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Graeme McDowell, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Ireland's amateur
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Updated: 21 min 36 sec ago

Thursday's Open dairy - Padraig's putter, the Goose and Ivor Robson's bladder

Fri, 17/07/2015 - 08:27

Jordan Spieth had 28 putts on day one of The Open

Harri putter

Finishing last for greens hit in regulation (seven of 18)  had  silver lining for Pádraig Harrington — nobody had fewer putts.

The two time winner's tally of 24 swishes of the blade beat Paul Lawrie by one with Retief Goosen, Jason Day and Kevin Na tied third with 26 putts

At the other end of the scale. Scott Hend, Jonas Blixt, Daniel Brooks, Rob Pampling, amateur Ben Taylor and Nic Faldo had 36 with Wenchong Liang, who played alongside Harrington, taking 38.

No heaven 17

Graeme McDowell had a bad day on the greens but he was delighted to make four at the 17th.

After hearing the Shane Lowry had made a quadruple bogey eight there, McDowell said: “The 17th has been very unkind to me over the years. 

“A four there today was about 1.8 shots below my scoring average at 17 so I was pretty happy with that.”

McDowell had two sixes on the 17th over the weekend in 2010 and a quadruple bogey eight there in the third round when contending in 2005.

Lawrie inspired by Arnie

Paul Lawrie roared into the mix with a 66 and confessed that Arnold Palmer was an inspiration.

“It was unbelievably cool to play with him yesterday,” the 1999 champion said of the Champion Golfers’ Challenge alongside the King, Darren Clarke and Bill Rogers. 

“Just to be out there playing with him, I absolutely loved it. Clarke and had a whale of a time.”


Tom Watson spooked by masks (of himself)

Tom Watson is playing in his final Open  but even the Kansas legend reckons he’s not as wrinkled as the Tom Watson masks he saw on Thursday.

Asked about the fans wearing the masks, 65-year old Watson joked: “Those are ugly masks. I told them there’s way to many wrinkles in those masks.

“It kind of scared me looking at those thing, geez, look at those things. That guy is ugly.”

Goose not cooked yet

Retief Goosen reckons his luck is changing after he opened with a sizzling 66 at St Andrews.

The two-time US Open winner only scraped into the field after playoff at Worburn, where Paul Dunne won the qualifier.

Goosen said: "Maybe there is something good coming. I got lucky in the playoff with all three of us hitting horrible tee shots, and I hit mine out of the rough to 10 feet and they struggled. Maybe it’s something good coming.”


Murder on the links

Lee Westwood bogeyed the last three holes for a 71 then braced himself for today’s rain storms.

He said: Obviously none of us like playing in rain, but I think you want a 15, 20 mile-an-hour wind blowing on this golf course, otherwise the players just murder it basically.”


Stat of the day

According to ESPN, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods have played 19 rounds in same tournament this year. Spieth is 110 strokes better.


Big hitter of the day

Dustin Johnson is such a big hitter than he used a wedge on all but three of the St Andrews’ 14 par fours. 

The American said two of the holes where he hit more than wedge were playing into the wind but on the other one he was just off green and putted.


Tweet of the day

After 9 hours and 41 minutes, the final group of the day has now teed off. Which means only one thing: Ivor Robson can now use the restroom.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) July 16, 2015 Complaint of the day

“Beyond disappointing to play well today and not hole putts that you expect to,” Ian Poulter tweeted after his 73. “Difficult game when the longest putt holed was 6ft #Gutted.”

Has Tiger Woods lost his killer instinct?

Fri, 17/07/2015 - 07:56

Tiger Woods after his first round 76

You didn’t have to speak to Graeme McDowell or Darren Clarke at St Andrews yesterday to know that the game is hard.

As McDowell slipped to a level par 72 and Clarke missed every putt in sight to go from two under after three to signing for a one over 73, they were feeling sorry for themselves until they heard about Shane Lowry taking eight at the Road Hole to turn a 69 into a 73 or 14 time major winner Tiger Woods having to dig deep to post a four over 76.

“You don’t have to be that far off to look stupid,” said Clarke, who had to hack out sideways and backwards from bunkers all over Fife before eventually getting to the clubhouse. 

“If the ball can conspire to stay out of the hole some way or another, that’s what is happening.”

Woods probably felt the same but as Clarke pointed out: “It’s a hard game and the golf ball doesn’t know who is hitting it. 

Tiger is working away and I spoke to him this week. He is happy with what he is doing and he feels he is playing really well and maybe he is pushing a little bit too hard. 

“He is hitting it and swinging the way he wants. But it’s a tough game if things aren’t going your way and things aren’t going his way.”

McDowell knows all about things not going your way these days having slipped from 15th in the world on December 31st to 55th this week

“I think we are all shocked as players with how good Tiger Woods is and has been, to see him struggle as he is right now,” McDowell said. 

“I think it speaks volumes about what this game is about. I am standing here talking abut lack of confidence and belief in what I am doing and you see a guy like that whose career highlight reel would take days to watch. 

“It’s an amazing game and I think that’s why we have to count ourselves very fortunate to have and opportunity to be out here on a Sunday afternoon and perform. It’s a tough game.”

Woods played alongside the Australian Jason Day, who outscored him by 10 shots and found it tough to watch his idol struggle.

“I grew up watching him,” Day said. “He was my idol growing up. He's why I'm a professional and why I chased the dream of becoming a professional. It's tough. 

“The good thing about it is I saw him struggle a little bit before and he came back and got to No. 1 as well. So I know that he can get back out of this, it's just depending on how much he wants it.”

Still, it’s a selfish game, as Day admitted. 

“Even though he's my mate and I grew up watching him and he's my idol, I've still got to go out there and compete against him, so I'm going to try to play the best I can.”

Day suggested that Woods is no longer the assassin of old.

"He had that kind of killer instinct," he said. "I think today he was just struggling a little bit, needed to put his mind somewhere else, and that's kind of how he dealt with it.

"But before I think the way he used to kind of get back at things, he used to get pissed off at himself and kind of got him back to where he needed to be mentally on the golf course. But today he was just struggling a little bit getting into the greens.

He just wasn't hitting it close enough. He made a few mental errors around the greens and then just tried to press from there. It's just difficult to do."

McCarthy into last 16 at wet and windy Galway Bay

Fri, 17/07/2015 - 07:42

Galway Bay Golf Resort

Forrest Little's Julie McCarthy remains on track in the Irish Girls Close Championship after she overcame Aoife Ní Thuama 4 and 3 to progess to the last 16 at Galway Bay Golf Resort.

Rain and wind swept over Galway Bay for the first round of matchplay with the players presented with typical Irish weather conditions as waterproofs and umbrellas were the weapons of choice for the top 32 qualifiers.

McCarthy is joined in the final 16 by defending champion Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) and internationals Mairead Martin (Killarney), Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) and Valerie Clancy (Killarney).

But there was one surprise as Leinster Girls champion Ciara Casey from Hermitage lost 3 and 1 to Clonmel's Gemma McCarthy.

The 16 girls who lost their first round will compete in the Plate today and tomorrow. 

Irish Girls Close Championship, Galway Bay Golf ClubChampionship Matchplay — Round Two
  1. 08:00 Julie McCarthy (Forest Little) V Rachel Thompson (Cork) 
  2. 08:09 Ciara Leonard (Mitchelstown) V Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) 
  3. 08:18 Valerie Clancy (Killarney) V Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) 
  4. 08:27 Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) V Grace McGrath (East Cork)
  5. 08:36 Mairead Martin (Killarney) V Elisa Corcoran (Grange) 
  6. 08:45 Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) V Catriona Griffin (Killarney)
  7. 08:54 Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) V Molly Dowling (Lucan)
  8. 09:03 Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) V Lisa O'Shea Lisa O'Shea (Shannon)
Plate Matchplay — Round One
  1. 09:12 Aoife Ní Thuama (Douglas) V Sarah Molloy (Kilkenny) 
  2. 09:21 Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) V Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas)
  3. 09:30 Laura Ryan (Dun Laoghaire) W/O from Ciara Casey (Hermitage)
  4. 09:39 Aine Donegan (Woodstock) V Sarah Burke (Mullingar)
  5. 09:48 Anna Foster (Elm Park) gave W/O to Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo)
  6. 09:57 Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) V Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown)
  7. 10:06 Aideen Walsh (Woodstock) gave W/O to Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden)
  8. 10:15 Clare Calvert (RCDL) V Maeve Cummins (Lurgan)
Championship Matchplay — Round One 
  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

Round-up: Carey one back in Servizitalia; Davies shoots 60, Turner lurking;

Fri, 17/07/2015 - 07:05

David Carey warms up in Italy

Alps Tour — Teenager David Carey added a six birdie 66 to his opening 69 to lie just a shot off the lead in the Servizitalia Open.

The former Boys international from Carton House is tied for second with Matt Wallace on nine under par at Golf Club Lignano, an hour from Venice.

Matthieu Pavon of France leads on 10 under after rounds of 66 and 68 but Derry's Brendan McCarroll missed the cut by 16 shots after rounds of 74 and 84.

Rhys Davies. Picture: Getty Images

Challenge Tour — Former European Tour winner Rhys Davies came within a whisker of an historic 59 at the Fred Olsen Challenge de España as an 11 under par 60 moved the Welshman into a four-shot first round lead at Tecina Golf on the Canary Island of La Gomera.After an eagle two at the first hole, where he holed out with a four iron, and nine further birdies in his opening 16 holes, the 30 year old stepped onto the tee at the par five 17thneeding to gain just one more shot in the final two holes to become the second European Challenge Tour player in history to card a 59 – after Frenchman Adrien Mörk.The Bridgend player came within millimetres of birdies at both of the final two holes and was left with mixed emotions as he reflected on a career-best score while also ruing missing the opportunity of carding the magic number.“It has to be the best round of my career,” said Davies. “In the strangest way, I’m really disappointed because it was such a big chance to shoot the magic number and I didn’t succeed in that, but at the same time you should never be unhappy with 60.“The 17th was a reachable par five but I drove it into the rough and didn’t have good lie so I couldn’t get close in three, but I still just missed the birdie putt fractionally. It was at the last where I had the real chance - I wedged it to four or five feet and I didn’t hit a bad putt but it was late in the day and the greens were quite grainy, so the ball jumped off the putter face.“I had nerves all the way round because after the first I knew I could do something special today. I started freakishly well so it was very unusual in that I knew something big could happen and you just don’t think that normally.“I holed a four iron at the first. It was straight into the wind, really long, and I didn’t even see it go in because the sun was in our faces. I knew it was good but didn’t know where it finished.“I was just really into it all the way around, once I birdied six I thought the 59 was possible. I knew there were chances, and thought if I could pinch one or two other birdies I could do it but you have to laugh about it afterwards.“I’d like to think I will have that chance again. I flirted with it before at Wales Open in 2010 when I shot a 62 with a bogey on the last hole – but that one was less likely. I feel like I’m capable of shooting a really low score and hopefully I can do it one day.”Muskerry's Niall Turner is well placed after a 67 with Mick McGeady on 68, Gareth Shaw 69 and Chris Selfridge 72.60 R Davies (Wal); 64 A Hortal  (Esp); 65 B Paolini (USA), C Hanson (Eng); 66 R McGowan (Eng), B Hemstock (Eng), A Garcia-Heredia (Esp), B Neil (Sco), J Senior (Eng), S Henry (Sco), A Velasco (Esp); 67 J Hansen (Den), C Brazillier (Fra), D Coupland (Eng), R Evans (Eng), L Claverie (Esp), T Gornik (Slo), T Tree (Eng), Niall Turner (Irl), G Drakeford (Aus); 68 Michael McGeady (Irl)69 Gareth Shaw (Nir); 72 Chris Selfridge (Nir).

