Irish Golf News

Derry Byrne (Captain, Castle Golf Club) presenting Michael and Stephen Finlan (Dunmurry Springs / Grange Castle) with the 2015 CPL Resources sponsored Father & Son trophy after their victory at the Castle. Also in the picture (from left), Paul Carroll (CPL Resources) and Karl Devenney (Father & Son Committee Chairman). Picture by Pat Cashman

More than 500 golfers representing over 100 golf clubs participated in the All Ireland Father and on at Castle. But in the end there was a familiar name on the famous trophy as Michael Finlan from Dunmurry Springs won for the fourth time since 1979 and the third in 11 years.

Beaten finalist Paul O'Reilly (Elm Park) reacts to a chip at the 10th. Picture by Pat Cashman

A winner for the first time with his father, Ben, 36 years ago, Michael and his son Stephen defeated first time entrants Paul and Louis O’Reilly of Elm Park by 2 and 1 in a hard-fought decider.

Sponsored by CPL Resources, the O'Reilly's shot a 67 and topped the qualifiers by a stroke from "the Smyths" from Castle while the leading gross score was 75 by Morgan and Robbie Pierse of Grange.

Sixty-four pairs qualified for the matchplay stages which began on Monday and ran every evening during the week until the Finlans emerged as winners for the third time following previous victories in 2005 and 2013

For more details, visit the official Castle website.

ALL-IRELAND FATHER & SON FINAL 2014

Michael & Stephen Finlan (Dunmurry Springs/Grange Castle) beat  Paul & Louis O’Reilly (Elm Park) 2 and 1

Paul and Louis O'Reilly (Elm Park) runners up in the 2015 CPL Resources sponsored Father & Son competition. Also in the picture are Conor Lennon (Captain, Elm Park) and Oonagh O'Reilly. Picture by Pat Cashman

Michael and Stephen Finlan (Dunmurry Springs / Grange Castle) with the 2015 CPL Resources sponsored Father & Son trophy after their victory at the Castle Golf Club (12/07/2015). Also in the picture are extended family members. Picture by Pat Cashman

Michael Finlan (Dunmurry Springs) bunkered at the 14th green during the final of the 2015 CPL Resources sponsored Father & Son at the Castle Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Leona Maguire during the LET"s Ladies British Masters at the Buckinghamshire, where she finished second. Picture: Tristan Jones (LET)

World Amateur No 1 Leona Maguire would qualify to play for Ireland if the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games were taking place this week. 

Thanks to her runner up finish in the ISPS HANDA Ladies British Masters on July 5, the 20-year old Slieve Russell and Duke University star is now officially 55th in the Women's Olympic Golf Ranking

She would be joined in Rio by LPGA Tour professional Stephanie Meadow, ranked 37th,  as it has emerged that  Galway-born Irish-American Alison Walshe, who also plays on the LPGA Tour, will not be declaring for Ireland after all.

Meadow does not have to turn professional to qualify for Rio de Janeiro. But she must maintain her Rolex World Ranking position by performing well when she plays in professional events, such as the Evian Championship this September.

Team Captain McGinley is keeping a watching brief and closely monitoring the performances of Ireland's potential team members, including Leona Maguire and the potential members of the men's team.

"She is currently ranked 336th in the Rolex Women's Rankings and if the Olympics were held today, she'd qualify with that ranking," McGinley said at the Scottish Open on Sunday. "The lowest ranked player to get into the women's field is 400th in the world at the moment. 

"Of course, the more events Leona enters the more opportunities she will have to earn points. The minimum divisor for a player's world ranking points average is 40 (events).

"So it's going to be important for her schedule that she enters events because every point she earns will accumulate to her total."

McGinley knows that the Co Cavan native has accepted an invitation for the Evian Championship, one of the five professional majors in women's golf, this September.

The Ballyconnell star, who helped Ireland finish eighth in the European Ladies' Amateur Team Championship in Denmark on Saturday, will return to college in the US in the autumn.

But she will try to play in more professional events and has joined Stephanie Meadow in trying to qualify for the Ricoh Women's British Open, which will be played at Trump Turnberry, from July 30 to August 2.

The Irish pair have entered Final Qualifying at The Irvine Golf Club in Scotland on July 27.

Colm Moriarty

Drive Golf Performance's Colm Moriarty fired a five under par 67 to win the Zurich Castlewarden Pro-Am for the third year in succession.

Moriarty recorded seven birdies and two bogeys in his round as he beat, Daniel Beattie (Deer Park), Wayne O'Callaghan (Fernhill), Eamonn Brady (Clontarf) and Brian Cosgrove (Killeen GC) by two shots at the County Kildare venue.

“I suppose you could say I kind of like it around here,” said the 36-year-old who has completed year one of his PGA training qualifications.

“It's tight in places and if you get it out of position, you can be chipping out sideways to get it back into the fairway.

“I have been playing pretty well of late [this is Colm's third win of the season] but I got off to a shaky start today with a dropped shot at the third but after that I gave myself plenty of chances for birdies.”

The Glasson based professional went to the turn in two under 35, a bogey at the third offset by birdies at the fourth, seventh and ninth.

He started for home with a birdie at the 10th, dropped a shot at the 11th before adding three more birdies at the 13th, 17th and 18th to come home in three under 32.

Gerry Burke (Royal Curragh) guided his team of Brendan McDonald, Peter Grey and Tom Brown to success in the pro-am event with 91 points.

Zurich Castlewarden Pro-Am, Castlewarden G&CC (Par 72)

Detailed results

1 C Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance) 67

T2 D Beattie (Deer Park Hotel), W O'Callaghan (Fernhill G&CC), E Brady (Clontarf), B Cosgrove (Killeen GC) 69

T6 B McGovern (Headfort GC), J Quinlivan (Mullingar GC) 70

T8 D Lernihan (Elm Park), D Higgins (Waterville GC) 71

Team results

1. Gerry Burke 92
2. Dara Lernihan 91
3. Ciaran Molloy 90

Rickie Fowler with the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. Picture: Getty Images

Rickie Fowler claimed the title in dramatic fashion with a tap-in birdie at the last but Shane Lowry was almost as euphoric about his form despite finishing seven shots behind the American in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane.

The 28-year old Offaly man tied for 31st with Graeme McDowell on five under after following a brace of 66s with weekend rounds of 72 and 71.

Yes, Lowry is still desperate to end his three-year title drought but he’s not ruling out making a run for glory at the Home of Golf.

“I am pretty happy, I am definitely not going (to St Andrews) with no confidence,” Lowry said. “I am quite confident, I am playing well. I hit some great shots in the wind and in the crosswind.”

The Clara man backed into 10th in The Open last year with a closing 65 and had grown so much in confidence that he was disappointed to finish only joint ninth in last month’s US Open at Chambers Bay.

“I am very excited,” Lowry said as he got ready to make the 77-mile drive from Gullane to the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews. “I said to [my caddie] Dermo, walking around there, I am looking forward to getting there this evening.”

He won’t staying with his Dad Brendan, who has rented a house.

“The Lowrys? There are a few coming,’ he beamed. “My dad has a house so God knows how many are in there....I am in the Old Course Hotel, slumming it.
 
“I am excited. It’s one of those weeks where you don’t mind getting there on a Sunday evening. The Majors —  Augusta, the US Open — they are always very exciting. I am just really looking forward to it.  

“I do think I have got a chance, so we will see.”

Lowry won’t overdo things over the first three days in St Andrews, which is playing soft and long.

“I’ll probably just play nine holes each day, and see how it goes from there," he said. “It will be familiar anyway, I am sure it will get firmish, you never know what is going to happen, it is definitely not like a few years ago."

He's certainly not planning on taking a softly softly approach, despite the fact that it's a major.

“I don’t think patience is the key in St Andrews, scoring is going to be alright, so if you go out with the mentality of being patient all of a sudden you find yourself level par through 15 and the leader is five or six under,  so you need to be cautiously aggressive I suppose in tournaments like the Open. You have to be aggressive where you know you can be, and I know the course well enough that I know how to play it.

"You need to par a few holes like the 17th and the fourth and a few others, and the rest of the holes, if you put it in position off the tee, you have got a chance.”

Lowry is patiently waiting for his day to come, however, and while he's not making any bold claims, there’s no reason why it can’t come in The Open.

“I think even though I am going to finish something like 30th this week, I feel I was knocking on the door again,” he said.

“I had a chat with Dermot coming down the last, just keep knocking on that door eventually, hopefully, I will make three or four birdies in a row and all of a sudden I will be standing there on the 18th green a happy man. 

“I need to be patient, not next week, but with my whole golf at the minute, let it happen and wait for it to happen.”

The opening tee shot at the Old Course gives you plenty of room for error but Lowry admits he’ll still be nervous. 

Justin Rose leads the field in GIR (85%) but is six shots back. He tees off with @ShaneLowryGolf in 15 mins. pic.twitter.com/MJHEqkvwIi

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 12, 2015

“The only thing is if you hit it out of bounds you’d feel like a bigger t**l than you would at Augusta,” he joked. “The thing is, when you are used to it, I have played in a few Opens now and played in St Andrews quite a lot.

"You get butterflies no matter when you play the first. Hopefully it will be a little three iron or two iron down there on Thursday.”

McDowell also shot a 71 to finish on five under but after going through a rough patch, the Portrush man feels he turned the corner at Gullane.

“Not bad, good couple of days just got tough going into the weekend, didn’t score very well yesterday especially,” McDowell said. “Some positives to take away, hit the ball very well, Thursday and Friday, especially.

"Didn’t hole a lot of putts even though I thought I putted well. The greens were so good you expected to hole a few putts. All in all, a really good warm-up going into next week.

“I feel like I’m going in there quite sharp, played well, in the wind, controlled the ball. A couple of 66s was what I needed under the belt to start feeling good about myself and my games. That’s was more like it, just what I needed. Thursday, Friday is the best I’ve played this year. 

“Today I drove it better but got off to a slow start. All in all, happy with direction I’m moving.  We got no shortage of good golf coming up so it’s time to stay patient and let get good results get in the way. 

“I’d like to converted it into a Top-10 or a Top-15, but it’s no big deal.”

McDowell spoke earlier in the week of his confidence being like a cup that was once full to the brim. 

Clutch. http://t.co/hJo4HvSToP

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 12, 2015

He’s spilled some, for sure, but he replenished it somewhat in Gullane.

“I put some back but there’s plenty of room for more,” he said. “That only comes from getting out there and getting your hands dirty and getting among it. 

