to the green
Collins 87 yards to the green in 2
Galbraith sliced second shot to the right and has played a provisional ball
Galbraith's original ball is lost after 5minutes elapsed and he is going to play his provisional ball which is 70 yards from the green
Collins ball landed on the green 2feet from the pin but has spun back off the green in 3
Galbraith lands on the front edge of the green and finishes adjacent to Collins ball in 5
Collins chips to 2 feet in 4 shots
Galbraith chips but does not hole so concedes hole to Collins
Match - Collins 2up

Hole 11 - 191 Yards Par 3
Collins in the bunker from the tee
Galbraith on the front of the green
Collins plays out of the bunker but misses the green
Collins putts from off the green to 4 feet in 3
Galbraith putts to 18inches and his next putt in conceded
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 12 - 412 Yards Par 4
Galbraith in the light rough 56 yards from the green
Collins in the light rough 94 yards from the green
Collins plays his second shot but the ball carries through to the back of the green
Galbraith also goes through the green
Galbraith chips but the ball carried past the pin to 12 feet
Collins chips to 4ft
Galbraith misses putt but next is conceded
Collins holes putt for a par
Match - Collins 2up

Hole 13 - 418 Yards Par 4
Collins 132 yards from the green in light rough
Galbraith 154 from green also in light rough
Galbraith plays to the bunkers well short of the green
Collins short of the green in 2
Galbraith bunker shot 20ft short of the green
Collins 25ft from green
Collins just short of the green
Galbraith putts to 2 1/2 ft 
Collins misses his putt but the next is conceded for a 6
Galbraith holes for a 5
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 14 - 210 Yards Par 3
Collins goes through the green into the rough
Galbraith on a ledge to the right at Calamity 30 yards to the right
Galbraith plays a fine chip to 6 feet
Collins chips to 20 feet
Collins misses putt but the next is conceded for a 4
Galbraith also misses putt hole halved in 4
Match - Collins 1up

The weather is closing in with the expected rain combined with a strong wind making it very difficult for both players

Hole 15 - 391 Yards Par 4
Galbraith & Collins both drive onto the fairway
Collins into the greenside bunker
Galbraith onto the front of the green 50ft from pin
Galbraith 4 feet past the pin
Collins 12 feet from the hole
Galbraith holes putt for 4 for a win
Match - All Square

Hole 16 - 442 Yards Par 4
Galbraith on the fairway 216 yards to the green
Collins on the fairway 208 yards to the green
Galbraith 20 yards short of green
Collins also 20 yards short of the green but in the bunker
Galbraith chips to 3ft
Collins plays bunker shot to 4ft
Collins misses the putt and does not lose his turn
Collins putts and misses - he conceded Galbraith’s next putt
Match - Galbraith 1up

Hole 17 - 581 Yards Par 5
Wind against and both players drive onto the adjacent second fairway of the Valley Links short of the big bunker (Nellie)
Galbraith into the bushes left of the fairway 179 yards to the green
Collins on the fairway also 180 yards from the green
Galbraith takes a penalty drop and will play 4
Both players in the greenside bunker Collins in 3 Galbraith in 4
Collins out of the bunker and 35 feet from the pin
Galbraith plays out of the bunker to 1ft from the pin and his next shot is conceded for a 6
Collins putts and is 3ft past the pin
Collins holes
Match - Galbraith 1up

Hole 18 - 484 yards Par 4
Both drives finish on the edge of the fairway 240 yards to the green
Collins finishes 15 feet from the pin to the right
Galbraith to the right and 20yards short of the green
Galbraith chips to 20 feet right of the pin
Galbraith misses his putt and the next is conceded for a 5
Collins putts up to within 1 ft and his next putt is conceded for a 4
Match - All Square

Hole 19 - 416 yards Par 4
Collins in the light rough 204 yards from the green
Galbraith in semi-rough 129 yards from the green
Collins on the fairway but still 20 yards short of the green
Galbraith in left greenside bunker 20 feet below the green
Collins chips up tto 2 1/2 feet
Galbraith plays bunker shot to 15 feet
Galbraith putts but misses his next is conceded for a 5
Collins lips out and his next is also conceded for a 5
Match A/S after 19 Holes

Hole 20 - 528 yards Par 5
Collins drives down the middle of the fairway, 258 yards to the centre of the green
Galbraith also his his drive down the middle of the fairway
Collins second shot finishes in the swale just short of the green
Galbraith finishes on the green 20 feet from the pin
Collins chips onto the green and finishes 15 feet from the pin
Galbraith leave his putt on the lip of the hole - his next shot was conceded for a birdie 4
Collins misses his birdie putt and John-Ross Galbraith is the 2015 Champio

Elisa Corcoran of Grange

Forrest Little's Julie McCarthy will face fellow international Annabel Wilson from Lurgan as Grange's Elisa Corcoran takes on Shannon's Lisa O'Shea in the semi-finals of the Irish Ladies Close Championship on Saturday.