McGrane edges out McGovern with stunning effort at Royal Curragh

Fri, 17/07/2015 - 06:40

Damien McGrane

Damien McGrane took time out from European Tour duties to grab another win on the PGA in Ireland circuit at the Royal Curragh Pro-Am.

The former Headfort professional fired a brilliant nine under par 63 to pip current Headfort professional, Brendan McGovern, by a single shot at the County Kildare venue.

“I knew Brendan had set the target so it was nice to go out there and start chalking off the birdies,” said McGrane who is also playing in tomorrow's (Friday) New Ross Pro-Am.

“It is a reasonably short course and I was hitting a lot of wedges into the greens and getting them to within 10-15 feet so I was giving myself plenty of chances.”

On a day of low scoring – the leading four players were a combined 30 under par – McGrane's bogey free nine birdie round stood out. The 44-year-old, playing in the afternoon wave, bagged birdies at the first, fifth, seventh and ninth to be out in four under 33. He birdied the 10th and then rattled off a quartet of birdies at the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th as he came home in a blistering five under 30.

McGovern, out in the morning, must have thought he was in with a great chance of victory after carding a  bogey-free, eight birdie round of 64. He at least had the consolation of guiding his amateur partners to victory with a superb 100 points, five clear of nearest rival Noel Murray (Massereene GC) and partners.

Royal Curragh Pro-Am, The Curragh GC (Par 72)

1 Damien McGrane 63 

2 Brendan McGovern (Headfort GC) 64

3 Peter Lawrie 65

4 Neil O'Briain (Old Conna GC) 66 

T5 Damian Mooney (Ballyliffin GC); David Ryan (Cahir Park GC) 68 

T7 Ciaran Molloy (Blackwood GC); Glen Robinson 69

T9 Gavin Lunny (Naas GC);  Noel Murray (Massereene GC) 70 

Leading team scores

1 B McGovern 100pts

2 B King 94pts

3 P Jones 92pts

Surprises continue at Royal Portrush

Thu, 16/07/2015 - 21:30

Whitehead's John Ross Galbraith is the favourite for the North. Picture: Pat Cashman

 

The Irish selectors will have a tough task picking a side for next month's Home Internationals at the Antrim venue after Gary Collins, Caolan Rafferty, John Ross Galbraith and David Sutton surged into Friday's semi-finals of the Cathedral Eye sponsored North of Ireland Amateur Open at Royal Portrush.

The third round set up some fascinating duels with the big surprises the defeats of Paul McBride to Galway's Ronan Mullarney that of leading qualifier Geoff Lenehan to Lurgan's Sutton and the fall of Colm Campbell to Collins.

There were more upsets in the quarter-finals and while Collins was always going to be a tough nut for Robin Dawson, who fell 3 and 2, few expected international McElroy to fall to Dundalk's Rafferty or Rowan Lester to go down to surprise package Sutton.

Sutton now faces Irish Close champion and current international John Ross Galbraith for  a place in the decider against Rafferty or Collins.

North of Ireland Amateur Open, Royal Portrush

Detailed brackets 

Semi-finals - Friday July 17
  1. Gary Collins (Rosslare)  v Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk)
  2. John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) v David Sutton (Lurgan)
Quarter-finals
  1. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Robin Dawson (Faithlegg) 3/2
  2. Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) bt Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) 1 hole
  3. John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) bt Ronan Mullarney (Galway) 3/2
  4. David Sutton (Lurgan) bt owan Lester (Hermitage) 1 hole
Third Round
  1. Robin Dawson (Faithlegg) bt Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint) 19th 
  2. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) 2/1
  3. Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) bt Finlay Mason (Moor Hall) 5/3
  4. Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) bt William Hanna (Kilkeel) 3/
  5. John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) bt Colin Fairweather (Knock) 1 hole
  6. Ronan Mullarney (Galway) bt Paul McBride (The Island) 19th
  7. David Sutton (Lurgan) bt Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 1 hole
  8. Rowan Lester (Hermitage) bt Daniel Holland (Castle) 3/2

Shane confident he can answer Major questions

Thu, 16/07/2015 - 07:34

Shane Lowry with his caddie Dermot Byrne, coach Neil Manchip and performance coach Robbie Cannon at St Andrews. Picture: Twitter

Shane Lowry reckons he can tough out the brutal weather expected at St Andrews and answer the big questions with The Open on the line.

The Clara ace, 28, is fancied to sneak up on favourites like Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler and potentially steal the Claret Jug from under their noses.

It might be a big ask but he admitted that he’s not afraid of the bad weather forecast or the pressure as he prepares to tee it up in his second Open Championship at the Home of Golf today.

Lowry said: “I can understand why people are backing me with the form I've shown of late — even two 66s at the start of last week, I'm sure people were heading into the bookies to back me for this week.

“That makes me feel good about myself but what I can say, it doesn't mean anything to me. Does it put me under any more pressure? No. Its good to be up there, I suppose, with that mantle.”

Lowry was 10th  in the Open last year and tied ninth in the US Open at Chambers Bay.

That’s two top 10s from his last four majors which makes him a clear player to fear, especially in tough conditions following his sensational 2009 Irish Open win as an amateur.

He said: “The winds we played in last weekend helped us to get used to that so I'm feeling okay and I feel I can deal with whatever the conditions throw at us.

"A lot of us have played this course a lot of times in tough conditions so it's not just me who has that advantage. 

“But the one thing was when it started to get windy last weekend I felt like I started to struggle with the crosswinds a little bit but as the week went on I started to better shots, so that was nice that I started to get some practice then.

“I feel like I'm hitting any shot that I really have to hit, that will help me do well around here.

“I know I can play in any conditions, I know I can play in 30 miles an hour crosswinds. I know I can cope with stuff like that. 

“Do I think other players would struggle in that? Yeah I think there are a certain amount of players that when the conditions are bad.

“But there is a few players when the conditions start to get bad that are going to struggle in that and I am able to cope in those conditions and hopefully I can cope with them this week.

“But no matter what the conditions, if you're not hitting the ball solid and hitting the ball well, not holing a few putts...I mean, it doesn't matter who you are...but I do feel that I can cope in any conditions.

“So I don't necessarily like playing in wind and rain but if it comes along on Thursday or Friday, or whenever it comes along, I'll be going out there with my head down and battling through it.

“There is a big mental challenge when you're sitting in the clubhouse and it's a 30 miles per hour wind and it looks like it's going to rain and you're about to go out there.

“You know you're going out there to battle and to hole six footers for pars and to get up and down from different places but I do feel like I can do that and cope with that.”

Lowry knows he is still a novice when it comes to majors but he’s not afraid to put his neck one the line.

Asked if he felt like one of the best players in the world without a major, he said: “I think we're getting ahead of ourselves there again!“

But he then said: "Do I feel like I can compete this week? Yeah, sure why not? If I give myself a chance to win it on Sunday afternoon I know I've got what it takes to win it down the stretch.

“There's no more I can say. Do I feel like I'm one of the best players in the world? At the minute, yeah, my game feels good. I feel like I've never played as well and I've never been as good mentally.”

Off at 7.49 am with Kevin Streelman and Retief Goosen, Lowry added: “It’s nice to get out early. 

“Sometimes when you're late on a Thursday and you see what people are doing, it kind of changes your mindset.

“It’s just nice to get out there and do my own thing early doors, and hopefully shoot a score.”

Padraig Harrington is out late today with Liang Wen-chong and Marc Warren and excited about his “stress-free” build up to his 19th Open.

“I hear it’s going to be a bad day on Friday but I’m just hoping it’s bad in the afternoon rather than the morning,” Harrington said. “You’ve got to think scoring is going to be low as it has been in previous years. But you never know.”

Graeme McDowell reckons his local knowledge will help him compete despite his lack of length.

He said: “Knowing how this course plays in various wind directions is quite important. Looking at the forecast tomorrow, it’s going to blow hard out of the East and then switch to southerly on Friday.

“These past three days are not going to make for great preparation as we’re going to see a different test tomorrow. The Dunhill Links and previous Opens will stand guys in good stead.

“The key holes are from the seventh to the 12th — that’s where you make your score. From 13th tee in, it’s going to play tough especially with blowing in the next few days.”

McIlroy will play this year says team; Clarke admits to “taking the p***”

Thu, 16/07/2015 - 07:25

Rory McIlroy's left ankle. Picture via Instagram

Darren Clarke admitted he was “taking the p***” when he insisted this week that Rory McIlroy would be out of action until January.

While he world No 1 is in race against time to be fit to defend the US PGA in four weeks’ time, his backroom team is hopeful that he can make the FedEx Cup and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.

Clarke prompted speculation that McIlroy could be out for the rest of the season when he accepted an award on McIlroy’s behalf at the Association of Golf Writers’ Dinner in St Andrews on Tuesday night.

He shocked guests when he said Rory was looking forward to seeing everyone again “in January”.

McIlroy’s team was bombarded with emails and Clarke quickly back-tracked yesterday, insisting: "I was only joking. I was taking the p**s and everyone took me seriously.”

According to McIlroy’s team, the next few weeks are crucial and they will reveal whether the Holywood ace is a fast or a slow healer.

It could be at least six or eight weeks before he can hope to play again after rupturing his left ATFL (ankle ligament) playing football with friends on July 4.

And while that would mean he will not be able to defend the Wanamaker Trophy in from , nobody knows for sure.

McIlroy’s Tour Manager, Sean O’Flaherty said the four-time major winner is at home in Belfast recuperating.

“Rory is in great spirits,” O’Flaherty said. “He’s positive and happy and looking forward to working through the process of getting back.”

He ruled out all talk of surgery and explained that it’s not an injury that requires going under the knife. 

However, he added that it’s impossible to know exactly when the Holywood star will come back.

“I am not a doctor, so I can’t really say. But seemingly you just need time. It has to heal. Seemingly when a ligament is ruptured, its like an elastic band. You don’t repair and elastic band. It can’t heal. Once it’s torn it’s torn. 

“It’s one of the three ligaments around the ankle — you don’t actually need it. You just strengthen the area around it.”

The PGA of America is keen to know if McIlroy will be ready to defend the US PGA at Whistling Straits from August 13-16 but McIlroy’s team can give them no assurances. 

“The PGA is keen to know but we have no more updates and we’ll let him know when we do,” O’Flaherty said. 

“Will he be hitting balls in a month? Don’t know. Will he be hitting balls in six week? Don’t know. Will he be hitting balls in three months? I don’t know. 

“I am not a doctor. All I know is that until he can have the relative movement. He won’t be hitting balls.”

McIlroy has said that he won’t return until he is 100 percent fit and 100 percent competitive and that might be good news for the European and PGA Tours. 

“A 100 percent fit is 100 percent fit. But Rory always starts the year in Abu Dhabi and he starts very well and generally does about five or six days to get ready,” O’Flaherty said. 