“It was good to get out there in the business end of things again yesterday, feel the juices flowing a little bit again, put my nerve to the test. This course was a great limber up for next week.

“Shane and I feel the same way. Feel like we know the course quite well. We’ve had a really good workout there. It’s about getting the speed and the feel of the place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and not over exerting energy levels. I don’t think there’s a ton to be done.”

Pádraig Harrington has nothing to prove in The Open and while he dropped four shots in a three hole stretch on his back nine, carding a 72 to finish 62nd on two under, he got what he wanted from his week at Gullane — a week of links practice ahead of his bid for a fourth major.

"It feels great. I could definitely get used to winning more often." pic.twitter.com/oF4obhNgGU

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 12, 2015

As for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, nobody could deny Fowler his first European Tour win.

Marc Warren shot a six under 64 to set the target at 10 under only to be overhauled by Matt Kuchar, who posted 11 under thanks to a final round 68.

For much of the day, Fowler struggled to find his rhythm in the strong winds and cold temperatures at Gullane Golf Club, but he rose magnificently to the occasion late on with three birdies in his final four holes – including a tap-in at the last courtesy of a wonderful 109-yard wedge shot to around two feet.

A round of 68 for a 12 under par aggregate total saw him leapfrog Kuchar, leaving Raphaël Jacquelin, who playing alongside overnight leader Daniel Brooks in the last group, needing an eagle on the 72nd hole to force a play-off.

The Frenchman almost pulled off the unlikely feat when his approach stopped within a foot of the cup, .

That tap-in birdie set the seal on a level par round of 70, and his tied runner-up finish earned Jacquelin a place in next week’s Open Championship.

Brooks struggled in a round of 73, but the Englishman took ample consolation from a place at St Andrews along with Sweden’s Rickard Karlberg, who closed with a superb 64 to claim the third and final Open Championship berth.

Fowler will now be fancied to follow in Phil Mickelson's footsteps and follow his Scottish Open win with victory in The Open.

“I felt really good coming down the stretch. It was nice to be back in contention again, and I'm excited about where the game is at," Fowler said. "I have a few things we need to straighten out before Thursday, but I'm very excited about next week now.

“Probably the only thing that would be more special than this would be winning next week. But winning on a links golf course in Scotland, the Home of Golf, is a special week. I beat some pretty good players out there today.

"The guys were on top of their games. I didn't see many scores being under par with the way the wind was blowing, so it was going to be a tough test of golf. I'm definitely proud of how I finished.”

Borja Virto Astudillo. Picture © Pavel Poulicek 

Niall Kearney clinched the first Top 10 finish of his Challenge Tour career with a share of ninth in the D+D Real Slovakia Challenge.

The 27-year old former Walker Cup player, who picked up just over €3,000 in only his third Challenge Tour start of the year to move to 130th in the Road to Oman rankings, closed with a  two under 70 to finish on 10 under par in his 55th event on the second tier circuit since 2010.

The reigning Irish Professional champion finished seven shots behind Spain’s Borja Virto Astudillo, who earned his maiden Challenge Tour title in truly dramatic fashion by chipping in for birdie on the 72nd hole for a 66 and a one-shot win over playing partner Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal.

“I normally stay pretty calm on the golf course, but I did the biggest fist-pump of my life when that chip went in on the last," said Virto, who had to wait to see if Denmark’s Jeff Winther could eagle the last to force a playoff .

"It was only just off the green but it had to go up and over a big slope and then down the other side, so it definitely wasn’t easy. 

"To win your first title is always very special, but to shoot 66 and chip in on the last hole – it doesn’t get much better than that.”

The €26,400 cheque moved Virto Astudillo, who came through the Qualifying School last year, up to 12th place in the Road to Oman Rankings, and whilst he is likely to concentrate predominantly on The European Tour for the remainder of the season, the victory has restored some self-belief.      

He said: “I don’t know why, but I just feel more comfortable on the Challenge Tour. It shouldn’t matter what Tour you’re playing on, because you’re only playing the golf course and not the rest of the field. But hopefully this win gives me confidence to take onto the main Tour, because I believe my game is good enough to compete out there.

“I played very well today, just hit two bad shots which cost me bogeys on the eighth and 17th. I actually made a good bogey on the eighth, because I hit my second into the water but managed to get up down from 80 metres. Then on the 17th I hit my approach shot right and didn’t manage to save par. So it was a really bad time to make bogey but I managed to stay calm, and then to finish like I did was obviously a dream.”

Tied for sixth overnight, Kearney slipped down the leaderboard in the end but it was still a good week as he birdied the second and then made three in a row from the fourth to get to 12 under par.

A double bogey five at the short eighth and a bogey at the 13th proved costly but he made a birdie five at the par-six 15th and parred his way in to share ninth spot.

Derry’s Michael McGeady was tied 14th, a shot further back on nine under following a four-birdie 69 and is now 125th in the Road to Oman rankings after six events.

Rosapenna’s Ruaidhri McGee leads the Irish posse in 10th spot with €41,184 from 10 starts with Chris Selfridge 53rd with €12,707 from his first five tournaments as a professional.

Gareth Shaw is 77th with €9,276 from seven events. 

Final Round Scores
271 B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 69 67 69 66,

272 R Gouveia (Por) 69 66 69 68, 

273 J Winther (Den) 66 71 66 70,

275 J Doherty  (Sco) 65 71 68 71, S Henry  (Sco) 73 70 66 66, J McLeary  (Sco) 68 70 68 69, 

276 S Wakefield (Eng) 68 74 68 66,

277 A Björk (Swe) 70 68 70 69,

278 L Claverie (Esp) 71 65 72 70, J Robinson (Eng) 73 68 69 68, J Hansen  (Den) 70 70 69 69, T Sluiter  (Ned) 69 69 73 67, N Kearney (Irl) 68 71 69 70, 

279 C Arendell (USA) 74 68 71 66, D Huizing (Ned) 71 70 68 70, M McGeady (Irl) 70 68 72 69.

Daniel Brooks. Picture: Getty Images

European Tour — Shane Lowry might have birdied two of his last three holes but a two over 72 was not what he had in mind in the third round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane.

Poor tee shots led to three front nine bogeys on the trot followed by another at the 11th and despite the late gains at the 16th and 18th, the 28-year old Co Offaly star is six strokes off the pace set by Daniel Brooks, tied with Graeme McDowell, who also shot a 72 in blustery conditions. 

Brooks opened with a double bogey after an errant tee shot, but showed great resilience to bounce back with four birdies for a 69 to finish on 12 under par and one clear of Raphaël Jacquelin.

Michael Hoey and Padraig Harrington shot 70s that left them on five under and four under respectively.

198 D Brooks (Eng) 64 65 69; 199 R Jacquelin (Fra) 68 67 64; 200 R Fowler  (USA) 66 68 66, J Luiten (Ned) 71 63 66, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 67 66 67; 201 E Pepperell (Eng) 70 66 65, R Knox (Sco) 67 68 66, M Kuchar  (USA) 66 68 67; 202 M Jiménez (Esp) 69 65 68, R Palmer (USA) 67 65 70; 203 G Havret  (Fra) 66 68 69, B Grace  (RSA) 69 66 68, F Zanotti (Par) 69 67 67, P Oriol (Esp) 67 69 67, P Lawrie (Sco) 67 67 69, B Martin (USA) 69 66 68, R Fisher (Eng) 70 65 68; 204 Graeme McDowell (Nir) 66 66 72, F Aguilar (Chi) 73 64 67, J Carlsson (Swe) 65 67 72, V Dubuisson  (Fra) 70 66 68, B Koepka  (USA) 70 68 66, J Rose (Eng) 66 66 72, S Kapur (Ind) 68 70 66, M Kieffer (Ger) 69 65 70, R Paratore (Ita) 70 68 66, D Howell (Eng) 68 70 66, E Grillo (Arg) 66 67 71, Shane Lowry  (Irl) 66 66 72, 205 Michael Hoey  (Nir) 70 65 70; 206 Padraig Harrington (Irl) 68 68 70.

Jeff Winther.

Challenge Tour — A three under 69 left Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney just five shots behind leader Jeff Winther in the D+D REAL Slovakia Challenge.The Dubliner is tied for sixth place on eight under par with Winther one clear of Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia – chasing back to back victories after his win in Germany last week - as well as experienced Scot Jack Doherty on 13 under after a six under 66.Derry's Michael McGeady is back in tied 16th on six under par. Scores: 203 J Winther (Den) 66 71 66; 204 J Doherty  (Sco) 65 71 68, R Gouveia (Por) 69 66 69, 
205 B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 69 67 69; 206 J McLeary  (Sco) 68 70 68;  208 N Kearney (Irl) 68 71 69, S Jeppesen  (Swe) 70 65 73, J Sjöholm (Swe) 68 70 70, S Tiley (Eng) 70 71 67, L Claverie (Esp) 71 65 72, A Björk (Swe) 70 68 70, 209 D Huizing (Ned) 71 70 68, P Howard  (Eng) 69 68 72, J Hansen  (Den) 70 70 69, S Henry  (Sco) 73 70 66,  210 S Wakefield (Eng) 68 74 68, J Robinson (Eng) 73 68 69, M McGeady (Irl) 70 68 72.

Web.com Tour — Seamus Power shot a level par 71 but fell 24 spots to tied 46th with a round to play in the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco in Boise, Idaho.

The West Waterford player is on nine under par, 15 strokes behind Martin Piller (61 63 65), who leads by five strokes from Argentina's Jorge Fernandez Valdes on 25 under par.

 

Scotland's Jack McDonald holed the winning putt in the European Amateur Team Championship

European Amateur Team Championship — Scotland won the title for the seventh time since it was first played in 1959 — and the first tim in six years — as Ireland beat France 3-2 to take fifth place at Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden.

Results

The Scots, who overcame holders Spain and Ireland's conquerors England to make the final, beat Denmark 4.5 - 2.5 by building on two foursomes wins with singles victories for Grant Forrest and Jack McDonald and a half for Conor Syme.

Ireland's Gary Hurley and Paul Dunne beat British Amateur champion Romain Langaque and Leon Bem by one hole before Jack Hume and Cormac Sharvin won their singles.

