Irish Golf News

Greystones' Paul Dunne. Picture: Pat Cashman

Greystones' Paul Dunne plans to turn professional in the autumn and he looks set to say goodbye to the amateur ranks in style after he added a stunning 65 to his opening 70 at Woburn to top the qualifiers for The Open at St Andrews next month.

The 22-year old University of Alabama Birmingham graduate—one of Ireland's leading candidates for Walker Cup selection in September—topped the qualifiers on the Marquess Course for the second year running when he finished three shots clear of England's Robert Dinwiddie on nine under par.

As a result, he clinches his place in the field at the Old Course alongside Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell and boosts his chances of impressing the Walker Cup selectors to boot.

Fifth in the NCAA Championships earlier this month, Dunne was one of 10 Irish players teeing it up at four Final Qualifying venues where they battled for a total of 12 places in the field that will play over the Old Course at St Andrews from July 16-19.

Mount Juliet's Kevin Phelan (70-71) missed out on a three-way playoff for the last two places at Gailes Links in Scotland by one stroke on one under par, where Castle amateur led the field after a morning 67 only to fade to tied 13th after a 77.

Clontarf's Eamonn Brady missed out by three strokes at Hillside, finishing tied sixth on level apr as Ruaidhri McGee and amateur Gavin Moynihan retired after opening rounds of 76 and 78 respectively.

Lucan's Richard O’Donovan and Portmarnock amateur Geoff Lenehan came up well short at Royal Cinque Ports leaving Dunne to claim the glory for the second year running.

Well placed after his morning round, the former East of Ireland winner, ninth behind Cormac Sharvin in the Brabazon Trophy on Saturday, stormed through the field with a seven under 65 in the afternoon.

He finished three shots clear of Dinwiddie, leaving the trip on five under — Adam Gee, Jamie Moul and Retief Goosen — to play off for the last spot.

Dunne missed the cut by two shots in Hoylake last year, carding rounds of 75 and 73 at Royal Liverpool to finish on four over 148. 

Gailes Links (Par 71)
Qualifiers: 138 Mark Young (Eng) 68 70; 140 (3 playing off for 2 spots)
Non-qualifiers: 141 Kevin Phelan (Mt Juliet) 70 71; 142 Alex Gleeson (a-Castle) 67 77; 148 Tim Rice (Limerick) 76 72.

Hillside Golf Club (Par 72) 
Qualifiers: 141 Scott Arnold (Aus) 68 73, Jordan Niebrugge (a-USA) 69 72, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 70 71.
Non-qualifiers: 144 Eamonn Brady (Clontarf) 73 71; 152 Michael McGeady (LDN Pharma Ltd) 72 80; RTD Ruaidhri McGee (Rosapenna) 76 RTD; Gavin Moynihan (a-The Island) 78 RTD.

Royal Cinque Ports (Par 71)
Qualifiers: 137 Alister Balcombe (a-Eng) 67 70, Benjamin Taylor (a-Eng) 70 67, Gary Boyd (Eng) 67 70.
Non-qualifiers: 149 Richard O’Donovan (Lucan) 78 71, Geoff Lenehan (a-Portmarnock) 72 77.

Woburn (Marquess’ Course, Par 72)
Qualifiers: 135 Paul Dunne (a-Greystones) 70 65; 138 Robert Dinwiddie (Eng) 70 68; (3 played off for final spot on -5 Adam Gee, Jamie Moul and Retief Goosen)
Non-qualifiers: 155 David Rawluk (The Island) 79 76.

Laura Webb

Defending champion Laura Webb leads the qualifiers by one stroke after opening with a two over 76 in the first round of the Irish Senior Women's Close Championship at Castletroy.

In blustery but dry conditions, the East Berkshire player went out in level par 38 and came home in one over par 37 to lead the field from last year’s beaten finalist Carol Wickham from Laytown and Bettystown with Royal Portrush's Mary MacLaren just one stroke further back on 78 and The Island' s Gertie McMullen on 79.

The field will play a further 18 holes over the immaculate parkland layout at Castletroy on Wednesday with the top 16 qualifying for matchplay over the following two days.

Players in positions seventeen through thirty-two will qualify for the Plate matchplay.

Irish Senior Women's Close Championship, Castletroy (PAR 74)

Round One (SSS 75 CSS 76)

75 Laura Webb (East Berkshire)

76 Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown)

78 Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush)

79 Gertie McMullen (Island)

81 Catherine Reilly (The Heath), Mary Dowling (Mallow)

82 Violet McBride (Belvoir Park), Phil O'Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown), Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna)

84 Julie Barkman (Nenagh), Sheena McElroy (Grange), Vivienne Houston (City of Derry), Mary Duane (Hermitage), Eilish Ahern (Callan), Pat Doran (Donabate)

85 Valerie Shannon (Lahinch)

86 Anita McCaw (Royal Co. Down Ladies), Marjorie Ahern (Lahinch)

87 Catherine Bird (Nenagh), Valerie Hassett (Ennis), Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire)

88 Pauline Walsh (Headfort), Glory Ryan (Castletroy), Fionnuala McGrady (Dunmurry), Evelyn Donnelly (Lisheen Springs)

89 Fiona McComb (Ballycastle), Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast), Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell), Fiona Corbett (Castletroy)