“He doesn’t need that much leeway. A lot of guys need months. He doesn’t need months to get sharp.”

Asked if McIlroy fans should buy their tickets for the US PGA, O;Flaherty joked: “All I can say is definitely buy your tickets for the Race to Dubai. He’ll definitely be back before then.” 

Quality galore at Portrush as North reduced to sweet 16

Wed, 15/07/2015 - 23:24

Galway's Ronan Mullarney takes on Paul McBride in the third round of the North of Ireland on Thursday

The cream rose to the top on the first day of matchplay combat in the Cathedral Eye sponsored North of Ireland Championship with a host of challengers for international caps moving into the last 16.

Whole it's no huge surprise to see Robin Dawson last year's runner up, come through to face Warrenpoint's Stephen Coulter, it's a sign of the times that young Gary Collins from Rosslare will take on Warrenpoint's Colm Campbell at the top quarter of the draw.

With permission from Campbell, Ballymena's Dermot McElroy still looks like the man to beat in the top half but whoever emerges, he will face a strong opponent from the bottom half with a host of quality players facing off on Thursday.

Whitehead's John Ross Galbraith faces Colin Fairweather as Leinster's new star, Paul McBridge takes on the short game magic of Galway's Ronan Mullarney.

In the bottom quarter, leading qualifier Geoff Lenehan will be favourite against David Sutton with the winner of that one to take on Daniel Holland, who beat international Richard Bridges, or another young Leinster star in Hermitage's Rowan Lester.

As for the make up of the first round draw that saw the No 1, No 2 and No 6 qualifiers in the bottom quarter, the Ulster Branch reported:

"...the draw for the North of Ireland Championship contains eight seeds selected by the Championship Committee followed by the remaining players in qualifying score order - this will have effect that you have highlighted in some circumstances, as it has in 2015."North of Ireland Amateur Open, Royal Portrush

Detailed brackets

 Round Three - Thursday
  1. Coulter v Dawson
  2. Collins v Campbell
  3. Rafferty v Mason
  4. Hanna v McElroy
  5. Galbraith v Fairweather
  6. McBride v Mullarney
  7. Lenehan v Sutton
  8. Holland v Lester
Round two 
  1. Coulter bt McClean 1 hole
  2. Dawson bt Clegg 2 holes
  3. Collins bt Lappin 2/1
  4. Campbell bt Breen 6/5
  5. Rafferty bt Egan 1 hole
  6. Mason bt Griffin 19th
  7. Hanna bt Moore 5/3
  8. McElroy bt McQuillan 3/2
  9. Galbraith bt Gribben 5/3
  10. Fairweather bt Yates 19th
  11. McBride bt Corke 2/1
  12. Mullarney bt Hopkins 2/1
  13. Lenehan bt Melvin 3/2
  14. Sutton bt Kennedy 2/1
  15. Holland bt Bridges 3/2
  16. Lester bt Coffey 1 hole
  17. Round one
  18. Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint) bt Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock) 7/6
  19. Matthew McClean (Balmoral) bt Jack Owens (Bangor) 2/1
  20. Andrew Clegg (Donaghadee) bt  Noel Crawford (Mourne) 2/1 
  21. Robin Dawson (Faithlegg) bt Dale Jackson (Massereene) 4/3
  22. Gareth Lappin(Belvoir Park) bt Tom Harris (Castletown) 19th 
  23. Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Colin Wilton (Banbridge) 2 holes
  24. Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle) bt Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin) 6/5
  25. Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) bt Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe) 6/5
  26. Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Graeme Arthur (Carrickfergus) 1 hole
  27. Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) bt Connor Doran (Banbridge) 19th
  28. Finlay Mason (Moor Hall) bt William Russell (Clandeboye) 2 holes
  29. Eanna Griffin (Waterford) bt Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) 4/3
  30. William Hanna (Kilkeel) bt Barry Cashman (Belvoir Park) 3/1
  31. Ian Moore (Dunmurry) bt Shane Magee (Lurgan) 1 hole
  32. Alastair McQuillan (Cushendall) bt Mark Mullen (Rosslare) 4/.2
  33. Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) bt Rory Williamson (Holywood) 7/5
  34. John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) bt Lester Moore (City of Derry) 6/4
  35. Ryan Gribben (Warrenpoint) bt Owen Crooks (Bushfoot) 3/2
  36. Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Andrew Morris (Belvoir Park) 4/2
  37. Jonathan Yates (Naas) bt Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu) 20th
  38. Paul McBride (The Island) bt Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little) 7/6
  39. Jonathan Corke (Castletown) bt Robbie Pierse (Grange) 3/1
  40. Jeff Hopkins (Royal Dublin) bt Greg Mungovan (Headfort) 1 hole
  41. Ronan Mullarney (Galway) bt Kyle McCarron (North West) 4/3
  42. Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) bt Eugene Smith (Ardee) 5/4
  43. Craig Melvin (Corrstown) bt Simon McConnell (Ballyclare) 1 hole
  44. Fergal Kennedy (The Island) bt Adam Doran (Ardee) 19th
  45. David Sutton (Lurgan) bt Neill Simpson (Kirkistown Castle) 1 hole
  46. Richard Bridges (Stackstown) bt Richard Knightly (Royal Dublin) 2 holes
  47. Daniel Holland (Castle) bt Ross Dutton (Tandragee) 1 hole
  48. Rowan Lester (Hermitage) bt Ryan Long (Cairndhu) 1 hole
  49. Theo Coffey (Slieve Russell) bt Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle) 2/1

McCarthy leads Irish Girls Close qualifiers after birdie blitz

Wed, 15/07/2015 - 22:43

Julie McCarthy

Sun and blue skies graced Galway Bay for the opening 36 hole qualifying day of the Irish Girls Close Championship.

Ideal conditions and a pristine course presented the players with ample opportunities for low scores.

The high quality field took advantage of this, snapping up birdie opportunities to finish with sub-par rounds. 

Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little) made a very impressive start to the Championship. A near flawless first round of 70 in the morning saw the international shoot a steady front nine of -1 before burning up the back nine, which included two birdies, one eagle and one dropped shot on the 17th. Julie added a level par 74 to this in the afternoon to emerge as leading qualifier. 

The cream certainly rose to the top as fellow Internationals Mairead Martin (Killarney), Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), Valerie Clancy (Killarney) and Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) all carded level par rounds or better to qualify as the top five. Mairead proved her international and junior vagliano status as she carded the best round of the day with a superb 69, including six birdies and one bogey. 

32 players have qualified for the championship matchplay tomorrow. The first round losers in the championship will contest the plate while the non-qualifiers will play stableford competitions tomorrow and Friday.   

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHPLAY DRAW

  1. 09:00 Julie McCarthy (Forest Little) V Aoife Ní Thuama (Douglas)     
  2. 09:09 Sarah Molloy (Kilkenny) V Rachel Thompson (Cork)     
  3. 09:18 Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) V Ciara Leonard (Mitchelstown)     
  4. 09:27 Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) V Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas)     
  5. 09:36 Valerie Clancy (Killarney) V Laura Ryan (Dun Laoghaire)     
  6. 09:45 Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) V Ciara Casey (Hermitage)     
  7. 09:54 Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) V Aine Donegan (Woodstock)     
  8. 10:03 Sarah Burke (Mullingar) V Grace McGrath (East Cork)     
  9. 10:12 Mairead Martin (Killarney) V Anna Foster (Elm Park)     
  10. 10:21 Elisa Corcoran (Grange) V Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo)     
  11. 10:30 Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) V Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's)     
  12. 10:39 Catriona Griffin (Killarney) V Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown)     
  13. 10:48 Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) V Aideen Walsh (Woodstock)     
  14. 10:57 Molly Dowling (Lucan) V Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden)     
  15. 11:06 Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) V Clare Calvert (RCDL)     
  16. 11:15 Lisa O'Shea (Shannon) V Maeve Cummins (Lurgan)
FINAL RESULTS (Par 74, SSS 76, CSS Rd 1 75, CSS Rd 2 75) 

144 Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little Golf Club) 70 74

149 Mairead Martin (Killarney Golf Club) 80 69, Niamh McSherry (Lurgan Golf Club) 74 75

152 Valerie Clancy (Killarney Golf Club) 74 78, Annabel Wilson (Lurgan Golf Club) 73 79

154 Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle Golf Club) 77 77, Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden Golf Club) 76 78

155 Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) 78 77

156 Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast Golf Club) 80 76, Catriona Griffin (Killarney Golf Club) 79 77

157 Lisa O'Shea (Shannon Golf Club) 79 78

159 Sarah Burke (Mullingar Golf Club) 78 81

160 Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel Golf Club) 80 80, Molly Dowling (Lucan) 78 82, Elisa Corcoran (Grange Golf Club) 77 83, Sarah Molloy (Kilkenny Golf Club) 76 84

161 Rachel Thompson (Cork Golf Club) 84 77, Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 81 80

162 Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden Golf Club) 84 78

164 Ciara Casey (Hermitage Golf Club) 85 79, Grace McGrath (East Cork Golf Club) 80 84

165 Maeve Cummins (Lurgan Golf Club) 83 82, Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown Golf Club) 83 82

166 Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) 83 83

167 Ciara Leonard (Mitchelstown Golf Club) 85 82, Alice Hutchinson (St. Anne's) 79 88

168 Clare Calvert (Royal Co. Down Ladies) 85 83, Aine Donegan (Woodstock Golf Club) 85 83, Laura Ryan (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 83 85

169 Aideen Walsh (Woodstock Golf Club) 83 86

170 Anna Foster (Elm Park Golf Club) 86 84, Aoife NiThuama (Douglas) 82 88

NON QUALIFIERS

172 Lorna Mullally (Tuam Golf Club) 86 86, Sarah Lacey (Castleknock) 84 88

173 Georgia Carr (Milltown Golf Club) 85 88

174 Katie Keenan (Kilkenny Golf Club) 88 86

175 Fiona Behan (Killeen Golf Club) 86 89, Eibhlin McCarthy (Killorglin Golf Club) 80 95

178 Nicole McGavisk (Donabate Golf Club) 91 87, Clodagh Jones (Roscrea Golf Club) 88 90

179 Ellen Nolan (Grange) 95 84, Emma Guinane (Limerick) 90 89

180 Sara Byrne (Douglas Golf Club) 94 86, Kate McElroy (Faithlegg Golf Club) 94 86, Chloe O'Connor (Roscommon Golf Club) 92 88, Ciara Magill (East Clare Golf Club) 88 92

183 Cliodhna Drury (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 91 92, Katie Rafferty (Tipperary Golf Club) 88 95

185 Siobhan Behan (Killeen Golf Club) 94 91, Niamh Cronin (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 90 95, Sophie Dodd (Enniscrone Golf Club) 87 98

187 Anna Dawson (Tramore Golf Club) 88 99

190 Kaelin O'Keeffe (Ballykisteen Golf Club) 97 93, Niamh Mulrooney (Kilkenny Golf Club) 93 97

191 Jan Browne (Kilkenny Golf Club) 94 97

192 Jill Jennings (Carlow Golf Club) 100 92, Niamh Carmody (Tralee Golf Club) 98 94

194 Annie Harpur (Naas Golf Club) 95 99

195 Seána McGuinness (Greenore Golf Club) 102 93

201 Leah Temple Lang (Seapoint Golf Club) 102 99

204 Stephanie Glennon (Grange) 109 95

205 Shannon Hegarty (Ennis Golf Club) 102 103

215 Ailbhe Bourke (Enniscrone Golf Club) 116 99, Caoimhe Slemon (Bearna Golf Club) 107 108

Dunne ready for Major No 2: "I feel a lot more comfortable"

Wed, 15/07/2015 - 07:29

Paul Dunne. Picture: Pat Cashman

Being mistaken for Jordan Spieth on his first day at St Andrews by the man who blew the 1970 Open is something Paul Dunne can tell his grandkids when he retires.