Irish records  P W L H Pts | Strokeplay

• Paul Dunne 3 2 1 0 5pts | T8 74 68
• Jack Hume 4 2 0 2 6pts | T25 68 77
• Gary Hurley 3 2 1 0 4pts | T18 75 69
• Dermot McElroy 3 2 1 0 4pts | T8 70 72
• Gavin Moynihan 4 1 3 0 2pts | T42 73 74
• Cormac Sharvin 4 3 1 0 6pts | T32 70 76

European Ladies' Amateur Team Championship — France beat Switzerland 4-3 to claim the title as Ireland finished eighth following a 1.5 - 3.5 defeat to Denmark.While Paula Grant and Chloe Ryan halved in foursomes only Maria Dunne could win her singles as Leona Maguire, Jessica Carty and Olivia Mehaffey all fell 2/1 at Helsingør Golf Club in Denmark 

European Girls' Amateur Team Championship — Ireland beat Belgium 3-2 to finish 13th at Golf Resort Kaskáda in the Czech Republic as Spain beat Italy 4-3 to win the title.

In foursomes, Niamh McSherry and Valerie Clancy won 7 and 5 while Annabel Wilson and Ciara Casey both won their singles as Julie McCarthy and Mairead Martin suffered defeats.

Graeme McDowell hits to the 18th at Adare Manor during the 2010 JP McManus Invitational that raised €43m for charity

Rory McIlroy and his management team speak to lots of people but how significant was their sit-down with JP McManus during May's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open?

Very significant if one considers that the Sundance Kid, as McManus is known to his friends, is believed to be investing €30 million in converting his Adare Manor acquisition into what the Limerick Leader describes as "The Augusta of Europe."

Not only does the multi-millionaire businessman, who bought Adare Manor in xxx, want to host the Ryder Cup in 2028, he's clearly targeting the Irish Open.

According to Alan Owens in the Limerick Leader:

The Limerick Leader understands that the Martinstown Stud owner, who bought the resort last year for a figure in the region of €30m, is planning to invest at least the same amount again in a major redevelopment of the hotel and golf course.While very little has been said officially, it is believed that major development work will get under way at the beginning of 2016 – causing the golf course to close for a period of approximately seven months, and the hotel for even longer, subject to planning. The clubhouse on the renowned parkland course is to get a major revamp, with a number of holes to be completely redesigned also on the course, which hosted the Irish Open in 2007 and 2008.A spokesperson declined to comment when asked about the plans for the resort this Wednesday.The Limerick Leader has however learned that high ranking officials in the golf club were informed this week that the course would likely close for at least seven months next year, with members to get a break on fees while the work is being carried out.Members are due to be informed by letter about the development plans in the coming days.It is understood that the intention is to transform the course, with a view to returning the Irish Open to Adare, plus JP’s Pro Am and, looking ahead, making an attempt to secure the Ryder Cup in 2026.The hotel, it is also understood, will close for a longer period, up to 18 months, with plans in place to build a new wing and conference centre. The figure being mentioned is that of €30m, in an effort to make the Adare facility “the best golf resort in Europe”, according to a source.

The venue for next year's Irish Open has yet to be decided and while The K Club is believed to be in pole position with only the small print to be decided, those "details" include the European Tour seeking a hefty, seven-figure staging fee.

The event returns to Northern Ireland in 2017 with Lough Erne already signed up, however, it remains to be seen if The K Club will succeed in getting a multi-year deal.

Fota Island in Cork and Mount Juliet are also potential future venues that could be ready to throw their hats into the ring again over the next few seasons.

The draw for the two strokeplay qualifying rounds of South of Ireland Championship has been released and while every effort has been made to strengthen the field, few can argue that it is stronger than it was in previous years.

While the event has been brought forward a few days, starting on a Wednesday and finishing on Sunday and with the Interprovincial Matches finishing two weeks before it starts, it was hoped that more of our top players would take part. 

It hasn't worked out that way with the elite players clearly .

Of the Top 100 Irish players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), 48 have opted not to take part. The stay aways include Big Six — Cormac Sharvin, Gary Hurley, Jack Hume, Gavin Moynihan, Paul Dunne and Dermot McElroy — as well as 10 of the Top 16. (See list below)

The handicap cut off for entry was 1.1 (not all 1.1s getting in) with reserves up to 1.5. But while there will he disappointment that the change of format to stroke play qualifying followed by six rounds of match play has not born fruit this year in terms of attracting more of our better players, there are still places in the Irish team for September's Home Internationals up for grabs and some quality players taking part.

Leinster's Paul McBride and Eanna Griffin — the top two points scorers in the recent Interpros — with Robin Dawson, Colm Campbell Jnr, Gary McDermott, Richard Bridges, Geoff Lenehan, Conor O'Rourke and Pat Murray all gunning for that precious trophy.

Rosslare's Gary Collins, off plus four, is the low man in the field but the fact that world No 358 Stuart Grehan is the highest ranked player explains why all the top players have decided to stay away.

What can be done to improve the field? It's not an easy question to answer and while there are those who believe a change of date to late in the season might help, there is little appetite in Lahinch for a move just now.

What is clear is that the course remains one of the classic tests and while it deserves a champion commensurate with its history, maintaining its elite status is becoming more difficult every year.

SOUTH OF IRELAND AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPStrokeplay qualifying 22-23 July 2015, Lahinch Golf Club

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) Eoghan O’Donnell (Tralee) 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) Barry Reddan (Co Louth) 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 Morrisse (Mount Wolseley) Michael O’Kelly (Limerick) 

8 08.10 12.40 John Greene (Portmarnock) Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) Kyle McCarron (North West) 

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) Ronan Mullarney (Galway) 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) David Ryan (Grange) 

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) Daniel Coyle (Portmarnock) 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) Eugene Smith (Ardee) 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) Rory Williamson (Holywood) 

42 14.30 09.40 Stephen Barker (Mourne) Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire) Fergal Deasy (Cork) 

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 (Castle) 

50 15.50 11.10 Sean Poucher (Limerick) Edward Stack (Ballybunion) Evan Farrell (Ardee) 

Reserves 
1 Michael Horan (Birr) 
2 Alan Purcell (Adare Manor) 
3 Mark Timmins (Coollattin) 
4 Ronan O’Grady (Tullamore) 
5 Karl McCormack (Portarlington) 
6 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Castle) 
7 Cathal Nolan (Galway) 
8 Peter Kane (Ashbourne) 
9 Nicholas Duggan (Dromoland Castle) 
10 Tristan O’Rourke (Nenagh) 
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)

WAGR CheckWho’s staying away

20    19    -1    Cormac Sharvin        48    1181.25
28    29    +1    Gary Hurley        54    1112.50
48    47    -1    Jack Hume        51    1061.15
57    56    -1    Gavin Moynihan        49    1047.96
81    79    -2    Paul Dunne        54    993.06
139    143    +4    Dermot McElroy        51    931.70
441    445    +4    Kevin Leblanc        33    801.52
528    526    -2    John-Ross Galbraith        48    777.86
677    674    -3    Alexander Wilson    42    745.24
711    709    -2    Alex Gleeson        44    739.39
956    964    +8    Jonathan Yates        26    686.31
969    972    +3    Sean Flanagan        35    684.29
2068    2054    -14    Stuart Winsby        39    466.67
2042    2028    -14    Aaron Grant        20    471.43
2069    2055    -14    Eddie McCormack    18    466.07
2073    2059    -14    Jordan Hood        21    464.29
2084    2069    -15    Eoin Leonard        33    463.64
2140    2471    +331Owen Crooks        29    452.59
2453    2451    -2    Thomas Mulligan    18    385.71
2551    2548    -3    Declan Loftus        19    370.54
2631    2625    -6    Mark Shanahan        14    357.14
2814    2811    -3    Caolan Rafferty        12    325.00
2863    2851    -12    Maurice Kelly        12    318.75
2892    2882    -10    Adrian Morrow        15    314.29
2920    2905    -15    Eoin Arthurs        12    310.71
2960    2939    -21    Ben Best            12    304.91
3124    3117    -7    Joe Crangle        15    275.00
3451    3442    -9    Ryan McKinstry        17    228.57
3467    3459    -8    Eamonn Haugh        9    227.68
3467    3459    -8    Simon Miskelly        9    227.68
3550    3542    -8    James Fox            10    217.86
3612    3604    -8    Michael Sinclair        9    210.71
3631    3622    -9    Tony McClements    12    209.82
3659    4109    +450Alan Fahy            14    206.25
3669    3660    -9    Mark Collins        11    203.57
3753    3742    -11    Alan Condren        9    192.86
3854    3846    -8    Ryan Gribben        12    182.14
3991    3973    -18    Ian O’Rourke        7    167.86
3991    4126    +135Matthew Fitzsimons    16    167.86
4121    4109    -12    Jamie Dunne        10    156.25
4213    3884    -329    Jamie Knipe        21    146.43
4213    4204    -9    Timothy Jordan        10    146.43
4263    4252    -11    Darragh Coghlan    5    142.86
4388    4383    -5    Connor Doran        5    133.48
4565    4569    +4    Keagan Cummings    8    117.86
4667    4664    -3    William Russell        7    110.71
4708    4703    -5    David Mulholland    4    107.14
4757    -    -    Peter Kerr            4    103.57