Extremely challenging weather conditions made life tough for the best girls in the country at Galway Bay Golf Club but it didn’t stop the elite from barging their way into the last four..

Leading qualifier McCarthy continued her impressive form as she secured a 4&3 win over Cork's Rachel Thompson and then beat Royal Belfast's Victoria Craig on the 15th in the afternoon.

Defending champion Wilson overcame fellow international and European Team Championship teammate Valerie Clancy on the 16th and now faces McCarthy whole the promising Elisa Corcoran meets Shannon’s O’Shea.

In the Plate Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) secured two solid wins and takes on Aine Donegan (Woodstock) in the semi-finals and will face the winner of the clash between Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne’s) and Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden).

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY DRAW SEMI-FINALS

1. 08:00 Julie McCarthy (Forest Little) V Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) 
2. 08:09 Elisa Corcoran (Grange) V Lisa O'Shea (Shannon)

PLATE MATCHPLAY DRAW SEMI-FINALS

1. 08:18 Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) V Aine Donegan (Woodstock) 
2. 08:27 Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) V Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden)

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY RESULTS QUARTER-FINALS 

1. Julie McCarthy (Forest Little) beat Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) 5&3 
2. Valerie Clancy (Killarney) lost to Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) 3&2
3. Elisa Corcoran (Grange) beat Catriona Griffin (Killarney) 3&2 
4. Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) lost to Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) 2&1

PLATE MATCHPLAY RESULTS QUARTER-FINALS

1. Sarah Molloy (Kilkenny) lost to Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) 5&4
2. Laura Ryan (Dun Laoghaire) lost to Aine Donegan (Woodstock) 4&3
3. Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) lost to Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) 4&3
4. Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) beat Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) 2up

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY RESULTS ROUND 2

1. Julie McCarthy (Forest Little) beat Rachel Thompson (Cork) 2&1 
2. Ciara Leonard (Mitchelstown) lost to Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) 2&1 
3. Valerie Clancy (Killarney) beat Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) 4&3 
4. Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) beat Grace McGrath (East Cork) 5&3
5. Mairead Martin (Killarney) lost to Elisa Corcoran (Grange) 2&1 
6. Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) lost to Catriona Griffin (Killarney) 3&1
7. Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) beat Molly Dowling (Lucan) 8&6 
8. Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) lost to Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) 1up

PLATE MATCHPLAY RESULTS ROUND 1

1. Aoife Ní Thuama (Douglas) lost to Sarah Molloy (Kilkenny) 3&2
2. Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) beat Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) 4&3
3. Laura Ryan (Dun Laoghaire) W/O from Ciara Casey (Hermitage)
4. Aine Donegan (Woodstock) beat Sarah Burke (Mullingar) 4&3
5. Anna Foster (Elm Park) gave W/O to Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo)
6. Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) beat Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown) 4&3 
7. Aideen Walsh (Woodstock) gave W/O to Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden)
8. Clare Calvert (RCDL) lost to Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) 3&2

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY RESULTS ROUND 1 

1. Julie McCarthy (Forest Little) beat Aoife Ní Thuama (Douglas) 4&3     
2. Sarah Molloy (Kilkenny) lost to Rachel Thompson (Cork) 4&3     
3. Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) lost to Ciara Leonard (Mitchelstown) 3&2     
4. Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) beat Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) 5&4   
5. Valerie Clancy (Killarney) beat Laura Ryan (Dun Laoghaire) on the 20th    
6. Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) beat Ciara Casey (Hermitage) 3&1     
7. Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) beat Aine Donegan (Woodstock) 5&4     
8. Sarah Burke (Mullingar) lost to Grace McGrath (East Cork) on the 19th     
9. Mairead Martin (Killarney) beat Anna Foster (Elm Park) 6&5     
10. Elisa Corcoran (Grange) beat Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) 2&1     
11. Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) beat Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) 5&4     
12. Catriona Griffin (Killarney) beat Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown) 4&3     
13. Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) beat Aideen Walsh (Woodstock) 5&4     
14. Molly Dowling (Lucan) beat Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) 1up     
15. Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) beat Clare Calvert (RCDL) 4&2     
16. Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) beat Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) 4&3

Tandragee's William Small

Tandragee's William Small closed with a two under 70 to win the Munster Boys Amateur Open by five shots at Mallow Golf Club. 