But whatever about his chance meeting with Doug Sanders on the range on Monday — an Under Armour cap and Dunne’s passing resemblance to the current Masters and US Open champion was the cause of the confusion — the 22-year old Greystones amateur has set his sights only a tad lower than the American this week.

By rights, Spieth should have been playing alongside Dunne in the NCAA Championships in Florida last May but having ditched college after just year to become a full-time superstar, the Texan is clearly operating on a different plane to the University of Alabama Birmingham graduate

Should he add the Open to his Masters and US Open titles on Sunday, Spieth would acquire God-like status. 

But Dunne admits he’d be happy just to hear his name called before the American’s in front of the Royal and Ancient clubhouse on Sunday night when the Silver Medal winner is invited to step forward to receive the prize awarded to the leading amateur.

Not that he’s getting ahed of himself, but having qualified for The Open for the second year in a row, Dunne feels a little less intimidated than he did at Royal Liverpool last year when his build up included a practice round alongside world No 1 Adam Scott.

“It would be huge,” the fair haired Wicklow man said of what it would mean to win the medal. “It’s hard really to know how much to would mean. I remember watching it last year, watching the prize-giving, when Rory went up to get the trophy. And I remember thinking how cool it would be to have your name called out first and to walk out in front of the crowd. 

“But I am not thinking about that for now. Obviously to achieve that I would need to pay all four rounds and 72 holes fo golf is a lot of time. I am going to go out and try to focus on what I do every week and see what I shoot.”

Before McIlroy won the Silver Medal in 2007, the only Irish amateur to win the Silver Medal was Joe Carr in 1956 at Hoylake and 1958 at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s.

Assessing what it might mean is not the primary focus for Dunne, who is going to turn professional after what he hopes will be a Walker Cup call up in September

Performing well in this company, even if he doesn’t win the medal, is his primary goal. 

“It’s brilliant,” he said of simply being in St Andrews, shortly after a Monday practice round in the company of Graeme McDowell and, briefly, Shane Lowry. “I have only played here once [in last year's St Andrews Links Trophy] so it was good to get a look at it today in pretty much benign conditions, so we can see how it plays. 

“But it is special to look behind us and see the square of the first and the 18th, it is pretty cool with the stands up. The stand behind the 18th is massive. Hopefully when they get full there will be a great atmosphere around here. But it is a great town.It is always nice to come back.”

Dunne topped the qualifiers at Woburn for the second successive year and while he arrived on the back of a disappointing fifth place finish for Ireland in the European Amateur Team Championships in Sweden last week, he’s feeling good about his game.

“I probably put a lot of pressure on myself to qualify this year and I started off badly in the first round but relaxed and started playing well again,” he explained. The new Titleist driver he's ben using for the past month appears to be working.

”I was trying not to think about coming to the Open at St Andrews. It is pretty special so hopefully when Thursday hits, the game is back in good shape.”

Dunne will make an early start the second group at 6.43am with former champion Todd Hamilton and American James Hahn.

And he’s hoping the experience of 12 months ago will stand to him and he can produce a strong performance.

“I feel a lot more comfortable in the whole surroundings. I am obviously not 100 percent in my comfort zone but I definitely feel a lot more comfortable that last year,” he said. “You never know if experience will help you play better or not. That’s golf. You could play great and not so great the next day. 

“But I do think it will make my preparations a little bit better. I will be less overwhelmed by the practice rounds and who I am playing well and the spotlight around everything. So I will have a better chance to prepare my game, prepare the course and go out with the right mindset on Thursday. 

“It is like anything else, putts can drop, putts can lip out. You can hit  a few bad shots here or there and drop a few shots so I am looking forward to it and hopefully I can play well, get some good breaks and have a good finish.”

Dunne is happy the links is lush and green as it means it will play fair and allow him to attack a little more.

His goal is simple.

“I don’t know if it is based on a finish,” he said of his ambitions. “It is more playing golf that would make me feel proud at the end of the day. Committing to shots, just knowing at the end of the day that I did everything at the end of the day to give myself the chance to play well. As long as I can take care of that, I can’t control 100 percent where the ball is going to go with the club.

“Obviously it would be great to make the cut and brilliant to win the Silver Medal but you can’t really control those results. Another amateur could go out and win. It is obviously not likely but you could come second and not win the medal or  come 50th and win it. It is not really under my control. I’ll go out and take care of business like I usually do and see what I shoot.”

While his father Colum caddied last year, Dunne has a fellow Greystones man who knows his game on his bag - the UAB head coach Alan Murray.

“He sees me play every day so he knows my game batter then anyone else,” Dunne says. “He knows what makes me tick.”

The Amateurs chasing glory at St Andrews

Clarke banking on experience (and Dr Bob)

Wed, 15/07/2015 - 07:15

Darren Clarke tees off in practice

Darren Clarke reckons experience can trump power as he bids to win The Open for a second time.

While pundits like Paul McGinley believe the big hitters will dominate on the Old Course, Ryder Cup skipper Clarke is convinced he still has a chance.

A veteran of four previous Opens at St Andrews — 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 — the 2011 champion is not waving the white flag just yet.

The 46-year old said: “The youngsters have length and the likes of Dustin Johnson can take bunkers out of play the rest of us can’t.

“But with experience, if the wind quarters, your lines change massively off the tee and that’s where playing here all those times helps.”

McGinley reckons players like Jordan Spieth, will struggle due to lack of length and proper links preparation on a course where staying out of bunkers is crucial.

But Clarke is not ruling out Spieth’s chances, insisting: “The hot streak he’s on is incredible. If he putts well, anything is possible.”

Putting is Clarke’s biggest headache and he admits his struggles are driving him crazy.

Without a Top-10 in Europe since he won The Open in 2011, he said: “I have got great control of the flight, especially with the driver at the moment and I have just got to take my opportunities.

“I’m hitting it great but missing everything and that’s really frustrating and it’s hard not to lose patience.

“You’d think after nearly 25 years on tour that I’d be easier on myself but 25 years on Tour would drive anybody mad!”

He’s looking to mental guru Dr Bob Rotella to help him regain the calm he had when he finally won The Open at Sandwich four years ago.

Clarke said: “I’ll go on now and spend a little bit of time with Dr Bob on the greens and see if I can figure something out.

“My patience levels are low because I'm hitting good shots and not making any putts. It's frustrating to say the least.

“I've played much worse in my career and scored much better. If I'm hitting the ball well and not scoring, my patience tends to run out. It's not the way I'd like to be.”

He's one of 28 former champions who tee it up in the Champion Golfer’s Challenge today, teaming up with Arnold Palmer, Paul Lawrie and Bill Rogers for the four-hole exhibition.

But while he’ll also be handed the Freedom of the Links as a special honour for being an Open champion, what he really wants is another chance to challenge for that Claret Jug again.

And having once admitted that he didn’t like the Old Course, he’s now a big fan and prepared to keep learning how to play it.

“The Open is always a special event, even more so when it’s played here,” he said. “But I am always learning here.

“There’s a few putts that I misread today, thinking I knew the greens, and I was wrong. You always learn that here because of the size of the greens you’re always going to be in different places. 

“You try to get as comfortable as you can on them, but because they’re so big you’re never going to learn them all.”

He still hits the ball a long way, reducing the 495 yard 17th to a drive and a “little six iron” from 161 yards.

"I just want to go out and play." he said. "Over the 29 years I have been coming here. I have learnt to appreciate it more as a golf course and to play it in an Open Championship is really special.” 

Rory out until January? Clarke lets news "slip" at St Andrews

Tue, 14/07/2015 - 23:40

Rory McIlroy. via Instagram

It's not major surprise given the seriousness of the injury but it appears that Rory McIlroy look set to miss the rest of 2015 according to Ryder Cup skipper Darren Clarke.

According to reports from St Andrews, the 2011 Open champion let that news slip as he stood in for McIlroy at the annual Association of Golf Writers' dinner in the Old Course Hotel.

Subbing for @McIlroyRory tonight AGW dinner @DarrenClarke60, fresh from champs dinner, slid in a line about Rory not being back until Jan.

— Tim Rosaforte (@TimRosaforte) July 14, 2015

Clarke accepted the Golf Writers' Award on behalf of McIlroy, who reported last week that he had suffered a "total rupture of left ATFL (ankle ligament) and associated joint capsule damage in a soccer kickabout with friends."

Mcilroy said she was "continuing to assess extent of injury and treatment plan day by day. Rehab already started..... Working hard to get back as soon as I can."

Just a few days later, McIlroy withdrew from The Open, writing on Instagram: "After much consideration, I have decided not to play in the Open Championship at St. Andrews. I’m taking a long term view of this injury and, although rehab is progressing well, I want to come back to tournament play when I feel 100% healthy and 100% competitive. Thank you for all your support and best wishes. I hope to be back on the course as soon as I can.... In the mean time, come on Andy!!

Lenehan clicks with 66s to top North of Ireland qualifiers

Tue, 14/07/2015 - 23:17

10 under - Geoff Lenehan, pictured at Mullingar last year, led the qualifiers at Royal Portrush. Picture: Pat Cashman

Portmarnock's Geoff Lenehan added a six under 66 on the Dunluce to his opening 66 on the Valley to brilliantly top the qualifiers for the Cathedral Eye sponsored North of Ireland Amateur Open at Royal Portrush.

Fresh from another strong performance for Munster in the Interprovincial Matches at Rosapenna, the reigning Mullingar Scratch Cup holder took another step towards throwing his hat in the ring for a Home Internationals call up when he finish on 10 under 132, two shots clear of Stackstown's Richard Bridges, who had nine birdie in his 66 on the Dunluce.

Lehehan birdied the sixth and seventh, bogeyed the eighth but then eagled the ninth to turn in 33 before picking up another three shots on the way home at the 10th, 11th and 17th.

Warrenpoint's Colm Campbell, who like Bridges is keen to retain his place in the Irish team, finished four behind Lenehan after matching 68s.

Lenehan now faces Ardee's Eugene Smith in Wednesday's first round as the cut for the top 63 - Dermot McElroy got a bye after his appearance for the six-man Irish team in the European Team Championships last week — fell at three over 145.