Who’s playing

358    357    -1    Stuart Grehan        37    827.25 
461    462    +1    Robin Dawson        47    797.34
479    482    +3    Richard Bridges        47    790.96
583    581    -2    Conor O'Rourke        30    765.83
596    592    -4    Colm Campbell        44    763.64
598    593    -5    Paul McBride        45    763.61
769    768    -1    Gareth Lappin        44    727.27
990    995    +5    Daniel Holland        36    677.20
1077    1081    +4    Eanna Griffin        30    660.00
1115    1117    +2    Geoff Lenehan        25    651.79
1323    1324    +1    Alan Lowry        28    610.71
1347    1353    +6    Ronan Mullarney    32    606.25
1382    1387    +5    Stephen Watts        34    600.49
1595    1593    -2    Tommy O'Driscoll    40    558.12
1846    1830    -16    Kyle McCarron        24    510.71
1868    1850    -18    Stuart Bleakley        23    507.14
1955    1945    -10    Joseph Lyons        21    488.39
2020    2007    -13    Shaun Carter        18    475.00
2073    2059    -14    Colin Fairweather    16    464.29
2073    2059    -14    Tiarnan McLarnon    21    464.29
2093    2084    -9    Eugene Smith        22    460.71
2168    2156    -12    Jack Pierse        18    446.43
2195    2186    -9    Matthew McClean    20    441.96
2341    2322    -19    Jeffrey Hopkins        15    411.31
2390    2380    -10    Gary Collins        15    399.11
2413    2406    -7    Rowan Lester        9    394.64
2535    2531    -4    Shane McGlynn        23    371.43
2535    2531    -4    William Hanna        17    371.43
2600    2598    -2    Gary O'Flaherty        13    360.71
2617    2612    -5    Stephen Healy        14    359.82
2756    2749    -7    Robert Cannon        15    338.39
2784    2777    -7    Sean Ryan            23    332.14
2844    2840    -4    John Hickey        13    321.43
2941    2923    -18    Paul McCarthy        11    308.04
2944    2926    -18    Richard Knightly        18    307.14
3005    2987    -18    Jack Walsh        16    296.43
3023    3006    -17    Simon Bryan        14    292.86
3171    3173    +2    Gary McDermott    10    266.96
3272    3274    +2    Matthew Kane        13    250.00
3353    3349    -4    Barry Anderson        8    241.96
3418    3414    -4    Pat Murray            8    232.14
3486    3478    -8    Daniel Brennan        19    225.00
3612    3604    -8    Niall Gorey        10    210.71
3631    3622    -9    Steffan O'Hara        11    209.82
3669    3660    -9    Conor Coyne        16    203.57
4298    4293    -5    Stephen Walsh        8    139.29
4347    4337    -10    Greg Mungovan        5    135.71
4610    4610    -    Paul Murphy        6    116.07
4667    4664    -3    Des Morgan        5    110.71
4708    4703    -5    Kelan McDonagh    6    107.14
4757    4753    -4    Jamie Sutherland    3    103.57
4810    4801    -9    John Greene        6    100.00

TOP MAN — .Leinster's Paul McBride, who won all six of his matches in the 2015 Interprovincial Championship, watches the action on the final day at Rosapenna Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Paul McBride from The Island and Wake Forest was the strongest player in the Interprovincial Matches, winning six out of six for champions Leinster.

But there were several other outstanding performers, from Rowan Lester, who lost just half a point to an 18th green chip-in by Joe Lyons and Day Two to Ulster's John Ross Galbraith who also dropped just half a point from six or Waterford's Eanna Griffin, who has had an outstanding 12 months.

Check out the tables from the week and these great pictures by Pat Cashman.

 

Interprovincial Championship, Kindly hosted by Rosapenna Golf Club
Monday 6th July – Wednesday 8th July 2015
    
Player Records

Name    Province    Played    Won    Drawn    Lost    Total

1. Paul McBride    Leinster     6    6    0    0    12
2. Rowan Lester    Leinster     6    5    1    0    11
3. John-Ross Galbraith    Ulster    6    5    1    0    11
4. Eanna Griffin    Munster    6    5    0    1    10
5. Jeff Hopkins    Leinster     6    4    1    1    9
6. Thomas Mulligan    Leinster     6    3    3    0    9
7. Conor O'Rourke    Leinster     6    3    2    1    8
8. Joe Lyons    Connacht    6    3    1    2    7
9. Gareth Lappin    Ulster    6    3    1    2    7
10. Geoff Lenehan    Munster    6    2    3    1    7
11. Tiarnan McLarnon    Ulster    6    2    3    1    7
12. Ronan Mullarney    Connacht    6    3    0    3    6
13. Kevin Le Blanc    Leinster     6    3    0    3    6
14. Robin Dawson    Munster    6    3    0    3    6
15. Ian O'Rourke    Munster    6    3    0    3    6
16. Alan Lowry    Leinster     5    2    2    1    6
17. Colm Campbell    Ulster    6    2    2    2    6
18. William Hanna    Ulster    5    2    1    2    5
19. Jordan Hood    Ulster    6    2    1    3    5
20. Eddie McCormack    Connacht    6    1    3    2    5
21. Pat Murray    Munster    6    1    3    2    5
22. Stuart Bleakley    Ulster    5    2    0    3    4
23. Mark Morrissey    Connacht    6    1    1    4    3
24. Richard Bridges    Leinster     4    1    1    2    3
25. John Hickey    Munster    6    1    1    4    3
26. Gary O'Flaherty    Munster    5    1    1    3    3
27. Steffan O'Hara    Connacht    6    0    3    3    3
28. Dave O'Donovan    Munster    4    1    0    3    2
29. Colin Fairweather    Ulster    5    1    0    4    2
30. Stephen Brady    Connacht    5    0    2    3    2
31. Kelan McDonagh    Connacht    5    0    1    4    1
32. Shaun Carter    Connacht    5    0    0    5    0

Overall Standings

        Played    Won    Drawn    Lost    Points    Played    Won    Drawn    Lost    Points
1st    Leinster    3    3    0    0    6    33    19    8    6    23
2nd    Munster    3    2    0    1    4    33    13    6    14    16
3rd    Ulster    3    1    0    2    2    33    14    6    13    17
4th    Connacht    3    0    0    3    0    33    6    8    19    10

Results for Day 1 (Monday 6th July)Match 1: Munster 7  Connacht 4 (Munster names first)Foursomes

1. Pat Murray & Geoff Lenehan halved with Stephen Brady & Steffan O’Hara 
2. Robin Dawson & John Hickey beat Mark Morrissey & Eddie McCormack 2/1
3. Ian O’Rourke & Eanna Griffin beat Kealan McDonagh & Shaun Carter 3/2
4. Dave O’Donovan & Gary O’Flaherty lost to Joe Lyons & Ronan Mullarney 5/4

 
Singles

1. Robin Dawson beat Eddie McCormack 1 hole
2. John Hickey  halved with Steffan O’Hara 
3. Pat Murray beat Mark Morrissey 3/2
4. Geoff Lenehan beat Shaun Carter 4/3
5. Eanna Griffin beat Kealan McDonagh 4/3
6. Ian O’Rourke lost to Ronan Mullarney 2/1
7. Gary O’Flaherty lost to Joe Lyons 1 hole

Match 2: Ulster 4 Leinster 7 (Ulster names first)Foursomes

1. Colin Fairweather & Stuart Bleakley lost to Kevin Le Blanc & Rowan Lester 2 holes
2. Colm Campbell & William Hanna lost to Paul McBride & Thomas Mulligan 1 hole
3. JR Galbraith & Tiarnan McLarnon halved with Richard Bridges & Jeff Hopkins 
4. Gareth Lappin & Jordan Hood beat Conor O’Rourke & Alan Lowry 2/1

Singles 

1. Colm Campbell lost to Paul McBride 2/1
2. JR Galbraith beat Kevin Le Blanc 2/1
3. Colin Fairweather lost to Rowan Lester 4/2
4. Stuart Bleakley lost to Conor O’Rourke 6/4
5. Tiarnan McLarnon halved with Thomas Mulligan 
6. Gareth Lappin beat Richard Bridges 4/3
7. Jordan Hood lost to Jeff Hopkins 5/4

Results for Day 2 (Tuesday 7th July)Match 1: Munster 6½  Ulster 4½  (Munster names first)Foursomes 

1. John Hickey & Robin Dawson lost to JR Galbraith & Tiarnan McLarnon 2/1
2. Pat Murray & Geoff Lenehan halved with Colm Campbell & William Hanna 
3. Dave O’Donovan & Gary O’Flaherty beat Gareth Lappin & Jordan Hood 1 hole
4. Ian O’Rourke & Eanna Griffin beat Colin Fairweather & Stuart Bleakley 3/1

Singles 

1. John Hickey lost to JR Galbraith 2 holes
2. Pat Murray lost to Colm Campbell 5/4
3. Robin Dawson beat Gareth Lappin 3/2
4. Dave O’Donovan lost to William Hanna 3/2
5. Geoff Lenehan beat Tiarnan McLarnon 2 holes
6. Eanna Griffin beat Colin Fairweather 8/6
7. Ian O’Rourke beat Jordan Hood 2/1

Match 2: Leinster 7½  Connacht 3½ (Leinster names first)Foursomes    

1. Kevin Le Blanc & Rowan Lester beat Ronan Mullarney & Joe Lyons 7/5
2. Paul McBride & Thomas Mulligan beat Kelan McDonagh & Shaun Carter 3/2
3. Richard Bridges & Jeff Hopkins lost to Eddie McCormack & Mark Morrissey 1 hole
4. Conor O’Rourke & Alan Lowry halved with Stephen Brady & Steffan O’Hara

Singles

1. Paul McBride beat Shaun Carter 3/2
2. Rowan Lester halved with Joe Lyons
3. Kevin Le Blanc lost to Ronan Mullarney 2/1
4. Conor O’Rourke beat Steffan O’Hara 4/3
5. Alan Lowry beat Mark Morrissey 3/2
6. Thomas Mulligan halved with Eddie McCormack
7. Jeff Hopkins beat Stephen Brady 2 holes

Results for Day 3 (Wednesday 8th July)Match 1: Ulster 8½ Connacht 2½ Foursomes 

1. JR Galbraith & Tiarnan McLarnon beat Kelan McDonagh & Shaun Carter 1 hole
2. Colm Campbell & William Hanna beat Joe Lyons & Ronan Mullarney 2/1
3. Gareth Lappin & Jordan Hood halved with Eddie McCormack & Mark Morrissey 
4. Colin Fairweather & Stuart Bleakley beat Stephen Brady & Steffan O’Hara 3/2

Singles

1. JR Galbraith beat Mark Morrissey 3/1
2. Colm Campbell halved with Kelan McDonagh 
3. Tiarnan McLarnon halved with Eddie McCormack 
4. Gareth Lappin beat Ronan Mullarney 1 hole
5. William Hanna lost to Joe Lyons 3/2
6. Jordan Hood beat Steffan O’Hara 2 holes
7. Stuart Bleakley beat Stephen Brady 1 hole

Match 2: Leinster 8½ Munster 2½ (Leinster names first)Foursomes 

1. Kevin Le Blanc & Rowan Lester beat Eanna Griffin & Ian O’Rourke 1 hole
2. Paul McBride & Thomas Mulligan beat Robin Dawson & John Hickey 2/1
3. Richard Bridges & Jeff Hopkins beat Gary O’Flaherty & Dave O’Donovan 2 holes
4. Conor O’Rourke & Alan Lowry beat Pat Murray & Geoff Lenehan 2/1

Singles

1. Paul McBride  beat Robin Dawson 5/4
2. Rowan Lester beat John Hickey 2/1
3. Kevin Le Blanc lost to Eanna Griffin 2 holes
4. Conor O’Rourke halved with Geoff Lenehan 
5. Alan Lowry halved with Gary O’Flaherty 
6. Thomas Mulligan halved with Pat Murray 
7. Jeff Hopkins beat Ian O’Rourke 4/3

Daniel Brooks. Picture: Getty Images

The Open might be less than a week away but the in-form Shane Lowry and a resurgent Graeme McDowell are focussed on winning the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane.