He finished on two under par 214 in the Gleeson Sports Scene sponsored event, picking up birdies at the fourth, sixth and 12th before dropping his only shot of the day at the 15tj.

Royal Portrush's Peter Kerr, Carton House's Marc Boucher and Kinsale's Cathal Butler finish din 219 while Spain's Eduard Rousaud was in the prizes again, winning the Under 16 prize from Carton House's Jack Doherty

Many of the competitors will turn their sights on Athlone, where the Inter-Provincial Championships at Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 level begin on Monday.

Munster Boys Amateur Open championship, Mallow (Par 72)

Detailed scores

214 William Small (Tandragee Golf Club) 71 73 70

219 Peter Kerr (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 74 71 74, Marc Boucher (Carton House Golf Club) 73 76 70, Cathal Butler (Kinsale) 69 79 71

220 Eduard Rousaud (Federacion Catalana) 68 77 75

221 Marc Norton (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 74 74 73, Michael McGurk (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 70 73 78

222 Devin Morley (Oughterard Golf Club) 72 79 71, Harry Duggan (Kilkenny Golf Club) 71 74 77

223 Rory Hill (Tralee Golf Club) 75 75 73, Luke Cummins (West Waterford Golf Club) 74 76 73, Conor Roche (Mallow Golf Club) 74 72 77, Alan Fahy (Bray) 72 78 73, Barry Fitzpatrick (Castle) 72 74 77

224 Shane Livesey (Monkstown Golf Club) 75 74 75, Ryan Corry (Clandeboye) 73 75 76, Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club) 70 79 75

225 Eoin Conway (West Waterford Golf Club) 78 74 73, Sean Desmond (Monkstown Golf Club) 75 76 74, John Murphy (Kinsale) 73 79 73, Matthew Fitzsimons (Ardglass Golf Club) 73 78 74, Gary Ward (Kinsale) 72 78 75

226 Manel Beltran Pomedio () 78 76 72, Paul Kelly (Glasson Golf Club) 77 75 74, Jack Doherty (Carton House Golf Club) 76 73 77, Aaron Ryan (Thurles) 75 78 73, Rory Murphy (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 73 76 77, Louis O'Hara (Athenry Golf Club) 69 78 79

227 Cian Feeney (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 76 77 74, Eamonn O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club) 72 77 78

228 George Morgan (Grange) 79 75 74, Declan Kelly (Hermitage Golf Club) 75 78 75, Greg Barrett (Mallow Golf Club) 75 77 76, David Clince (Craddockstown Golf Club) 73 74 81

229 Edward Walsh (Mallow Golf Club) 76 75 78, Marc Berdala Galobardes () 74 80 75, Aaron Bagnall (Millicent Golf Club) 74 78 77, Darragh Smith (Castle) 71 80 78

230 Michael O Farrell (Galway Golf Club) 78 72 80, Reece Black (Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club) 75 79 76, Hugh Foley (The Royal Dublin) 75 78 77, Peter Cummins (Lurgan Golf Club) 70 82 78

231 Gareth Hogan (Island) 75 78 78, William Eickholt (Portmarnock) 74 78 79

232 T J Ford (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 76 78 78, Conor Kavanagh (Newbridge Golf Club) 76 77 79, David Brady (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 70 84 78

233 Adam McCormick (Scrabo Golf Club) 77 76 80, Brian Jnr Fehily (Newlands) 76 78 79, Luke Donnelly (Kilkenny Golf Club) 74 80 79