North of Ireland Amateur Open, Royal PortrushMatchplay Draw — Round one
  1. 7.00 Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint) v Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock)
  2. 7.09 Matthew McClean (Balmoral) v Jack Owens (Bangor)
  3. 7.18 Noel Crawford (Mourne) v Andrew Clegg (Donaghadee)
  4. 7.27 Robin Dawson (Faithlegg) v Dale Jackson (Massereene)
  5. 7.36 Tom Harris (Castletown) v Gareth Lappin(Belvoir Park)
  6. 7.45 Gary Collins (Rosslare) v Colin Wilton (Banbridge)
  7. 7.54 Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle) v Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin)
  8. 8.03 Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) v Colin Woodroofe (Balinroe)
  9. 8.12 Keith Egan  (Carton House) v Graeme Arthur (Carrickfergus)
  10. 8.21 Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) v Connor Doran (Banbridge) 
  11. 8.30 William Russell (Clandeboye) v Finlay Mason (Moor Hall)
  12. 8.39 Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) v Eanna Griffin (Waterford)
  13. 8.48 Barry Cashman (Belvoir Park) v William Hanna (Kilkeel)
  14. 8.57 Ian Moore (Dunmurry) v Shane Magee (Lurgan) 
  15. 9.06 Alastair McQuillan (Cushendall) v Mark Mullen (Rosslare)
  16. 9.15 Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) v Rory Williamson (Holywood)
  17. 9.24 John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) v Lester Moore (City of Derry)
  18. 9.33 Ryan Gribben (Warrenpoint) v Owen Crooks (Bushfoot)
  19. 9.42 Colin Fairweather (Knock) v Andrew Morris (Belvoir Park)
  20. 9.51 Jonathan Yates (Naas) v Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu)
  21. 10.00 Paul McBride (The Island) v Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little)
  22. 10.09 Robbie Pierse (Grange) v Jonathan Corke (Castletown)
  23. 10.18 Greg Mungovan (Headfort) v Jeff Hopkins (Royal Dublin)
  24. 10.27 Ronan Mullarney (Galway) v Kyle McCarron (North West)
  25. 10.36 Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) v Eugene Smith (Ardee)
  26. 10.45 Craig Melvin (Corrstown) v Simon McConnell (Ballyclare)
  27. 10.54 Adam Doran (Ardee) v Fergal Kennedy (The Island)
  28. 11.03 David Sutton (Lurgan) v Neill Simpson (Kirkistown Castle)
  29. 11.12 Richard Bridges (Stackstown) v Ricahrd Knightly (Royal Dublin)
  30. 11.21 Ross Dutton (Tandragee) v Daniel Holland (Castle)
  31. 11.30 Rowan Lester (Hermitage) v Ryan Long (Cairndhu)
  32. 11.39 Theo Coffey (Slieve Russell) v Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle).
Stoke play qualifying (Dunluce Links, Par 72/Valley Links Par 70)

Detailed scores

132 Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 66 66 (Leading qualifier)

134 Richard Bridges (Stackstown Golf Club) 68 66

136 Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 68 68

137 Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk Golf Club) 67 70

138 Greg Mungovan (Headfort Golf Club) 69 69, Rowan Lester (Hermitage Golf Club) 68 70

139 Paul McBride (Island) 69 70, Matthew McClean (Balmoral Golf Club) 69 70, Robin Dawson (Faithlegg Golf Club) 68 71, Gary Collins (Rosslare Golf Club) 67 72

140 Adam Doran (Ardee) 72 68, Colin Fairweather (Knock) 70 70, Ian Moore (Dunmurry) 70 70, Barry Cashman (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 68 72

141 Jonathan Yates (Naas Golf Club) 73 68, David Sutton (Lurgan Golf Club) 73 68, Tom Harris (Castletown Golf Club) 72 69, Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 71 70, Theo Coffey (Slieve Russell Golf Club) 71 70, Ronan Mullarney (Galway Golf Club) 70 71, Keith Egan (Carton House Golf Club) 69 72

142 William Russell (Clandeboye) 74 68, Robbie Pierse (Grange) 73 69, Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club) 72 70, John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead Golf Club) 70 72, Ross Dutton (Tandragee Golf Club) 68 74, Noel Crawford (Mourne) 67 75

143 Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club) 72 71, Craig Melvin (Corrstown Golf Club) 71 72, Ryan Gribben (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 70 73, Alastair McQuillan (Cushendall Golf Club) 69 74, Mark Mullen (Rosslare Golf Club) 69 74, Owen Crooks (Bushfoot Golf Club) 68 75, Simon McConnell (Ballyclare Golf Club) 67 76

144 Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) 72 72, Andrew Clegg (Donaghadee Golf Club) 72 72, Daniel Holland (Castle) 72 72, Jonathan Corke (Castletown Golf Club) 72 72, Finlay Mason (Moor Hall Golf Club) 71 73, Graeme Arthur (Carrickfergus Golf Club) 71 73, Kyle McCarron (North West) 71 73, Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 70 74, Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock Golf Club) 70 74, Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 69 75, Neill Simpson (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club) 69 75, Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 68 76

145 William Hanna (Kilkeel Golf Club) 75 70, Shane Magee (Lurgan Golf Club) 74 71, Andrew Morris (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 74 71, Fergal Kennedy (Island) 73 72, Colin Wilton (Banbridge Golf Club) 73 72, Jack Owens (Bangor Golf Club) 72 73, Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club) 72 73, Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 72 73, Connor Doran (Banbridge Golf Club) 71 74, Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 71 74, Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 71 74, Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 71 74, Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club) 69 76, Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 69 76, Eugene Smith (Ardee) 69 76, Lester Moore (City of Derry Golf Club) 68 77, Rory Williamson (Holywood Golf Club) 67 78

Non-qualifiers

146 David McMahon (Tralee Golf Club) 75 71, Dwayne Mallon (Dungannon Golf Club) 74 72, Brian Galway (Cairndhu Golf Club) 73 73, Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 73 73, Nicholas McClay (Whitehead Golf Club) 72 74, Bryan Martin (Killymoon Golf Club) 72 74, Simon Bryan (Delgany Golf Club) 72 74, Shane Hogan (Nenagh Golf Club) 72 74, Mathew Murphy (Clandeboye) 71 75, Liam Reilly (Ballycastle Golf Club) 71 75, Shane Underwood (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 71 75, Darragh Crawford (Bundoran Golf Club) 70 76, Frank O'Donoghue (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 70 76, William Bamber (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 69 77

147 Paul McGuigan (Foyle) 76 71, Barry Fitzsimons (Downpatrick Golf Club) 74 73, Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club) 74 73, Stuart Winsby (Whitehead Golf Club) 74 73, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 73 74, Ross Steedman (Balcarrick Golf Club) 73 74, Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club) 73 74, Gareth Moore (Lurgan Golf Club) 72 75, Adam Mulhall (Ardglass Golf Club) 72 75, James Lindsay (North West) 72 75, Alan Stevens (Spa) 72 75, Daniel Daly (Castle Hume Golf Club) 71 76, Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club) 71 76

148 Jack Walsh (Castle) 77 71, Paul Fitzsimons (Downpatrick Golf Club) 76 72, Garth Boyd (Donaghadee Golf Club) 75 73, Graeme Laird (Clandeboye) 74 74, Dean Crawford (Moyola Park) 73 75, Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary Golf Club) 73 75, Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell Golf Club) 73 75, Martin McAvoy (Lurgan Golf Club) 72 76, Jamie Knipe (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 72 76

149 Frank McGinn (Ballycastle Golf Club) 76 73, Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club) 76 73, Dan Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club) 75 74, Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club) 75 74, Stefan Greenberg (Tandragee Golf Club) 75 74, Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club) 74 75, Paul Mclarnon (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 74 75, Max Thallon (Bangor Golf Club) 74 75, Johnathan Hewitt (Loughgall Golf Club) 73 76, Andrew Dillon (Carrickfergus Golf Club) 73 76, Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 73 76, Matthew Kane (Whitehead Golf Club) 73 76, Kealan Quigg (North West) 72 77, Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club) 70 79, Paul Buckley (Kanturk Golf Club) 69 80

150 Neil Cromwell (Co. Armagh Golf Club) 75 75, Ryan Symington (Lisburn Golf Club) 74 76, Timothy Greeves (Shandon Park Golf Club) 74 76, Stuart Cave (Holywood Golf Club) 73 77, Nicky Wilson (Enniskillen Golf Club) 73 77, Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 73 77, Stephen Barker (Mourne) 73 77, Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth Golf Club) 73 77, Patrick McCrudden (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 72 78, Conor McCaughey (Dungannon Golf Club) 71 79, Glenn McAuley (Dunmurry) 71 79, Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 71 79, Damien McCusker (Moyola Park) 71 79, Michael O'Donovan (Castlerock Golf Club) 69 81

151 Ian Spillane (Mallow Golf Club) 80 71, Conor Ryan (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 75 76, Ian Lynch (Rosslare Golf Club) 75 76, Danny Cullen (Walton Heath Golf Club) 75 76, Colin Jenkins (Ballyclare Golf Club) 74 77, Declan Reidy (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 74 77, Michael McSherry (Lurgan Golf Club) 74 77, Kevin Connolly (Portarlington Golf Club) 74 77, Simon Miskelly (Knock) 74 77, Finnian O'doherty (Letterkenny Golf Club) 72 79, Sam Sweeney (Seapoint Golf Club) 71 80, John Turner (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 71 80, Ryan McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 70 81, Stephen Kinch (Hollystown Golf Club) 69 82

152 Peter McKeever (Castle) 77 75, Joseph Timlin (Dungannon Golf Club) 77 75, Alastair Kerr (Clandeboye) 76 76, Philip O'Sullivan (Malone) 75 77, David Turner (Castlerock Golf Club) 75 77, Noel Mcgrane (The Royal Dublin) 75 77, Chris Moulds (Lisburn Golf Club) 75 77, Shane McClean (Foyle) 75 77, Mark Mckenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 75 77, Christopher Blackmore (Dundalk Golf Club) 74 78, Patrick Dallat (Ballycastle Golf Club) 74 78, Adam Leslie (Ballyclare Golf Club) 73 79, Henry Clark (Shandon Park Golf Club) 73 79, Liam Bresnahan (Omagh Golf Club) 71 81

153 Gareth Mann (Tullamore Golf Club) 79 74, Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 78 75, Colin Steele (Ballyclare Golf Club) 78 75, Rory Leonard (Banbridge Golf Club) 77 76, Blane Lynch (Ballinrobe Golf Club) 77 76, Rob Brazill (Naas Golf Club) 77 76, Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club) 76 77, Patrick Jordan (Silverwood Golf Club) 76 77, Declan O'neill (Carton House Golf Club) 76 77, Glen Mowat (Enniskillen Golf Club) 74 79, Gerard Brennan (Dundalk Golf Club) 74 79, Evan Farrell (Ardee) 73 80, Mark Timmins (Coollattin Golf Club) 72 81

154 Declan O'Hara (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 82 72, Paul O'sullivan (Bray) 78 76, Ally Purdy (Ballyclare Golf Club) 77 77, Michael P O'brien (Delgany Golf Club) 76 78, David Carvill (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 76 78, Ronan O'Callaghan (Mannan Castle Golf Club) 74 80, Andrew Pigott (Dunmurry) 72 82, Simon Irwin (Holywood Golf Club) 71 83, John Finnegan (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 71 83

155 Philip Kelly (Co. Armagh Golf Club) 79 76, Jonathan Webb (Royal Co. Down) 77 78, Richard Moore (Castle Hume Golf Club) 77 78, Christopher Morrison (Rockmount Golf Club) 75 80, Stephen Jeffers (Castletown Golf Club) 74 81, Dominic Pollock (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 73 82, Marc Judge (Edmondstown Golf Club) 72 83, Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 71 84