The pair are tied for second on eight under par, three shots behind the unheralded Englishman Daniel Brooks, who added a 65 to his opening 64 to lead on 11 under.

Both men shot second successive four under par 66s with McDowell particularly pleased to build on his opening round after a poor recent patch that has seen him fall to 52nd in the world.

Insisting he was pleased, McDowell said: "This is what I have been grinding towards the last few months, getting myself on the leaderboard in the weekend, I've missed this. Fun to be hitting it as solidly as I am. Quieter day on the greens today, but stronger finish than yesterday. It all adds up to the same. So I'm happy with where I'm at.

"The greens are fantastic here, they really are some of the best surfaces I've seen this year, probably. They are a nice speed. You feel like you can be aggressive, but yet you are not having to hit them too hard. They are a beautiful speed. The golf course is a nice balance test. You have to drive it well. You have to do a lot of things well. If you can find these small targets, you have an opportunity to make some birdies."

Hoping he can continue to grind out the scores and build up some momentum, he added:  "I think if I can get a few tournaments under my belt feeling as good as I am with my game, get that belief level up. It's still a work in progress, you know.

"Second shot to the last there, there's still that grab in the downswing, just not feeling confident enough to take that aim there. It's still -- we'll chip away at it. I'm liking what I'm seeing, a lot of quality shots, just got to keep doing it.

"I believe it's going to be pretty windy tomorrow. It's important to be there or abouts, at or around the leaders. Hopefully we have a nice start to tomorrow and separate the big boys from the (inaudible). So it should be a lot of fun."

Michael Hoey shot 65 to share 24th, six off the pace on five under with Padraig Harrington a shot further back after a brace of 68s. 

Damien McGrane (69-70) missed the two under cut by one with Paul McGinley also missing out despite recovering well from his first rounds 76 with a 71.

Lowry was ninth in the US Open but he's desperate to get his third win in a professional event and head to St Andrews with a spring in his step.

"I've played nicely the last couple of days. I gave myself a lot of chances. I probably could be a little bit better," :Lowry said. "I'm in a really good position going into the weekend. I hope that no one gets too far ahead this afternoon. See what I can do tomorrow and give myself a chance going into Sunday.

"I've always enjoyed playing links golf. It suits my eye, I think. It's one of those places when I saw it I quite liked it straightaway. I'm showing that on this course the last couple of days.

"It is a fair links golf course. You play well here, you shoot good scores. It's one of those when you hit your tee shot, you know whether it's good or bad or indifferent. You have to hit the ball well off the tee here I think is key and you get chances from there."

Happy to cross his fingers and hope that he can keep his good form going, he added: "Things have been going well for me of late. Everyone knows this game can be tough at times. When you are going well, you need to enjoy them. I am.

"I'm enjoying playing well and I'm enjoying shooting good scores and I'm enjoying competing. That's the main thing. I'm really looking forward to the weekend and getting out there tomorrow late afternoon and hopefully shooting a good score again."

Brooks will carry a three-shot lead into the weekend after a birdie-birdie finish moved the Englishman to 11 under par.

The 28 year old, who won the weather-affected Madeira Islands Open – Portugal last year, has made just four cuts all season, but turned the form book on its head with a stunning round of 65.

Two closing birdies gave Brooks some breathing space at the top of the leaderboard, with the Irish duo of Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell, American Ryan Palmer and defending champion Justin Rose amongst those in a share of second place on eight under par. 

Gullane Golf Club was again bathed in afternoon sunshine, and Brooks took full advantage of the benign conditions with an eagle and four birdies.

He said: “I’ve played really solid for the past two days, and not missed many shots at all. Other than the bogey on the fourth hole, where I hit a poor tee shot, everything else was really good. I had ten to 12 feet putts for birdie all day, and whilst I didn’t manage to make that many of them it’s still a great score. 

“I’ve been playing nicely for the past three weeks now. I just missed the cut in Germany, but played some nice golf. I played well again in France, just made a load of silly mistakes. But I’ve managed to cut them out so far this week, and it’s working out very nicely.

“It’s been hard this season, missing so many cuts. It does get you down, but it only takes one good week out here to turn it around and hopefully that’s what I’ll have.”

Second Round Scores (83 players made the cut on 138)

129 D Brooks (Eng) 64 65, 

132 R Palmer (USA) 67 65, J Carlsson (Swe) 65 67, G McDowell  (Nir) 66 66, J Rose (Eng) 66 66, S Lowry  (Irl) 66 66, M Nixon (Eng) 65 67, 

133 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 67 66, R Finch  (Eng) 65 68, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 67 66, R McEvoy  (Eng) 66 67, E Grillo (Arg) 66 67, 

134 M Kieffer (Ger) 69 65, G Stal  (Fra) 66 68, G Havret  (Fra) 66 68, J Luiten (Ned) 71 63, S Benson (Eng) 65 69, P Lawrie (Sco) 67 67, A Johnston (Eng) 67 67, M Kuchar  (USA) 66 68, M Fitzpatrick  (Eng) 67 67, R Fowler  (USA) 66 68, M Jiménez (Esp) 69 65, 

135 R Knox (Sco) 67 68, R Fisher (Eng) 70 65, Y Yang (Kor) 68 67, C Tringale  (USA) 68 67, B Martin (USA) 69 66, J Walker  (USA) 65 70, J Van Zyl (RSA) 69 66, M Hoey  (Nir) 70 65, B Grace  (RSA) 69 66, R Jacquelin (Fra) 68 67, 

136 J Senden (Aus) 68 68, V Dubuisson  (Fra) 70 66, M Madsen  (Den) 68 68, T Jaidee (Tha) 67 69, R Rock (Eng) 69 67, M Siem  (Ger) 69 67, A Sullivan (Eng) 68 68, P Harrington (Irl) 68 68, F Zanotti (Par) 69 67, P Oriol (Esp) 67 69, E Pepperell (Eng) 70 66, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 67 69, L Donald  (Eng) 69 67, D Drysdale (Sco) 71 65, 

137 M Crespi  (Ita) 69 68, J Donaldson (Wal) 70 67, F Aguilar (Chi) 73 64, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 69 68, A Otaegui  (Esp) 65 72, M Foster (Eng) 67 70, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 71 66, M Warren (Sco) 70 67, S Soderberg (Swe) 68 69, M Lampert (Ger) 71 66, T Aiken (RSA) 69 68, P Mickelson (USA) 69 68, P Larrazábal (Esp) 71 66, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 67 70, T Hatton (Eng) 68 69, O Schniederjans (am) (USA) 70 67, 

138 R Paratore (Ita) 70 68, E De La Riva  (Esp) 72 66, R Bland (Eng) 70 68, D Berger (USA) 73 65, B Koepka  (USA) 70 68, J Campillo (Esp) 69 69, C Wood  (Eng) 69 69, C Lee (Sco) 72 66, R Karlberg  (Swe) 67 71, G Hutcheon (Sco) 70 68, B Hebert  (Fra) 68 70, A Levy (Fra) 68 70, M Ilonen  (Fin) 70 68, S Kjeldsen (Den) 72 66, B An (Kor) 70 68, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 73 65, S Kapur (Ind) 68 70, D Howell (Eng) 68 70, R Wattel  (Fra) 70 68, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 69 69, 

CUT

139 G Wright  (Wal) 70 69, S Khan (Eng) 68 71, S Jamieson  (Sco) 71 68, A Dodt (Aus) 70 69, G Bourdy (Fra) 71 68, B Steele (USA) 69 70, M Carlsson  (Swe) 68 71, E Espana (Fra) 71 68, D McGrane (Irl) 69 70, B Dredge (Wal) 72 67, P Uihlein  (USA) 68 71, F Fritsch  (Ger) 68 71, O Wilson (Eng) 70 69, M Korhonen (Fin) 69 70, A Lahiri (Ind) 71 68, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 71 68, K Broberg (Swe) 71 68, D Horsey (Eng) 70 69, S Gallacher (Sco) 68 71, M Laird  (Sco) 71 68, 

140 T Bjørn (Den) 72 68, R Ramsay  (Sco) 71 69, M Fraser (Aus) 69 71, T Murray (Eng) 71 69, A Hansen (Den) 68 72, O Fisher  (Eng) 71 69, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 71 69, E Molinari  (Ita) 71 69, M Manassero (Ita) 69 71, A McArthur  (Sco) 68 72, M Ford (Eng) 70 70, T Olesen (Den) 63 77, S Hutsby  (Eng) 74 66, J Parry (Eng) 71 69, 

141 J Kruger (RSA) 70 71, R Karlsson (Swe) 67 74, M Lundberg (Swe) 72 69, I Poulter (Eng) 70 71, A Cañizares  (Esp) 65 76, S Hend (Aus) 70 71, R Gonzalez (Arg) 69 72, J Morrison  (Eng) 71 70, N Fasth (Swe) 67 74, 

142 J Lagergren (Swe) 71 71, G Storm  (Eng) 71 71, A Wall (Eng) 74 68, P Edberg (Swe) 73 69, T Levet (Fra) 70 72, C Montgomerie  (Sco) 74 68, J Edfors (Swe) 73 69, R Green (Aus) 70 72, S Hansen (Den) 69 73, D Fichardt (RSA) 71 71, J Barnes (Eng) 72 70, 

143 C Sutherland (Sco) 72 71, J Singh (Ind) 74 69, G Coetzee (RSA) 71 72, 

144 J Quesne  (Fra) 72 72, G Fox (Sco) 71 73, S Lyle (Sco) 72 72, 

145 J Roos (RSA) 72 73, T Lewis (Eng) 69 76, C Paisley  (Eng) 74 71, D Lipsky (USA) 72 73, 

147 P McGinley (Irl) 76 71, P Maddy (Eng) 71 76, W Ormsby (Aus) 75 72, 

148 C Doak (Sco) 76 72, 

149 M Tullo (Chi) 71 78, 

152 D Duval (USA) 77 75, 

153 C Hill (am) (Sco) 75 78, 

154 O Farr (Wal) 80 74, 

** S Webster (Eng) 76 WD

Naju Gold  Lake Country Club

Sean Flanagan, Alex Gleeson and Stuart Grehan are fifth with a round to go in the World University Championships in South Korea, 11 strokes outside the medal places.