234 Mark Healy (Kinsale) 74 79 81

235 David Kitt (Mountbellew Golf Club) 76 77 82, Charlie Denvir (Powerscourt) 73 80 82

241 Colm Beakey (Galway Bay Golf Club) 77 77 87

Missed the cut

155 Michael Young () 79 76 , Jesse McCormack (Dooks Golf Club) 79 76 , Christopher Taylor (Kanturk Golf Club) 78 77 , Oisin Fitzgerald (Tralee Golf Club) 77 78 , Gareth Carr (Mullingar Golf Club) 77 78 , Eric Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 77 78 , Michael Shiel (Athenry Golf Club) 75 80 , Ciaran Vaughan (Limerick Golf Club) 75 80 , Eric Rumley (Kinsale) 75 80 , Robert Moran (Castle) 73 82 

156 Callum Slater (Headfort Golf Club) 79 77 , Nathan McCann (Lurgan Golf Club) 78 78 , James O'Connor (Muskerry Golf Club) 78 78 , Daniel O'Sullivan (Douglas) 77 79 , Mark Doogue (Baltinglass Golf Club) 77 79 , Ian Halpin (Cahir Park Golf Club) 76 80 

157 Jonathan Keane (Lahinch Golf Club) 84 73 , Tommy Doran (Balbriggan Golf Club) 81 76 , Seán Dowling (Beaverstown Golf Club) 79 78 , Joseph O'Neill (Tralee Golf Club) 79 78 , Cillian Moloney (Fota Island Golf Club) 78 79 , Hugh O'Hare (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 78 79 , Darragh Murphy (Castletroy Golf Club) 76 81 , Quim Vidal Mora () 76 81 , Ross Nelson (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 75 82 , Adam Boland (Mitchelstown Golf Club) 75 82 , Charlie Dawson (Faithlegg Golf Club) 74 83 , Eoin Aherne (Mallow Golf Club) 72 85 

158 Eoghan O'Neill (Limerick Golf Club) 81 77 , John Corbett Jnr (Thurles) 80 78 , John Bolger (Courtown Golf Club) 80 78 , Robert Downes (Galway Bay Golf Club) 79 79 , Cian Mooney (Faithlegg Golf Club) 78 80 , Alex Murray (Island) 77 81 , Daniel O Sullivan (Mallow Golf Club) 75 83 , Patrick O'Riordan (Bantry Bay Golf Club) 73 85 

159 Paul Twohig (Fota Island Golf Club) 82 77 , Gavin Flanagan (Mullingar Golf Club) 81 78 , Jake Vickers (Balbriggan Golf Club) 80 79 , Eoin McCarthy (Faithlegg Golf Club) 79 80 , Sean Dunne (The Royal Dublin) 78 81 , Rory Dineen (Cork Golf Club) 77 82 , Matthew Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club) 77 82 , Dara Phelan (Faithlegg Golf Club) 76 83 , Harry McGeary (Dungannon Golf Club) 76 83 

160 Conor Clarke (Mahon Golf Club) 85 75 , Adam Bulman (Youghal Golf Club) 81 79 , Sean Burke (Galway Golf Club) 80 80 , Sean Doyle (Athlone Golf Club) 79 81 , Oriol Martinez Lozano () 78 82 , Michael Kennelly (Athenry Golf Club) 78 82 , Con O'Callaghan (Kanturk Golf Club) 76 84 , Roy Whelan (Mallow Golf Club) 75 85 , David Cunningham (Tandragee Golf Club) 73 87 

161 Tom Groves (The Royal Dublin) 82 79 , Eanna Melville (Gort Golf Club) 80 81 , Timothy Howes (Mount Juliet Golf Club) 80 81 , Eanna Mernagh (Kanturk Golf Club) 79 82 , Liam Dowling (Mallow Golf Club) 79 82 , Glenn Fry (Greystones Golf Club) 76 85 , John Molyneaux (Ballybunion Golf Club) 75 86 

162 Conor Og Madagan (Kanturk Golf Club) 83 79 , Sean O'Herlihy (Muskerry Golf Club) 81 81 , Zach Devlin (Cobh) 78 84 , Aaron O'Donnell (Athenry Golf Club) 74 88 

163 Jack Dillon (Mallow Golf Club) 79 84 , Benedict Cronin (Muskerry Golf Club) 79 84 , Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 78 85 , Luke O'Brien jnr (Limerick Golf Club) 77 86 

164 Conor Smart (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 80 84 , Ronan Feerick (Mallow Golf Club) 79 85 , Conor Rice (Athlone Golf Club) 78 86 