156 Ryan McLarnon (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 80 76, Randolph Loney (Tandragee Golf Club) 77 79, Gary McDowell (Rathmore) 76 80, Sean Clancy (Carton House Golf Club) 76 80, Eamon Lynch (Lurgan Golf Club) 74 82, Darren Donohoe (Slieve Russell Golf Club) 74 82, Jake Whelan (Newlands) 74 82, Peter Crawley (Castleknock) 74 82, Mark Sutton (Castletown Golf Club) 73 83, Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club) 73 83, Nial O'connor (Castlerock Golf Club) 73 83

157 Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club) 85 72, Christopher Morgan (Dunmurry) 78 79, Barry Stevens (Spa) 78 79, Andrew Lowe (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 78 79, Derek Turkington (Massereene Golf Club) 77 80, Michael McHugh (Castleblayney Golf Club) 77 80, Andrew Montgomery (Old Conna Golf Club) 77 80, Jason Murphy (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 76 81, Jonathan Heaslip (Ballyclare Golf Club) 76 81, Lee Crawford (Scrabo Golf Club) 76 81, Mervyn Kelly (Massereene Golf Club) 75 82, Gary Flynn (Delgany Golf Club) 75 82, Ian Smyth (Clandeboye) 74 83, Ciaran Corcoran (Royal Tara Golf Club) 74 83, Declan Mcconville (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 72 85, Sean Denny (Castleblayney Golf Club) 72 85

158 Daryl Callister () 80 78, Michael Rae (Rowany Golf Club) 79 79, Cameron Mills (Shandon Park Golf Club) 78 80, Christian Kennedy (Lisburn Golf Club) 77 81, Joseph Rafferty (Castle Hume Golf Club) 76 82, Gary Clarke (Lurgan Golf Club) 75 83, Gary Hamill (Ardglass Golf Club) 75 83, Gary Mcgrane (The Royal Dublin) 74 84, Ben Best (Rathmore) 72 86

159 Conal Patterson (Lurgan Golf Club) 82 77, Stephen Hamill (Massereene Golf Club) 78 81, David McAleenon (Edenmore Golf Club) 77 82, Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk Golf Club) 76 83, Barry Daly (Edmondstown Golf Club) 76 83, Adam Price (Delgany Golf Club) 76 83, Daniel Reilly (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 76 83, Ryan Cunningham (Rathmore) 75 84, John Maguire (Co. Armagh Golf Club) 75 84, Adam Cromwell (Co. Armagh Golf Club) 74 85, Steven Kelly (Silverwood Golf Club) 74 85

160 Sean Quigg (City of Derry Golf Club) 79 81, Marty Monaghan (Killymoon Golf Club) 79 81, Conor Curran (Dundalk Golf Club) 78 82, Andrew Keenan (Dundalk Golf Club) 77 83, Karl Murray (Delgany Golf Club) 76 84, Ryan K. Gordon (Donaghadee Golf Club) 75 85, Christopher Hull (Massereene Golf Club) 75 85, Bruno Lupo (Malahide Golf Club) 72 88

161 Ryan Thompson (Greenacres Golf Club) 78 83, Jack McElroy (Dungannon Golf Club) 78 83, Andrew Miller (Co. Armagh Golf Club) 77 84, Arran Smith (Ardglass Golf Club) 74 87

162 Marc Mccusker (Shandon Park Golf Club) 85 77, Karl Eccles (Clandeboye) 80 82, Philip Gibb (Massereene Golf Club) 78 84, Kenny Topping (Carrickfergus Golf Club) 78 84, Shea Brady (Co. Armagh Golf Club) 77 85, James Rodgers (Knock) 75 87, Keith Walker (Portadown Golf Club) 75 87, Darragh Flynn (Carton House Golf Club) 71 91

163 Donald Beggs (King Edward Bay Golf Club) 81 82, Liam Doran (Ardee) 80 83, Jarlath McReynolds (Co. Armagh Golf Club) 80 83, Michael McGarry (Ballymena Golf Club) 78 85, Anthony Doyle (Littlestone Golf Club) 78 85, Ronan Doyle (Chart Hills Golf Club) 76 87, Bobby Rice (Ardee) 74 89

164 Colin Hull (Massereene Golf Club) 82 82, Michael Sinclair (Knock) 82 82, Andrew Porter (Rathmore) 79 85, Simon Corey (Whitehead Golf Club) 78 86, Aaron Darragh (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 76 88, Jamie Foley (Letterkenny Golf Club) 74 90

165 Matthew Kiernan (Glen of the Downs Golf Club) 79 86, Stewart Stevenson (Co. Armagh Golf Club) 77 88

166 Glenn Managh (Knock) 82 84, Peter Henry (Fintona Golf Club) 80 86

167 Adam Mcintyre (Ballyclare Golf Club) 84 83, Jamie Hore (Roganstown G & CC Golf Club) 83 84, Colin Rayfus (Knightsbrook) 82 85, Scott Campbell (Ballyclare Golf Club) 81 86, Ciaran Henry (Strandhill Golf Club) 80 87, Peter Wallace (Mullingar Golf Club) 80 87

168 Conor McGurgan (Foyle) 79 89

169 Mark Wehrly (Strandhill Golf Club) 82 87

172 Steven Hughes (Killymoon Golf Club) 80 92

180 Bert Lamar (USA) 88 92

NR/DQ/WD Conal Cooke (Strabane Golf Club) NR 79, Adam Mcateer (Whitehead Golf Club) 81 NR, Bill McCormack (Thurles) 79 NR, Conor Rankin (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 85 NR, John Hickey (Cork Golf Club) 78 NR, Alastair Mccully (Mannan Castle Golf Club) NR, Darragh Hobbs (Courtown Golf Club) 76 DQ, Patrick Brennan (Belvoir Park Golf Club) WD 88, Jamie Richardson (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 72 WD, Patrick Neville (Bearna Golf Club) 77 WD, Jonathan Greer (Greenisland Golf Club) WD

80 Mark Rooney (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 80 

83 Rory O'connor (Strandhill Golf Club) 83 , Aaron Taylor (City of Derry Golf Club) 83

91 Robert Kelly (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 91 

Arthurs holds off Greene to win Elm Park Senior Scratch Cup

Tue, 14/07/2015 - 10:24

Eoin Arthurs (right)  Picture by Pat Cashman

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs held off a strong challenge from former South of Ireland champion John Greene to win the Elm Park 'WestWood' Senior Scratch Cup on Sunday.

The former East of Ireland winner topped the 60-strong field by four shots on two under 136 from the Carlow native with Bryan McSweeney third on 142 on count back from Colm Crowley

Elm Park Senior Scratch Cup 2015 (Par 69)
  1. Eoin Arthurs - 136
  2. John Greene - 140
  3. Bryan McSweeney - 142 (Back 18)
  4. Colm Crowley - 142
  5. Alan Condren - 143 (Back 18)
  6. Aidan Claffey - 143 (Back 18)
  • Best Nett - Jack McKenna - 135
  • First 18 - Aidan Kelly - 69 (Back 9)
  • Second 18 - Ted Collins - 68

Mortality a reality for the living legend that is Pádraig Harrington

Tue, 14/07/2015 - 07:36

Pádraig Harrington

Pádraig Harrington might have done it all in the game but he knows he has another 22 years to go before he can ride off gracefully into the sunset.

As five-time winner Tom Watson prepares to say goodbye to The Open at St Andrews this week, Harrington must desperately search inside himself for the key that will unlock a dream win at the Home of Golf.

With two Claret Jugs and three Majors on his CV, the truth is that the 43-year old has achieved everything he ever dreamt of doing in the game.

He almost wishes he was like old footballers, who are quickly ushered into retirement the minute the “lose a yard of pace.”

But the Dubliner also knows that the “pace” excuse is just a cover up for players have done everything they had to do.

Living up to everyone’s expectations, including his won, is tough. 

But Harrington admits that he’ll still have butterflies as he chases major No 4 on the most iconic course in the game where Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros and Tiger Woods have raised that old Claret Jug to the heavens.

“I still love playing golf,” Harrington said. “But I can’t play the same way I played 7 or 8 years ago; that’s the nature if the game — I’m a different person. 

“There’s no innocence in me whatsoever. 

“You dream, but it’s a different kind of thing. When it comes to golf I’d be much more cynical than I was as a kid, wandering around thinking I was going to find all the answers.”

Harrington knows he can never know all the answers but that doesn’t stop him trying to find them.

Footballers like Barça’ s Xavi Hernandez or Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo have had to say goodbye this year and head for cash rich retirement in Qatar or the MLS.     

But there’s no real hiding place for golfer as they wind down their career.

Carnoustie 2007 - Pádraig Harrington ends a 60-year wait for an Irish major victory.  Picture courtesy: David Cannon

Harrington explained: “Just think of any of the guys that have won Majors… Faldo, Woosie, Lyle, Seve, Olazabal, you just pick any of them. Once they achieve their goal it’s hard to keep going. 

“Pick guys in another sport  — after 19 years of a career you’d be allowed to retire gracefully.

“People would just say ‘ah, he lost a yard of pace’. Instead of trying to analyse to the Nth degree. 

“How many times have you heard that to describe a guy who’s allowed retire, go out to the States or something like that?  Unfortunately with golf you don’t get that excuse.”

Harrington has no intention of retiring just yet and still craves the edge that will get him the zone coming down the stretch

Serena Williams said she didn’t need to Wimbledon again, Harrington is in a similar position but after 20 years as a pro, he’s had his best years.

“The difference is I want to win but I don’t have to win,” he said. “The deep down need is much more internal, not that you’re trying. 

“When you look at soccer players, it isn’t a yard of pace, it’s about genuinely achieving what they set out to do. They are all starting17-18 years of age. 

“There will always be an exception. Sometimes you might find that Woosie’s career was that bit longer as he took longer to get there. If you start at 16 in pro golf, you could be finished at 36. 

“If you start at 20 you could be finished at 40. That has to be taken into consideration, the intensity that someone is playing at. 

“Golf is unique in that you tend to see the player as he is tapering off.  It’s a very long hard road. You can name every single one of them. Very hard to find one that sustains it and passed it, and is competitive in the limelight.”    

Still, there will be butterflies in Harrington’s stomach as he heads out on Thursday with China’s Wenchong Liang and Scotland’s Marc Warren

Looking ahead  he said: “I’ll be waiting and nervous and excited and I’ll be wanting to perform and play. The great thing with me is that I know, if I can get myself in the hunt, I actually get better.”

The Old Course is a place where he has won two Alfred Dunhill Links titles and while the current soft conditions will bring back memories of those wins, there are still holed that frighten him to death.

He said: “I am still scared of my life of the tee shot on the 14th and the tee shot on the 17th. 

It’s hard to make the fairway now  if the wind is into you on the 14th — it’s 18 yards wide with out of bounds down the right. That’s a tough hole. 

“The 17th is much tougher now. With the new back tee, if it is any way cold you can’t afford to mishit it in any way down the right hand side. Whereas off the front tee, it was three wood and nine iron at times. 

“Length is a factor. It makes the course easier if you hit it long but if you hit it straight it's not an issue either. It's just easier if you hit it long, you can carry the trouble.”

Putting is always the great equaliser at St Andrews and that’s an area where Harrington can still proceed the goods under the kosh.