Men's team results | Individual

Flanagan (72  70  73) is tied for ninth in the individual, eight shots outside the medals while in the women's team event, Sarah Helly, Sinead Sexton and Jessica Ross are in 12th place, 30 shots behind third placed Chinese Taipei.

Korea leads by three from Japan while in the women's individual Irish Close champion Helly is 25th on 14 over with Ross 31st and Sexton 32nd.

Women's team | Women's individual

 

Ricardo Gouveia.

Challenge Tour — Michael McGeady is just three shots off the lead with Niall Kearney a shot further back with two rounds to play in the D+D REAL Slovakia Challenge.

As Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia shot 66 and stepped up his bid to become the first back-to-back winner on the European Challenge Tour since Kristoffer Broberg in 2012,  McGeady made seven birdies in a 68 to share eighth spot on six under at Penalti Golf Resort.

Kearney had five birdies in a one under 71 and lies four behind in joint 13th on four under.

Rosapenna’s Ruaidhri McGee missed the level par cut by two after 74 with Gareth Shaw four over after a 72 and Reeve Whitson nine over after a 76.

Gouveia won the AEGEAN Airlines Challenge Tour hosted by Hartl Resorts last week in Germany and set the clubhouse target of nine under with a seven-birdie round.

He was joined by Swede Steven Jeppesen, whose seven under round of 65 was the joint best of the day, while first round leader Jack Doherty and Spaniards Borja Virto Astudillo and Luis Claverie were a shot further back on eight under par.

Scores after round  2:

135 S Jeppesen  (Swe) 70 65, R Gouveia (Por) 69 66,

136 L Claverie (Esp) 71 65, J Doherty  (Sco) 65 71, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 69 67,

137 P Howard  (Eng) 69 68, J Winther (Den) 66 71,

138 J McLeary  (Sco) 68 70, A Björk (Swe) 70 68, Michael McGeady (Irl) 70 68, J Sjöholm (Swe) 68 70, T Sluiter  (Ned) 69 69,

139 Niall Kearney (Irl) 68 71, J Carlota (Por) 72 67, D Vancsik (Arg) 73 66, W Besseling  (Ned) 67 72,

CUT: 146, R McGee (Irl) 72 74; 148 G Shaw (Nir) 76 72;  153 R Whitson (Nir) 77 76.

PGA Tour - Jordan Spieth was in danger of missing the cut after a level par opening round but the 2013 winner shot into contention instead with a seven under 64 in round two of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Illinois.The Masters and US Open champion is tied for 16th, five strokes behind Gavin Moynihan’s former Universty of Alabama team mate Justin Thomas (67), who leads by one stroke on 12 under from Johnson Wagner and Tom Gillis.Spieth heads to St Andrews on Sunday bidding for a palc ein the history books in The Open.At the birthplace of golf, the 21-year-old winner of the year’s first two major championships will be bidding to become just the second player to win the first three legs of the modern Grand Slam. Only fellow Texan Ben Hogan, in 1953, has managed that.“Just another round of golf,” he said. “This was the third round I have played since the U.S. Open. I’m getting on-course reps and it is making a difference.”

Web.com Tour — Seamus Power is tied for 22nd on nine under after following a 67 with a five under 66 in the second round of the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco at Hillcrest Country Club in Idaho.

The West Waterford man is nine strokes behind American Martin Piller, who followed a 61 with a 63 to lead by four strokes from Argentina’s Jorge Fernandez Valdes and compatriot Peter Malnatii on 18 under.

US Women’s Open — Stephanie Meadow recovered from her opening 79 with a four overr 74 but missed the cut by nine shots at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.The Jordanstown native had two birdies, three bogeys and a triple bogey eight at the seventh in her round.South Korea’s Amy Yang added a 66 to her 67 to lead by three shots on seven uner par from Stacy Lewis    -(67) and Japan’s Shiho Oyama (66).

The Irish Girls Team following their win over Scotland. 

European Amateur Team Championship — Ireland beat Spain 1.5 - 3.5 to keep alive their hopes of claiming fifth place at Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden.

Following their quarter-final defeat to England, Tony Goode's boys responded well with a foursomes win for Paul Dunne and Gary Hurley over Mario Galiano and Iván Cantero. Scores

Gavin Moynihan fell by the minimum to World No 1 John Rahm but victories for Dermot McElroy over Scott Fernandez and Cormac Sharvin over Pep Angles, followed by a half for the consistent Jack Hume, set up a fifth place showdown with France on Saturday.

Denmark beat Sweden 2.5 - 4.5 and will face Scotland in the final after they beat England 4-3 with Greig Marchbank beat Ben Taylor at the 19th.

France had a 3-2 win over Germany, who now face the Spaniards with the wooden spoon on the e line.

European Ladies Amateur Team Championship — Ireland lost 4-1 to Sweden and will face hosts Denmark for seventh place at Helsingør Golf Club on Saturday as Switzerland take on France for the title.While Paula Grant and Chloe Ryan halved in the foursomes, Leona Maguire lost by one hole to Linnea Johansson, Olivia Mehaffey lost on the 19th to Linnea Strom and Jessica Carty feel 5 and 4 to Madelene Sangstrom before Maria Dunne claimed a late half.

European Girls' Team Championship — Ireland beat Scotland 4-1  in their Flight B match at Golf Resort Kaskáda in the Czech Republic and now face Belgium for 13th and 14th place on Saturday.

In Flight A, Spain will face Italy for the title with Austria and host Czech Republic set to fight it ou to third place.

The K Club. Picture: Patrick Bolger/Getty Images

A postman who fulfilled a lifelong ambition by becoming a member at Fort William is set to represent the golf club in Europe’s largest pro-am.

Jason Long, 43, will tee up alongside his PGA Professional Ricky Duckett at The K Club regional final on July 13.

The winners will head into an £80,000 grand final over Gleneagles’ PGA Centenary Course, host to last year’s Ryder Cup, on September 1-2.

Long lived close to the course at Fort William as a child and would jump over the fence and onto the course with a couple of friends to play a couple of holes after school.

After dropping golf for a number of years in favour of football Long returned to the game aged 30 when his wife bought him a membership to the club.

“Growing up so close to the course there were only ever two things I wanted to do as an adult,” he recalled. “Buy a house and become a member at Fort William.

“We used to sneak in and play a hole or two as kids and I always dreamt of finally being able to become a full member of the club.

“To represent Fort William in this tournament will be amazing, and if we could make it to Gleneagles then it would be something to talk about for years!

“I’m nervous but fully looking forward to it – and I’m feeling refreshed as I’ve just got back from a family holiday in Spain.

“Now I just need to get some practice in and see how well we can do when we get there.”
Long, who also enjoys running, has a good relationship with pro Duckett who has travelled to play golf in destinations including the Middle East, Asia and South America.

“I’ve had lessons with Ricky and he just breaks everything down so well, he puts it in layman’s terms for you,” he explained.

“I’ve known him for a long time as he was the assistant at the club when I joined.
“Hopefully he’ll keep me straight when we go out there for the regional final.”   

The Lompard Trophy, Regional Final, The K Club, Monday July 17, 2015Ashbourne

• Professional: John Dwyer, 41, has been a professional at Ashbourne for 16 years. He is a former PGA Professional champion and PGA Cup player, having competed in the GB&I team in 2000, 2003 and 2007.
• Amateur: Martin Wright, 43, lives in Ashbourne. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 69. He plays off a handicap of 17.

Beaufort

• Professional: Mark Heinemann, 40, has been a professional at Beaufort for six years.
• Amateur: Brendan Fitzgerald, 68, lives in Dublin with his wife.  He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 68. He plays off a handicap of 12.

Blarney

• Professional: Alan O'Meara, 43, has been a professional at Blarney for nine years.
• Amateur: Aidan Holland, is an airline employee from Ballincollig. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 68. He plays off a handicap of seven.

Cahir Park

• Professional: David Ryan, 39, has been a professional at Cahir Park for 12 years.
• Amateur: Denis Ryan, is a 60-year-old driver from Cashel. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 68. He plays off a handicap of 11.

Carrickfergus

Professional: James Orchin, 31, has been a professional at Carrickfergus for five years.
Amateur: Peter Wadsworth, is a 64-year-old estate agent from Carrickfergus. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 64. He plays off a handicap of 15.

Co. Cavan

• Professional: William Noble, 43, has been a professional at Co. Cavan for 13 years.
• Amateur: Jim McDermot, lives in Cavan.

Deer Park

• Professional: Daniel Beattie, 30, has been a professional at Deer Park for two years.
• Amateur: Visham Dhuromsingh, is a 32-year-old sales assistant from Sutton. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 71. He plays off a handicap of 15.

Dunmurry

• Professional: John Dolan, 50, has been a professional at Dunmurry for 20 years.
• Amateur: Michael Lamont, is a 46-year-old managing director from Dunmurry. He won his club qualifying round with a score of 41 points. He plays off a handicap of 15.

Forrest Little

• Professional: Tony Judd, 51, has been a professional at Forrest Little for 25 years.
• Amateur: Christopher Rickard, is a retired 64-year-old from Swords. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 70. He plays off a handicap of nine.

Fortwilliam

• Professional: Ricky Duckett, 40, has been a professional at Fortwilliam for five years.
• Amateur: Jason Long, is a 43-year-old postman from Belfast. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 65. He plays off a handicap of 19.

Foyle

• Professional: Derek Morrison, 36, has been a professional at Foyle for 15 years.
• Amateur: Sean McEleney, is a 33-year-old electrician from Londonderry. He won his club qualifying round with a score of 40 points. He plays off a handicap of 18.

Glasson

• Professional: Philip Murphy, 59, has been a professional at Glasson for five years.
• Amateur: Eugene Murtagh, 55, lives in Garvagh. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 69. He plays off a handicap of four.

Greenore

• Professional: Robert Giles, 44, has been a professional at Greenore for 17 years.
• Amateur: Padraig Kelly, is a joiner from Newry. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 68. He plays off a handicap of four.

Heath

• Professional: Mark O'Boyle, 43, has been a professional at Heath for 13 years.
• Amateur: Liam Connell, 58, is a telecom store supervisor from Portlaoise. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 66. He plays off a handicap of 17.