165 Jack Brophy (The Royal Dublin) 82 83 

166 Cian Clernon (Kanturk Golf Club) 81 85 , Jack Murphy (Cobh) 81 85 , David Walsh Jr. (Carrick-on-Suir Golf Club) 79 87 

167 Lucas Mota Pascual () 78 89 , Daniel Curry (Coollattin Golf Club) 77 90 

169 Aaron Crotty (West Waterford Golf Club) 83 86 

171 Conor Duggan (West Waterford Golf Club) 83 88 

172 Brian Murphy (Blarney) 84 88 , Cillian Hughes (Courtown Golf Club) 80 92 

174 Daniel Devlin (Fota Island Golf Club) 89 85 

178 Jordan Boles (Charleville Golf Club) 89 89 

NR Alex Maseda Coves () 78 NR , Killian Cotter (Doneraile Golf Club) 79 NR , Ross Fitzgerald (Limerick Golf Club) 82 WD 

Mallow Golf Club

Warrenpoint's Michael McGurk has a one stroke lead over Tandragee's William Small entering the final round of the Munster Boys Amateur Open at Mallow.

Munster Boys Amateur Open Championship, Clonmel

143 Michael McGurk (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 70 73 

144 William Small (Tandragee Golf Club) 71 73 

145 Peter Kerr (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 74 71 , Harry Duggan (Kilkenny Golf Club) 71 74 , Eduard Rousaud (Catalan Golf Federation) 68 77 

146 Conor Roche (Mallow Golf Club) 74 72 , Barry Fitzpatrick (Castle) 72 74 

147 David Clince (Craddockstown Golf Club) 73 74 , Louis O'Hara (Athenry Golf Club) 69 78 

148 Marc Norton (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 74 74 , Ryan Corry (Clandeboye) 73 75 , Cathal Butler (Kinsale) 69 79 

149 Jack Doherty (Carton House Golf Club) 76 73 , Shane Livesey (Monkstown Golf Club) 75 74 , Rory Murphy (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 73 76 , Marc Boucher (Carton House Golf Club) 73 76 , Eamonn O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club) 72 77 , Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club) 70 79 

150 Michael O Farrell (Galway Golf Club) 78 72 , Rory Hill (Tralee Golf Club) 75 75 , Luke Cummins (West Waterford Golf Club) 74 76 , Gary Ward (Kinsale) 72 78 , Alan Fahy (Bray) 72 78 

151 Edward Walsh (Mallow Golf Club) 76 75 , Sean Desmond (Monkstown Golf Club) 75 76 , Matthew Fitzsimons (Ardglass Golf Club) 73 78 , Devin Morley (Oughterard Golf Club) 72 79 , Darragh Smith (Castle) 71 80 

152 Eoin Conway (West Waterford Golf Club) 78 74 , Paul Kelly (Glasson Golf Club) 77 75 , Greg Barrett (Mallow Golf Club) 75 77 , William Eickholt (Portmarnock) 74 78 , Aaron Bagnall (Millicent Golf Club) 74 78 , John Murphy (Kinsale) 73 79 , Peter Cummins (Lurgan Golf Club) 70 82 

153 Adam McCormick (Scrabo Golf Club) 77 76 , Cian Feeney (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 76 77 , Conor Kavanagh (Newbridge Golf Club) 76 77 , David Kitt (Mountbellew Golf Club) 76 77 , Declan Kelly (Hermitage Golf Club) 75 78 , Aaron Ryan (Thurles) 75 78 , Hugh Foley (The Royal Dublin) 75 78 , Gareth Hogan (Island) 75 78 , Mark Healy (Kinsale) 74 79 , Charlie Denvir (Powerscourt) 73 80 

154 George Morgan (Grange) 79 75 , Manel Beltran Pomedio () 78 76 , Colm Beakey (Galway Bay Golf Club) 77 77 , Brian Jnr Fehily (Newlands) 76 78 , T J Ford (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 76 78 , Reece Black (Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club) 75 79 , Marc Berdala Galobardes () 74 80 , Luke Donnelly (Kilkenny Golf Club) 74 80 , David Brady (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 70 84 

155 Michael Young () 79 76 , Jesse McCormack (Dooks Golf Club) 79 76 , Christopher Taylor (Kanturk Golf Club) 78 77 , Oisin Fitzgerald (Tralee Golf Club) 77 78 , Gareth Carr (Mullingar Golf Club) 77 78 , Eric Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 77 78 , Michael Shiel (Athenry Golf Club) 75 80 , Ciaran Vaughan (Limerick Golf Club) 75 80 , Eric Rumley (Kinsale) 75 80 , Robert Moran (Castle) 73 82 