His game has been poor since he won the Honda Classic but he also knows he can produce some magic when the heat is on.

“I still hold out hope that it is possible to find it,” he said of his game. “The Honda gives me hope that it is possible to find it and it can work at short notice, but I do need to find some peace out there. 

“It’s completely internal. It’s completely in my own thinking, without a doubt.”

DJ does Dublin

Tue, 14/07/2015 - 07:30

DUstin Johnson had Connacht Interprovincial Kelan McDonagh on his bag at Royal Dublin. Picture: Kelan McDonagh/Facebook

Reformed wildman Dustin Johnson spent the weekend in Dublin but it was birdies he was chasing not thrills and spills on the town.

The PGA Tour star, a married father of one these days after coming back from a six-month “leave of absence” to treat personal issue, hooked up with billionaire Dermot Desmond and other friends.

“Yeah, we played at Portmarnock and Royal Dublin,” Johnson said. “I go over every year before The Open and play some golf over there and then come over. 

“It was a nice weekend, just hung out with the boys and played some golf.”

Desmond’s sons Brett, Ross and Derry were also with the star as well as a representative from club manufacturer TaylorMade, Sean Mullen.

The World No 4 hasn’t played since he finished a shot behind Jordan Spieth in the US Open at Chambers Bay, three putting the last.

Needing an eagle at the 18th to win and a birdie for playoff, he hit a great shot to 15 feet but three putted to miss out.

Asked at St Andrews how long it took him to get over that devastating loss, he said: "Not very long. You know, I played really well that week. 

"I was happy with the way I played and the way I handled myself coming down the last few holes. I thought I hit the shots that I was supposed to hit. 

"You know, I did everything I was supposed to. It wasn't too difficult to get over it. Obviously I was a little disappointed I didn’t get the job done, but you know, I was definitely happy with the way I played.”

On the three-putt, he said: "I knew I needed to make birdie. I hit the drive exactly where I wanted to. I hit the second shot right where I wanted to. 

“I hit two great shots, and unfortunately my ball -- I don't know how it stayed where it did, above the hole up there, but unfortunately it stayed there, and it was just a tough putt. 

“I was trying to make it, but if it went in, I wanted it to barely go in, and it still went four feet by. Hit a good putt on the way back, and it just bounced and missed left.”

Drawn with Spieth, who can take over from Rory McIlroy as world No 1 if he wins the Open, as well as Hideki Matsuyama, he said: “Jordan is a good buddy of mine, and so we have fun playing together. 

"I think we've got a good group. I think I just saw it's me and Spieth and Matsuyama, so it'll be a good day. I like playing with Jordan. No pressure, though.”

 

 

Lenehan shows his class in Portrush

Tue, 14/07/2015 - 00:30

Geoff Lenehan in action in the recent Interprovincial matches. Picture: Pat Cashman

Geoff Lenehan may play for Ireland some day and if it's going to be at Royal Portrush in next month's Home Internationals, this is as good a time as any to play well in the Cathedral Eye sponsored North of Ireland Amateur Open.

An opening four under par 66 on the Valley Course — bogey free to boot — was just what the doctor ordered for the Portmarnock man on day one of strokeplay qualifying.

A good second round on the Dunluce on Tuesday would be ideal but after seeing Lurgan's Shane Magee and Tralee's David McMahon top the scoring there with one under 71s, he may be happy simply to make the matchplay stages without breaking too much sweat.

Going far in the event is quite another matter and a 67 for Rosslare's Gary Collins and 68s for the likes of Faithlegg's Robin Dawson (runner up last year).or that talented trio of Colm Campbell, Richard Bridges and Rowan Lester, shows that there is a quality field in north Antrim.

Cathedral Eye sponsored North of Ireland Amateur Open, Royal Portrush (Valley Par 70, Dunluce Par 72)

Detailed scores

66 Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock)

67 Noel Crawford (Mourne), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk Golf Club), Gary Collins (Rosslare Golf Club), Simon McConnell (Ballyclare Golf Club), Rory Williamson (Holywood Golf Club)

68 Robin Dawson (Faithlegg Golf Club), Owen Crooks (Bushfoot Golf Club), Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Barry Cashman (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club), Richard Bridges (Stackstown Golf Club), Rowan Lester (Hermitage Golf Club), Ross Dutton (Tandragee Golf Club)

69 Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Matthew McClean (Balmoral Golf Club), Greg Mungovan (Headfort Golf Club), Eugene Smith (Ardee), Paul Buckley (Kanturk Golf Club), Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club), Keith Egan (Carton House Golf Club), Mark Mullen (Rosslare Golf Club), Stephen Kinch (Hollystown Golf Club), Paul McBride (Island)

70 Ryan McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club), Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock Golf Club), Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club), Ryan Gribben (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Ronan Mullarney (Galway Golf Club), Ian Moore (Dunmurry), Colin Fairweather (Knock), John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead Golf Club)

71 Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club), Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown), Theo Coffey (Slieve Russell Golf Club), Shane Magee (Lurgan Golf Club), David Mcmahon (Tralee Golf Club), Glenn McAuley (Dunmurry), Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin), Paul McGuigan (Foyle), Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.), John Turner (Royal Portrush Golf Club), Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Liam Reilly (Ballycastle Golf Club), John Finnegan (Royal Portrush Golf Club), Finlay Mason (Moor Hall Golf Club), Kyle McCarron (North West), Sam Sweeney (Seapoint Golf Club), Connor Doran (Banbridge Golf Club), Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Damien McCusker (Moyola Park)

72 Andrew Clegg (Donaghadee Golf Club), Colin Wilton (Banbridge Golf Club), Daniel Holland (Castle), Simon Bryan (Delgany Golf Club), Patrick McCrudden (Royal Portrush Golf Club), Jonathan Corke (Castletown Golf Club), Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club), Kealan Quigg (North West), Craig Melvin (Corrstown Golf Club), Jamie Richardson (Royal Portrush Golf Club), Shane Hogan (Nenagh Golf Club), Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin), Fergal Kennedy (Island), Adam Doran (Ardee), Tom Harris (Castletown Golf Club), James Lindsay (North West), Declan O'Hara (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin), Jack Owens (Bangor Golf Club), Ben Best (Rathmore), Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club), Bryan Martin (Killymoon Golf Club), Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club)

73 David Sutton (Lurgan Golf Club), Graeme Arthur (Carrickfergus Golf Club), Frank McGinn (Ballycastle Golf Club), Andrew Dillon (Carrickfergus Golf Club), Evan Farrell (Ardee), Brian Galway (Cairndhu Golf Club), Ross Steedman (Balcarrick Golf Club), Stephen Barker (Mourne), Mark Sutton (Castletown Golf Club), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth Golf Club), Alan Lowry (Esker Hills), Robbie Pierse (Grange), Jack Pierse (Portmarnock), Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell Golf Club), Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club), Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary Golf Club), Jonathan Yates (Naas Golf Club), Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club), Matthew Kane (Whitehead Golf Club), Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club)

74 Graeme Laird (Clandeboye), William Russell (Clandeboye), Bobby Rice (Ardee), Jake Whelan (Newlands), Gary Mcgrane (The Royal Dublin), Gareth Mann (Tullamore Golf Club), Dwayne Mallon (Dungannon Golf Club), Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club), Adam Cromwell (Co. Armagh Golf Club), Declan Reidy (Co. Sligo Golf Club), Stefan Greenberg (Tandragee Golf Club), Ryan Symington (Lisburn Golf Club), Barry Fitzsimons (Downpatrick Golf Club), Christopher Blackmore (Dundalk Golf Club), Simon Miskelly (Knock), Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club), Nicholas Mcclay (Whitehead Golf Club), Stuart Winsby (Whitehead Golf Club), Andrew Morris (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Kevin Connolly (Portarlington Golf Club), Alastair McQuillan (Cushendall Golf Club)

75 Ian Lynch (Rosslare Golf Club), Dan Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club), Peter McKeever (Castle), Paul Mclarnon (Fortwilliam Golf Club), Max Thallon (Bangor Golf Club), Gareth Moore (Lurgan Golf Club), Neill Simpson (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club), Mathew Murphy (Clandeboye), Dean Crawford (Moyola Park), David Turner (Castlerock Golf Club), Adam Mulhall (Ardglass Golf Club), Chris Moulds (Lisburn Golf Club), Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club), Garth Boyd (Donaghadee Golf Club), William Hanna (Kilkeel Golf Club), Christopher Morrison (Rockmount Golf Club), Conor Ryan (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Neil Cromwell (Co. Armagh Golf Club), Danny Cullen (Walton Heath Golf Club), Shane Underwood (Co. Sligo Golf Club), Colin Steele (Ballyclare Golf Club), Alan Stevens (Spa)

76 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club), Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club), Alastair Kerr (Clandeboye), Martin McAvoy (Lurgan Golf Club), Timothy Greeves (Shandon Park Golf Club), Gary McDowell (Rathmore), Barry Daly (Edmondstown Golf Club), Philip Kelly (Co. Armagh Golf Club), Frank O'Donoghue (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Karl Murray (Delgany Golf Club), David Carvill (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Johnathan Hewitt (Loughgall Golf Club), Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk Golf Club), Darragh Crawford (Bundoran Golf Club), Daniel Daly (Castle Hume Golf Club), Ryan McLarnon (Fortwilliam Golf Club), Blane Lynch (Ballinrobe Golf Club), Paul Fitzsimons (Downpatrick Golf Club), Michael P O'brien (Delgany Golf Club), Declan O'neill (Carton House Golf Club), Jamie Knipe (Royal Portrush Golf Club)

77 Derek Turkington (Massereene Golf Club), Andrew Keenan (Dundalk Golf Club), Rob Brazill (Naas Golf Club), Jack Walsh (Castle), Rory Leonard (Banbridge Golf Club), Joseph Timlin (Dungannon Golf Club), Randolph Loney (Tandragee Golf Club), Philip O'Sullivan (Malone), Marc Mccusker (Shandon Park Golf Club), Patrick Neville (Bearna Golf Club), Stuart Cave (Holywood Golf Club), Colin Jenkins (Ballyclare Golf Club), Lester Moore (City of Derry Golf Club), Nicky Wilson (Enniskillen Golf Club), Ally Purdy (Ballyclare Golf Club), William Bamber (Royal Portrush Golf Club), Noel Mcgrane (The Royal Dublin), Michael McSherry (Lurgan Golf Club), Patrick Jordan (Silverwood Golf Club), Conal Patterson (Lurgan Golf Club), Shane McClean (Foyle), Mark McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club)

78 Andrew Lowe (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Jonathan Webb (Royal Co. Down), Paul O'sullivan (Bray), Richard Moore (Castle Hume Golf Club), John Hickey (Cork Golf Club), Patrick Dallat (Ballycastle Golf Club), Christopher Morgan (Dunmurry), Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Anthony Doyle (Littlestone Golf Club), Ryan Thompson (Greenacres Golf Club)

79 Finnian O'Doherty (Letterkenny Golf Club), Glen Mowat (Enniskillen Golf Club), Adam Leslie (Ballyclare Golf Club), Gerard Brennan (Dundalk Golf Club), Conor McCaughey (Dungannon Golf Club), Michael Rae (Rowany Golf Club), Barry Stevens (Spa), Conal Cooke (Strabane Golf Club), Henry Clark (Shandon Park Golf Club)