Killeen

• Professional: Brian Cosgrove, 34, has been a professional at Killeen for four years.
• Amateur: Niall Andrews, is a 42-year-old sales director from Naas. He won his club qualifying round with a score of 43 points. He plays off a handicap of 10.

Killiney

• Professional: Leo Hynes, 34, has been a professional at Killiney for three years.
• Amateur: George O'Connell, is a 50-year-old company director from Blackrock. He won his club qualifying round with a score of 36 points. He plays off a handicap of five.

Killymoon

• Professional: Gary Chambers, 50, has been a professional at Killymoon for 20 years.
• Amateur: Maurice Rafferty, 50, works as an are commander with the fire and rescue service and lives in Cookstown. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 68. He plays off a handicap of 24.

Loughgall

• Professional: Vivian Teague, 50, has been a professional at Loughgall for eight years.
• Amateur: Simon Wallace, is a 46-year-old carer from Portadown. He plays off a handicap of 17.

Lurgan

• Professional: Peter Hanna, 56, has been a professional at Lurgan for five years.
• Amateur: Jimmy Cummins, is a manager from Craigavon. He plays off a handicap of five.

Newlands

• Professional: Karl O'Donnell, 51, has been a professional at Newlands for 26 years.
• Amateur: Noel Hickey, 66, lives in Naas. He plays off a handicap of 14.

Nuremore

• Professional: Bobby Fallon, 32, has been a professional at Nuremore for 10 years.
• Amateur: Seamus Finnegan, lives in Carrickmacross. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 66. He plays off a handicap of 12.

Portadown

• Professional: Paul Stevenson, 48, has been a professional at Portadown for 25 years.
• Amateur: Matthew Lavery, is a 28-year-old teacher from Loughgall. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 64. He plays off a handicap of 10

Wexford

• Professional: Liam Bowler, 37, has been a professional at Wexford for 11 years.
• Amateur: Paul Hynes, is a club secretary and lives in Wexford. He won his club qualifying round with a score of 37 points. He plays off a handicap of 12.

Click here for more information on the Lombard Trophy

Maurice Kelly (Naas) holes his birdie putt on the 18th green to win the Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship at Grange Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Naas's Maurice Kelly continued his prolific winning ways on the Over 55s circuit when he claimed the Irish Senior Amateur Close Championship in emphatic fashion at Grange on Friday.

The 65-year old is proving to be a master amongst the veterans and having added to his trophy haul with victory in this year's Spanish Seniors Open, he birdied the last two holes to close with a two over 73 and finish five clear of Tramore's John Mitchell and Cork's Tom Cleary on nine over 222 with former championship greats Adrian Morriw and Gareth McGimpsey well off the pace.

As Kelly said when he hit the senior circuit back in 2010: "There are a lot of fellas who were great players when they were younger, but I don't worry about that. With all due respect to them, I feel I can beat anybody, and that's the way I have to think."

Michael Connaughton (President, Golfing Union of Ireland) presenting Maurice Kelly (Naas) with the Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship trophy after his victory at Grange Golf Club. Also in the picture is Paul Muldowney (Captain, Grange Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman

Runner-up Tom Cleary (Cork) driving at the 17th hole during the final round of the Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship at Grange Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Irish Seniors Amateur Close, Grange GC (Par 71)

Final - Detailed scores

222 Maurice Kelly (Naas) 75 74 73

227 Tom Cleary (Cork) 75 78 74, John Mitchell (Tramore) 73 76 78

228 Adrian Morrow (Portmarnock) 76 76 76

229 Ian Smyth (Clandeboye) 77 73 79

232 Garth McGimpsey (Royal Portrush) 76 77 79

234 Denis Deasy (Waterford) 77 80 77

235 Hugh Smyth (Mourne) 78 77 80

237 Steve Prendergast (The Royal Dublin) 80 78 79

239 Neville Steedman (Balcarrick) 84 80 75, David Walpole (Milltown) 84 78 77, Dermot Morris (Limerick Golf Club) 84 76 79, Liam MacNamara (Rosslare) 81 81 77, Peter Rogers (Dundalk) 81 79 79, David Conway (Portmarnock) 78 83 78

240 Pat Lyons (Cork) 85 81 74, Noel Patterson (Milltown) 79 83 78

241 Billy Donlon (Birr) 81 79 81, Tom Tyrrell (The Heath) 77 81 83

242 Richard Brooker (Skerries) 80 80 82, Nigel Woods (Bangor) 80 77 85, Peter Cowley (Cork) 78 80 84

243 Liam Halpin (Westport) 85 74 84, Michael Coote (Tralee) 82 80 81

244 Declan Corcoran (Thurles) 86 77 81, Alan Lilley (Ballyclare) 78 80 86

245 Des Hinchin (Bray) 83 83 79, Paddy Lewis (Woodbrook) 82 81 82, Mick Ahern (Skerries) 78 81 86

246 Gerard O'Sullivan (Tralee) 82 81 83, Jim McVeigh (Carlow) 81 75 90

247 Richard McDowell (Royal Belfast) 83 81 83

248 Kevin Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 83 82 83, David Cromie (Denham Golf Club) 82 82 84

250 Mick Gaynor (Co. Meath) 81 84 85

252 Jeremy Cleary (Woodbrook) 84 82 86, Noel Mannion (Dun Laoghaire) 84 82 86

253 Brendan McDonnell (K Club) 81 83 89

255 Pat Morrissey (Balbriggan) 85 79 91

NR/WD Seamus Ward (Laytown & Bettystown) 80 82 NR, Donal O'Donovan (Bandon) NR 79 , Arthur Bell (Greencastle Golf Club) NR 100 , Michael Darcy (Oughterard) NR NR , Jody Gilhooly (Edmondstown) NR , Hugh MacKeown (Portmarnock) 81 85 WD, Barry Lavin (Carton House) 86 WD , Gerry Phelan (Macreddin) 90 WD , Ray Smith (Galway) NR WD 

Winner Maurice Kelly (Naas) with his wife Ann after his victory at the Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship at Grange Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Missed cut

163 Morgan Pierse (Grange) 80 83 

165 Kevin Sheehy (Athlone) 82 83 

166 Brendan O'Malley (The Royal Dublin) 81 85 

167 Tony Hayes (Hermitage) 86 81 , Gerard O'Kennedy (Athlone) 85 82 , Val Smyth (Co. Louth) 82 85 , Michael F Galvin (Limerick Golf Club) 80 87 

168 Jack Dempsey (Royal Curragh) 88 80 , Patrick Keogh (Old Conna) 87 81 , Tony Frew (Grange) 82 86 , Michael Kirby (Grange) 82 86 

169 Dave Roberts (Rathcore) 88 81 , Niall Finnegan (Gort) 87 82 , Neil Kilgallon (Powerscourt) 87 82 , Peter Murphy (Carlow) 82 87 

170 Brian Farrell (Balcarrick) 90 80 , Michael Quirke (Doneraile) 88 82 , Steven Bell (Gracehill Golf Club) 87 83 , Brendan Mccarroll (Ballyliffin) 85 85 , Mervyn Eager (Lucan) 85 85 , Paddy Morgan (Co. Sligo) 84 86 , Eddie Condren (Bray) 84 86 

172 Mark Windebank (Royal Portrush) 88 84 , Patrick J Murphy (Cork) 86 86 

173 Nigel Duke (Killiney) 89 84 , Jerry Gore (Oughterard) 89 84 , Daniel Cash (Rosslare) 89 84 , Tom Byrne (Greystones) 87 86 , Rory Timlin (Galway) 87 86 

174 Des Egan (Loughrea) 84 90 

175 Martin Higgins (Claremorris) 89 86 

176 Pat Lynch (Slade Valley) 86 90 

177 Rory Fitzgerald (Tramore) 91 86 , Keith Lapsley (Dunfanaghy) 88 89 

179 Kieran O'Mahony (Galway) 90 89 

180 Alistair Smith (Blainroe) 93 87 

181 G. A. Finn (Cork) 92 89 , Greg Young (Lahinch) 91 90 , Patrick Griffin (Dooks) 88 93 

183 Michael Foley (Faithlegg) 95 88 , Larry Cushen (The Heath) 93 90 

194 William Leggett (The Island) 96 98 

Odhrán Maguire in action at Delgany. Picture: Ronan Temple Lang

Lisa and Leona Maguire might be standout golfers for Duke University but there's yet another talent in the family in their 13 year old younger brother Odhrán.

The Slieve Russell star shot a super 72 at Delgany on Friday to win the Leinster Boys Under 14 Open Championship by two strokes from Royal Curragh's Stephen Rennick.

Clearly it's something the put in the water in Ballyconnell, home of the amazing Maguires.

John Ferriter (Leinster Golf) presents Odhrán Maguire and his mother Breda with the Leinster Boys Under 14 Open Championship at Delgany. Picture: Ronan Temple Lang

Odhrán Maguire lines up a putt. Picture: Ronan Temple Lang

Leinster Boys Under 14 Open Championship 2014, Delgany Golf Club (Par 69)Final Results:

72 Odhrán Maguire (Slieve Russell)

74 Stephen Rennick (Curragh)

75 Thomas Higgins (Roscommon), Ronan Cowhey (Elm Park)

77 Zak Collins (Douglas), Liam Barry (Delgany), Connor Meehan (Strabane), Darren Leufer (Athenry), Tom McKibbin (Holywood)

78 Ben Hynes (Greystones), Stephan Campbell (The Island), Luke O'Neill (Connemara), Peter Taylor (Tandragee)

79 Ben Crawford (Greenacres), Joshua McCabe (Roganstown G & CC), Robert Galligan (Elm Park)

80 Alan Connaughton (Roscommon), Joseph Byrne (Baltinglass), Christopher Cosgrave (Elm Park), Scott Miller (Clandeboye), Dylan Keating (Seapoint), Jack Walsh (Kilkenny)

81 Martin Roche (Rosslare), Shane Irwin (Killeen), Josh Black (Hilton Templepatrick), Conor Joynson (Dunmurry), Kevin Mc Ardle (Elm Park)

82 Annraoi Collins (Laytown & Bettystown), Josh Mackin (Dundalk), Lewis Fox (Tandragee), Robert Halpenny (Dun Laoghaire), Ronan McCrory (Lurgan), Ross Higgins (Bandon), Eoin Sullivan (Carton House), Rhys Goodall (Hilton Templepatrick)

83 Jack Mc Gahon (Roscommon), Dean Russell (Clontarf), Jamie Hughes (Farnham Estate), Rory Brown (Royal Co. Down), Tom Flanagan (Co. Sligo), Max Kennedy (The Royal Dublin), Eoin McGrath (Athlone)