156 Callum Slater (Headfort Golf Club) 79 77 , Nathan McCann (Lurgan Golf Club) 78 78 , James O'Connor (Muskerry Golf Club) 78 78 , Daniel O'Sullivan (Douglas) 77 79 , Mark Doogue (Baltinglass Golf Club) 77 79 , Ian Halpin (Cahir Park Golf Club) 76 80 

157 Jonathan Keane (Lahinch Golf Club) 84 73 , Tommy Doran (Balbriggan Golf Club) 81 76 , Seán Dowling (Beaverstown Golf Club) 79 78 , Joseph O'Neill (Tralee Golf Club) 79 78 , Cillian Moloney (Fota Island Golf Club) 78 79 , Hugh O'Hare (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 78 79 , Darragh Murphy (Castletroy Golf Club) 76 81 , Quim Vidal Mora () 76 81 , Ross Nelson (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 75 82 , Adam Boland (Mitchelstown Golf Club) 75 82 , Charlie Dawson (Faithlegg Golf Club) 74 83 , Eoin Aherne (Mallow Golf Club) 72 85 

158 Eoghan O'Neill (Limerick Golf Club) 81 77 , John Corbett Jnr (Thurles) 80 78 , John Bolger (Courtown Golf Club) 80 78 , Robert Downes (Galway Bay Golf Club) 79 79 , Cian Mooney (Faithlegg Golf Club) 78 80 , Alex Murray (Island) 77 81 , Daniel O Sullivan (Mallow Golf Club) 75 83 , Patrick O'Riordan (Bantry Bay Golf Club) 73 85 

159 Paul Twohig (Fota Island Golf Club) 82 77 , Gavin Flanagan (Mullingar Golf Club) 81 78 , Jake Vickers (Balbriggan Golf Club) 80 79 , Eoin McCarthy (Faithlegg Golf Club) 79 80 , Sean Dunne (The Royal Dublin) 78 81 , Rory Dineen (Cork Golf Club) 77 82 , Matthew Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club) 77 82 , Dara Phelan (Faithlegg Golf Club) 76 83 , Harry McGeary (Dungannon Golf Club) 76 83 

160 Conor Clarke (Mahon Golf Club) 85 75 , Adam Bulman (Youghal Golf Club) 81 79 , Sean Burke (Galway Golf Club) 80 80 , Sean Doyle (Athlone Golf Club) 79 81 , Oriol Martinez Lozano () 78 82 , Michael Kennelly (Athenry Golf Club) 78 82 , Con O'Callaghan (Kanturk Golf Club) 76 84 , Roy Whelan (Mallow Golf Club) 75 85 , David Cunningham (Tandragee Golf Club) 73 87 

161 Tom Groves (The Royal Dublin) 82 79 , Eanna Melville (Gort Golf Club) 80 81 , Timothy Howes (Mount Juliet Golf Club) 80 81 , Eanna Mernagh (Kanturk Golf Club) 79 82 , Liam Dowling (Mallow Golf Club) 79 82 , Glenn Fry (Greystones Golf Club) 76 85 , John Molyneaux (Ballybunion Golf Club) 75 86 

162 Conor Og Madagan (Kanturk Golf Club) 83 79 , Sean O'Herlihy (Muskerry Golf Club) 81 81 , Zach Devlin (Cobh) 78 84 , Aaron O'Donnell (Athenry Golf Club) 74 88 

163 Jack Dillon (Mallow Golf Club) 79 84 , Benedict Cronin (Muskerry Golf Club) 79 84 , Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 78 85 , Luke O'Brien jnr (Limerick Golf Club) 77 86 

164 Conor Smart (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 80 84 , Ronan Feerick (Mallow Golf Club) 79 85 , Conor Rice (Athlone Golf Club) 78 86 

165 Jack Brophy (The Royal Dublin) 82 83 

166 Cian Clernon (Kanturk Golf Club) 81 85 , Jack Murphy (Cobh) 81 85 , David Walsh Jr. (Carrick-on-Suir Golf Club) 79 87 