80 Ian Spillane (Mallow Golf Club), Daryl Callister (), Andrew Montgomery (Old Conna Golf Club), Ronan O'Callaghan (Mannan Castle Golf Club), Mark Rooney (Co. Sligo Golf Club), Cameron Mills (Shandon Park Golf Club), Michael McHugh (Castleblayney Golf Club), Sean Clancy (Carton House Golf Club)

81 Liam Bresnahan (Omagh Golf Club), Michael O'Donovan (Castlerock Golf Club), Jason Murphy (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Stephen Hamill (Massereene Golf Club), Scott Campbell (Ballyclare Golf Club), Stephen Jeffers (Castletown Golf Club), Sean Quigg (City of Derry Golf Club), Jonathan Heaslip (Ballyclare Golf Club), Christian Kennedy (Lisburn Golf Club), Marty Monaghan (Killymoon Golf Club), Lee Crawford (Scrabo Golf Club), Mark Timmins (Coollattin Golf Club)

82 Joseph Rafferty (Castle Hume Golf Club), Mark Wehrly (Strandhill Golf Club), Conor Curran (Dundalk Golf Club), Eamon Lynch (Lurgan Golf Club), Donald Beggs (King Edward Bay Golf Club), Mervyn Kelly (Massereene Golf Club), Darren Donohoe (Slieve Russell Golf Club), Karl Eccles (Clandeboye), Colin Hull (Massereene Golf Club), Peter Crawley (Castleknock), Michael Sinclair (Knock), Dominic Pollock (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Andrew Pigott (Dunmurry), Gary Flynn (Delgany Golf Club), David McAleenon (Edenmore Golf Club)

83 Simon Irwin (Holywood Golf Club), Gary Clarke (Lurgan Golf Club), Adam Mcintyre (Ballyclare Golf Club), Gary Hamill (Ardglass Golf Club), Jack Mcelroy (Dungannon Golf Club), Adam Price (Delgany Golf Club), Liam Doran (Ardee), Nial O'connor (Castlerock Golf Club), Marc Judge (Edmondstown Golf Club), Aaron Taylor (City of Derry Golf Club), Ian Smyth (Clandeboye), Ciaran Corcoran (Royal Tara Golf Club), Jarlath McReynolds (Co. Armagh Golf Club), Daniel Reilly (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Rory O'connor (Strandhill Golf Club)

84 Philip Gibb (Massereene Golf Club), Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo Golf Club), Jamie Hore (Roganstown G & CC Golf Club), Ryan Cunningham (Rathmore), John Maguire (Co. Armagh Golf Club), Andrew Miller (Co. Armagh Golf Club), Glenn Managh (Knock), Kenny Topping (Carrickfergus Golf Club)

85 Conor Rankin (Royal Portrush Golf Club), Ryan K. Gordon (Donaghadee Golf Club), Paul Mccarthy (Mallow Golf Club), Andrew Porter (Rathmore), Christopher Hull (Massereene Golf Club), Michael McGarry (Ballymena Golf Club), Declan Mcconville (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Shea Brady (Co. Armagh Golf Club), Steven Kelly (Silverwood Golf Club), Sean Denny (Castleblayney Golf Club), Colin Rayfus (Knightsbrook)

86 Simon Corey (Whitehead Golf Club), Peter Henry (Fintona Golf Club), Matthew Kiernan (Glen of the Downs Golf Club)

87 James Rodgers (Knock), Keith Walker (Portadown Golf Club), Ciaran Henry (Strandhill Golf Club), Ronan Doyle (Chart Hills Golf Club), Arran Smith (Ardglass Golf Club), Peter Wallace (Mullingar Golf Club)

88 Aaron Darragh (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Patrick Brennan (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Stewart Stevenson (Co. Armagh Golf Club), Bruno Lupo (Malahide Golf Club)

89 Conor McGurgan (Foyle)

90 Jamie Foley (Letterkenny Golf Club)

91 Robert Kelly (Co. Sligo Golf Club), Darragh Flynn (Carton House Golf Club)

92 Steven Hughes (Killymoon Golf Club), Bert Lamar (USA)

NR  Adam Mcateer (Whitehead Golf Club), Bill McCormack (Thurles), Alastair Mccully (Mannan Castle Golf Club),

DQ Darragh Hobbs (Courtown Golf Club)

WD Jonathan Greer (Greenisland Golf Club)

No Open Championship date for Royal Portrush just yet

Mon, 13/07/2015 - 20:43

Royal Portrush. Picture: Pat Cashman

It's expected to take place in 2019 but the R&A has no plans to make an official announcement this week about the return of The Open to Royal Portrush.

The club accepted an invitation from the R&A to add the Dunluce Links to return to the rotation of courses used to host the championship having held the event in 1951 —  the only staging outside Great Britain so far.

Two new holes are to be created, replacing the current 17th and 18th but with planning permission still not in place for some of the changes required,, there can be no announcement on the date for Royal Portrush this week.

The next three Opens will be played at Royal Troon, Royal Birkdale and Carnoustie in 2016, 2017 and 2018 with Royal Portrush and Trump Turnberry (despite the recent controversy surrounding Donald Trump) believed to be in line for 2019 and 2020.

The 150th Open, which takes place in 2021, is expected to be played on the Old Course at St Andrews

 

Catalan crackshot Eduard crushes Clonmel rivals with super 64

Mon, 13/07/2015 - 20:17

Eduard Rousaud 

Catalan talent Eduard Rousaud fired a seven under par course record 64 at Clonmel to win the Munster Boys Under 16 title by three shots from Mallow's Edward Walsh.

After birdies at the first, third, fourth and sixth, he went five under with another birdie at the 11th, bogeyed the par-three 14th but then birdied the last three holes for an impressive victory.

Tramore's Jack Hearn continued his hot form with a 70 worth solo third place while Carton's House's Jack Doherty and Lahinch's Jonathan Keane posted level par 71s.

Munster Boys U16 Amateur Open Championship 2015, Clonmel GC (Par 71)

Detailed scores

Winner - 64 Eduard Rousaud (Spain)

Runner Up/U15 Cup Winner - 67 Edward Walsh (Mallow)

Third - 70 Jack Hearn (Tramore)

71 Jack Doherty (Carton House), Jonathan Keane (Lahinch)

72 Reece Black (Hilton Templepatrick), Seamus Burke (Mount Juliet)

73 Charlie Denvir (Powerscourt), Harry Gillivan (Westport), Killian Cotter (Doneraile), Connor Mulholland (Mount Juliet)

74 Jonathon Scannell (Blarney), Adam Boland (Mitchelstown), Paddy Culhane (Galway), Allan Hill (Roscommon), George Morgan (Grange), Conor Meade (East Clare), Seán Dowling (Beaverstown), Liam Power (Bearna)

75 Ryan O Connor (Faithlegg), Tommy Smyth (Castle), Ian Halpin (Cahir Park), Liam Dowling (Mallow), Zachariah Glynn (Bray), Daniel O Sullivan (Mallow), Eoin Murphy (Dundalk)

76 Andrew Mulhall (Waterford Castle), Ross Kelly (Tuam), Liam Nolan (Galway), Brendan Rossiter Gargan (Rosslare), Ross Higgins (Bandon), Jack Mc Garry (Rosslare), Evan Hollowed (Newlands), Niall Grant (Island)

77 Aj McCabe (Malahide), Nathan O'Brien (Rosslare), Robert Moran (Castle), Peter Clark (Royal Portrush), Connor Meehan (Strabane), Ross McCabe (Roganstown G & CC), Conor Ruane (Galway Bay), Niall Hearns (Mountrath), Shane Kearney (Esker Hills), Conor McDonald (Lurgan), Killian Schuster (Dun Laoghaire), Aaron Cashin (Tramore), Ross Moore (Royal Portrush), David Howard (Fota Island), David Cunningham (Tandragee)

78 Cian McCormack (Ashbourne), Dara Gilmore (Clandeboye), Joshua McCabe (Roganstown G & CC), Charlie Dawson (Faithlegg), Jack Small (Elm Park), Jack Tuohy (Galway Bay), Lorcan O ' Sullivan (The Heritage), Cian Mooney (Faithlegg), James Temple (Portmarnock), David Twomey (Elm Park), Barry Howlin (The Heritage), Daniel Raher (Dungarvan)

79 Ned Kirwan (Mount Juliet), Conor Glennon (Glasson), Zach Devlin (Cobh), Eoin McCarthy (Faithlegg), Shane Conroy (Mountrath), Joseph Hanney (Island), Conor Mc Guinness (Claremorris), Ross Fitzgerald (Limerick), Jeff Hogan (Castletroy), Oliver Pearson (Cahir Park), Daniel Tully (Royal Tara), Alex Maseda Coves, Donal Groome (Moyvalley), Michael Kelly (East Cork)

80 Luke Walsh (Killarney), Brian Mc Guinness (Claremorris), Liam Dunphy (Woodbrook), Oriol Martinez Lozano, Ward Farrell (Dunmurry), David Kitt (Mountbellew), Cillian Lawless (Athenry)

81 Robert Galligan (Elm Park), Niall McCarthy (Killarney), Andrew Hickey (Ballyhaunis), Caolan Dunn (Foyle), Sean Kestell (Charlesland), Seán Carroll (Castle Dargan), Darren Kelleher (Blarney), Martin Roche (Rosslare), Eoin Griffin (Galway), Greg Barrett (Mallow), Ethan Headley (Silverwood)

82 Patrick Somers (Grange), John Brady (Rosslare), Annraoi Collins (Laytown & Bettystown), Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire), Mark Duggan (Highfield), Stephen Fitzgerald (Tullamore), Luke Merrigan (Bray), Morgan Hanley (Limerick), Roy Whelan (Mallow), Darragh Lynch (Slievenamon), Conor Twomey (Mahon), Shane Bresnan (Woodbrook)

83 Karl Byrne (Grange), John Endersen (Bantry Bay), Jack Dillon (Mallow), David Duggan (Highfield), Brian Staunton (Mount Juliet), Lucas Mota Pascual, David Jeffares (Athy)

84 Jake Oriordan (Dungarvan), Eoghan O Shea (Mahon), Patrick Roche (Faithlegg), Padraig Fallon (Dundalk), Micheal Burke (Dunmore Demesne), Shane Galvin (Fota Island), Adrian O'Connor (Milltown)

85 Quim Vidal Mora, Darren Leufer (Athenry)

86 Stephen Spellman (Dunmore Demesne), Sean Green (Mahon), Sean Geary (Muskerry), Stephen Rennick (Curragh), Christopher Rabbette (Esker Hills)

87 Alexander Flynn (Dun Laoghaire), Richard Duggan (Kilkenny), Sam Small (Elm Park)

88 Joe O Farrell (Galway), Thomas Plunkett (Crover House)

89 Ronan Feerick (Mallow), Michael Carey (Gowran Park)

90 Kevin O'Donnell (Milltown), Liam Travers (Ardee)

91 Conor Murtagh (Balcarrick), Stephen Ryan (Roscrea), Scott Obrien (Limerick), Brian Meaney (Dromoland)

97 Gavin Downey (Ballykisteen)

NR David Hanley (Douglas)

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