84 Thomas Harte (Castle), Patrick Burke (Delgany), Christopher Rabbette (Esker Hills), Alex Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown)

85 Harry Colbert (Galway), Sam Small (Elm Park), Cameron Fox (Tandragee)

86 Mark Stewart (Lisburn), Eoin Lawless (Athenry), Michael Duignan (Howth), Mark Duggan (Highfield), Jake Lindy (Cahir Park), Rory Milne (Faithlegg), Connor McCracken (Castlerock), Michael Fitzgibbon (Howth), Daniel Flanagan (Co. Sligo)

87 Simon Walker (Roscommon), James Neville (Killiney), Kevin Collins (Douglas), Glen Byrne (Glasson)

88 Cian O'Connor (Roscommon), Luka Keyes (Glen of the Downs), Conor Grant (The Island), Conor Clarke (Balmoral), John Dunne (Warrenpoint)

89 Alexander Wallace (Dun Laoghaire), Eoin O'Doherty (Ballyliffin), Cathal Ffrench (Carton House), Edward Rowe (Tandragee), Sean Downes (Beaverstown), Joe Rooney (Co. Armagh)

90 Kyle Rafferty (Greenore), Mark Mealia (Co. Longford), Mark Shivnan (Athenry), Stephen McDermott (Highfield)

93 Kevin McCarrick (United Arab Emirates), James Hever (Kilcock)

94 Stephen Woods (Old Conna)

99 Thomas Kearns (Foxrock)

Palmerstown House

Experienced campaigners David Higgins and Brendan McGovern shared top spot at the Palmerstown Charity Pro-Am on Friday.

The duo finished a shot ahead of Cian McNamara, Neil O'Briain, Paul Masterson  and Glen Robinson at the tournament held in aid of Irish Autism Action.

Higgins, who is currently lying second in the Order of Merit, started brightly with three birdies inside the opening five holes.The Kerry man went to the turn in three under par 33, added a fourth birdie at the 15th but dropped a shot at the 17th to sign for a 69.

In contrast, McGovern started slowly and went to the turn in level par 36 with a bogey at the fifth cancelled out by a birdie two at the eighth.

The Headfort pro picked up the pace on the back nine with birdies at the 11th, 14th and 17th to come home in three under 33. In the team event Neil O'Briain (Old Conna) edged out Daniel Beattie (Deer Park) with 93points.

The Palmerstown Charity Pro-Am in aid of Irish Autism Action at Palmerstown Stud GC (par 72)

Detailed scores

T1 D Higgins (Waterville Links), B McGovern (Headfort) 69

T3 C McNamara (Monkstown GC), N O'Briain (Old Conna GC), P Masterson (Coolattin GC), Glen Robinson 70

T7 W O'Callaghan (Fernhill GC), M McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown), D Mooney (Ballyliffin), N Murray (Massereene GC) 71

Dermot McElroy pictured earlier in the week. Picture: Golf.se

European Amateur Team Championship — The initial reaction is to wonder if we can really hope to get four, five or six players on the Walker Cup team after falling to England in the quarter-finals of the European Amateur Team Championship in Sweden.

But when the pain of defeat fades and they take on holders Spain today, Ireland's six-man team will realise that not only are they still the talented bunch that's impressed everyone this year, they also have huge amount of pride to play for at Halmstad Golf Club on Friday.

Leading 2-0 after foursomes wins for Gavin Moynihan and Jack Hume over Jimmy Mullen and Ashely Chesters at the 20th and for Cormac Sharvin and Dermot McElroy over Sean Towndrow and Ashton Turner, things looked good for the bookies' favourites.

But after a promising start it quickly became apparent that England meant business. Sharvin fell 4 and 3 to Ben Taylor, Paul Dunne lost to Mullen on the 20th and Gary Hurley succumbed 2 and 1 to Chesters.

Moynihan's match was also close but he eventually fell, by one hole, to Turner, leaving the in form Jack Hume to claim Ireland's solitary half point from the five afternoon matches.

A 4.5-2.5 defeat was not something Ireland expected but they weren't the only team to suffer as Spain fell by the same margin to Scotland, who now meet England's in Friday's semi-finals.

At the top of the draw, leading qualifiers Germany lost 4-3 to hosts Sweden, who now face Denmark, who completed a day of shocks with a 4-3 win over France.

European Amateur Team Championship scoring — Ireland v England

European Ladies' Team ChampionshipIreland bravely qualified for Flight A but then fell 4-3 to England in the quarter-finals at Helsingør Golf Club in Denmark with Jessica Carty going down on the 22nd to Charlotte Thomas in the decisive match.Like the men, Ireland had won both foursomes thanks to Leona Maguire and Olivia Mehaffey and Maria Dunne and Carty. But the singles did not go Ireland's way and while Leona won on the 19th to five Ireland hope, Carty had no luck in her match with Thomas.The English girl holed a 40 foot putt to take the match to the 21st and won on the next to set up a semi-final match with Switzerland, who beat Sweden 4.5 - 2.5. In the other semi-final France, who were 6-1 winners over Germany, will take on favourites Spain, who were 4-3 winner over Denmark.Overall scoring European Girls' Team Championship

Force to concede the foursomes due to illness, Ireland suffered in their Flight B match at Golf Resort Kaskada Brno in the Czech Republic, losing 5-0 to Finland. Ireland now take on Scotland on Friday.

Girls' Scoring

Grange Golf Club

Tramore's John Mitchell and Naas' Maurice Kelly will take a one stroke lead into the final round of the Irish Seniors Close  at Grange.

Mitchell shot 76 as Kelly carded a 74 to leave them on five over 149..

Clandeboye's Ian Smyth carded the lowest round of the day, a 73 featuring two birdies in his last five holes, to lurk in third place on 150.

Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship, Grange GC (Par 72)

Hole by hole scores | Draw

CSS: R1 - 74 R/O, R2 – 74 R/O

149 Maurice Kelly (Naas) 75 74, John Mitchell (Tramore) 73 76

150 Ian Smyth (Clandeboye) 77 73

152 Adrian Morrow (Portmarnock) 76 76

153 Garth McGimpsey (Royal Portrush) 76 77, Tom Cleary (Cork) 75 78

155 Hugh Smyth (Mourne) 78 77

156 Jim McVeigh (Carlow) 81 75

157 Nigel Woods (Bangor) 80 77, Denis Deasy (Waterford) 77 80

158 Steve Prendergast (The Royal Dublin) 80 78, Peter Cowley (Cork) 78 80, Alan Lilley (Ballyclare) 78 80, Tom Tyrrell (The Heath) 77 81

159 Liam Halpin (Westport) 85 74, Mick Ahern (Skerries) 78 81

160 Dermot Morris (Limerick Golf Club) 84 76, Peter Rogers (Dundalk) 81 79, Billy Donlon (Birr) 81 79, Richard Brooker (Skerries) 80 80

161 David Conway (Portmarnock) 78 83

162 David Walpole (Milltown) 84 78, Michael Coote (Tralee) 82 80, Liam MacNamara (Rosslare) 81 81, Seamus Ward (Laytown & Bettystown) 80 82, Noel Patterson (Milltown) 79 83

163 Declan Corcoran (Thurles) 86 77, Gerard O'Sullivan (Tralee) 82 81, Paddy Lewis (Woodbrook) 82 81, Morgan Pierse (Grange) 80 83

164 Pat Morrissey (Balbriggan) 85 79, Neville Steedman (Balcarrick) 84 80, Richard McDowell (Royal Belfast) 83 81, David Cromie (Denham Golf Club) 82 82, Brendan McDonnell (K Club) 81 83

165 Kevin Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 83 82, Kevin Sheehy (Athlone) 82 83, Mick Gaynor (Co. Meath) 81 84

166 Pat Lyons (Cork) 85 81, Jeremy Cleary (Woodbrook) 84 82, Noel Mannion (Dun Laoghaire) 84 82, Des Hinchin (Bray) 83 83, Hugh MacKeown (Portmarnock) 81 85, Brendan O'Malley (The Royal Dublin) 81 85

Missed Cut

167 Tony Hayes (Hermitage) 86 81, Gerard O'Kennedy (Athlone) 85 82, Val Smyth (Co. Louth) 82 85, Michael F Galvin (Limerick Golf Club) 80 87

168 Jack Dempsey (Royal Curragh) 88 80, Patrick Keogh (Old Conna) 87 81, Tony Frew (Grange) 82 86, Michael Kirby (Grange) 82 86

169 Dave Roberts (Rathcore) 88 81, Niall Finnegan (Gort) 87 82, Neil Kilgallon (Powerscourt) 87 82, Peter Murphy (Carlow) 82 87

170 Brian Farrell (Balcarrick) 90 80, Michael Quirke (Doneraile) 88 82, Steven Bell (Gracehill Golf Club) 87 83, Brendan Mccarroll (Ballyliffin) 85 85, Mervyn Eager (Lucan) 85 85, Paddy Morgan (Co. Sligo) 84 86, Eddie Condren (Bray) 84 86

172 Mark Windebank (Royal Portrush) 88 84, Patrick J Murphy (Cork) 86 86

173 Nigel Duke (Killiney) 89 84, Jerry Gore (Oughterard) 89 84, Daniel Cash (Rosslare) 89 84, Tom Byrne (Greystones) 87 86, Rory Timlin (Galway) 87 86

174 Des Egan (Loughrea) 84 90

175 Martin Higgins (Claremorris) 89 86

176 Pat Lynch (Slade Valley) 86 90

177 Rory Fitzgerald (Tramore) 91 86, Keith Lapsley (Dunfanaghy) 88 89

179 Kieran O'Mahony (Galway) 90 89

180 Alistair Smith (Blainroe) 93 87

181 G. A. Finn (Cork) 92 89, Greg Young (Lahinch) 91 90, Patrick Griffin (Dooks) 88 93

183 Michael Foley (Faithlegg) 95 88, Larry Cushen (The Heath) 93 90

194 William Leggett (The Island) 96 98

NR/WD Donal O'Donovan (Bandon) NR 79, Arthur Bell (Greencastle Golf Club) NR 100, Michael Darcy (Oughterard) NR NR, Jody Gilhooly (Edmondstown) NR, Barry Lavin (Carton House) 86 WD, Gerry Phelan (Macreddin) 90 WD, Ray Smith (Galway) NR WD