167 Lucas Mota Pascual () 78 89 , Daniel Curry (Coollattin Golf Club) 77 90 

169 Aaron Crotty (West Waterford Golf Club) 83 86 

171 Conor Duggan (West Waterford Golf Club) 83 88 

172 Brian Murphy (Blarney) 84 88 , Cillian Hughes (Courtown Golf Club) 80 92 

174 Daniel Devlin (Fota Island Golf Club) 89 85 

178 Jordan Boles (Charleville Golf Club) 89 89 

NR Alex Maseda Coves () 78 NR , Killian Cotter (Doneraile Golf Club) 79 NR , Ross Fitzgerald (Limerick Golf Club) 82 W 

Paul Dunne driving on the sixth in the first round of the 144th Open Championship at St Andrews. 

Amateur starlet Paul Dunne trumped Ireland’s poker of aces to light up The Open at St Andrews.

The Greystones ace, 22, has grabbed the attention of fans this week because he looks like US superstar Jordan Spieth.

But he played the with aplomb of the reigning Masters and US Open champion too, carding a three under 69 to lead the Irish charge and leave Shane Lowry and major winners Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke playing catch up.

As Harrington and McDowell battled to level par 72s and Lowry racked up a nightmare eight at the 17th to post a 73 that Clarke matched, it fell the Wicklow wonder-kid to fly the flag.

Delighted to actually lead the Open thanks to birdies at the first and second and a 6.43am tee time, Dunne joked: “My first thought was, ‘Is anyone at home going to take a picture of it on the computer screen and send it to me later. It was only two holes, so many people were going to birdie the first two.

“But I went out with a number in my head, trying to shoot 68. I thought that would be a pretty good score out there but I'm pretty pleased with 69.

“And it was cool to see my name at the top of the leaderboard — it’s kind of a novelty thing for when I’m 70 years old, sitting in a bar, having a pint, maybe telling someone that I led The Open.”

Wearing a grey Under Armour cap similar to Spieth’s, the University of Alabama Birmingham graduate has been mistaken for the man chasing a hat-trick of Major wins this week

Now he wants to keep playing like the American in today’s tough weather and make sure he makes the cut and contends for the Silver Medal awarded to the leading amateur.

Confessing he’s been mistaken for Spieth “a little bit” Dunne said: “When I put my head down they just see the sign on the hat and I've had a few people ask me for autographs, and then they're disappointed when I bring my head up.”

They could be asking for his signature for real if he makes the cut today and goes on to win the top amateur prize.

After holing a 10 footer for birdie at the first and a five footer for another birdie at the second, he made a brilliant up and down for birdie at the long fifth and holed a monster, 90 footer for another at the ninth to turn in four under 32.

He dropped his only shot of the day at the par-three 11th but parred his way home with the highlight a super four at the 17th.

Planning to turn pro and keeping his fingers crossed for Walker Cup call up, his delight contrasted with Lowry’s agony.


The Clara ace hit his approach into the stream at the first and made bogey, duffed a pitch at the third and bogeyed the fifth to crash to two over before storming back.

Birdies at the seventh, ninth, 10th, 13th and 14th got him into the mix at three under.

But it all went wrong when he drove out of bounds into the Old Course Hotel at the 17th and made a quadruple bogey eight.

The Clara man was too upset to talk after missing a birdie chance at the last and signing for a 73.

But it was also a frustrating day for McDowell and Clarke and a grinding one for Harrington.

Two under after 11 holes, G-Mac struggled on the greens for his 72, confessing: "I think now I'm just lacking that little bit of confidence. There's nothing wrong with my technique. 

“I've got a new putter in the bag for the last few weeks. I really felt like I putted well at the Scottish Open for no reward and it was a little bit the same today.”

Harrington was disappointed to miss early chances but happy to make a string of par putts coming home and post a 72 in the tougher conditions.

He said: “Shooting two or three under par would have been an excellent day out there this afternoon. Level par, it's tough when you seven under leading but that's the nature of the golf course.”

Ryder Cup skipper Clarke holed almost nothing and carded a 73, complaining: “I am holing nothing at all and whatever could go wrong, did go wrong. 

“If you hit it in the bunker, that’s fair enough. But when they just go in and you have got to come out backwards, that is one of the nuances of the Old Course and I had to pay the penalty. 

“My ball striking is good but the ball is conspiring to stay out of the hole some way or another. 

"I felt as if I deserved better.”