90 Helen Jones (Royal Portrush), Catherine Kavanagh (Mitchelstown), Kate Evans (Royal Co. Down Ladies), Toni McDonagh (Fortwilliam)

91 Rita O'Neill (Callan), Mary Geaney (Killarney), Eileen Kenny - Ryan (Ballybunion), Fiona Glass (Ballycastle)

92 Ethna Leonard (Castletroy)

93 Josette O'Donnell (Ballybunion)

94 Mary Byrne (Castletroy), Maria O'Connor (Castleisland), Mary Mather (Cill Dara)

95 Trudy Brosnan (Kanturk), Anne Marie Carroll (Ballybunion), Eithne Hehir (Ballyneety)

96 Yvonne Cassidy (Castletroy)

98 Ailish Diliger (Limerick)

99 Sighle Henigan (Ballybunion), Marion Cummins (Castletroy), Mary O'Donoghue (Ballybunion), Anne Wemyss (Callan)

100 Hilary Harte (Monkstown)

103 Ruth Maguire (Corrstown)

From left to right: Brian Owens, Dundalk GC; Michael McCumiskey, Secretary PGA in Ireland; and Joe Barrett, Chief Operations Officer, Applegreen plc.

LowFuelcard.ie will sponsor the Irish PGA Championship at Dundalk Golf Club from October 1-4.

The card is a new product offer by forecourt retailer Applegreen plc and while no figures have been released for what is initially a one-year deal with the Irish Region of the PGA, it is believed to be €30,000 with an option for further years.

The prize fund for last year's event at Adare Manor was €29,450 and it is expected to remain at that level this year.

PGA in Ireland Secretary, Michael McCumiskey said: “This new sponsorship agreement is an important development for this historic championship. The PGA in Ireland looks forward to building a strong partnership with Applegreen over the coming years.”

Applegreen plc is the number one motorway service area operator by number of sites in the Republic of Ireland and has a growing presence in the UK.

The Group had 152 sites as of late December 2014 with 96 in the Republic of Ireland. 54 in the UK and four on Long Island in the USA.

Joe Barrett, Chief Operations Officer for Applegreen plc said; “We are delighted to be involved with this national event which engages with businesses in the locality.

"Applegreen have recently opened a motorway services area (MSA) at Templepatrick on the M2 outside Belfast and are currently building another MSA on the M1 south bound just outside Lisburn.

"Applegreen already has a significant business presence on the M1 at Castlebellingham, Lusk, Balbriggan and Gormanston.” 

Dundalk Golf Cub has hosted the Irish PGA Championship on two previous occasions. In 1953, Harry Bradshaw collected his eighth title with a four round total of 272 and in 1969, Jimmy Martin won with a score of 269.

Redesigned by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas in 1980, extensive improvements have been carried out to the 6,826-yard course over the last 18 months.

A number of new bunkers have been added but the main focus has been on redesigning and improving the drainage of the existing green side traps. A tree-thinning process has also opened up the sixth and 15th greens to the elements.

Last year's Irish PGA Championship at Adare Manor Golf Club was won by Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney, who birdied the 18th to edge out Derry's Michael McGeady and pocked a cheque for €3,500.

The O'Meara Course at Carton House

Damian Mooney fired a six under par 67 to win the PGA Challenge Pro-Am presented by Johnston, Mooney & O'Brien at Carton House on Monday.

The Ballyliffin professional produced a scintillating round of golf on The O'Meara, bagging eight birdies in total on his way to a three shot victory.

Mark O'Sullivan (Piltown Driving Range), James Quinlivan (Mullingar GC) and Mark Whelan (Castlewarden Golf and County Club) finished in a share of second.

Quinlivan guided his team to victory in the pro-am event with 92 points, two points ahead of Donal Gleeson (Old Conna GC).

The two-day Johnston, Mooney & O'Brien PGA Challenge gets underway tomorrow (Tuesday) with Dara Lernihan (Elm Park GC) defending his title. Last year the former Irish Amateur Close Champion edged out Neil O'Briain in a three-hole play-off.

PGA Challenge Pro-Am, Presented by Johnston, Mooney & O'BrienCarton House Golf Course (O'Meara Par 73)

Detailed scores

1 Damian Mooney (Ballyliffin) 67

T2 Mark O'Sullivan (Piltown Driving Range); James Quinlivan (Mullingar GC); Mark Whelan (Castlewarden Golf & CC) 70

5 Francis Howley (Carton House) 71

T6 Robert Giles (Greenore GC); Padraig Dooley (Drive Golf Performance); Noel Murray (Massereene GC) 72

9 Neil O'Briain (Old Conna GC); Dara Lernihan (Elm Park GC) 73

T11 Maura Morrin (Stepaside Golf Centre); Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance) 74

Team Pro-Am

1 James Quinlivan 92

2 Donal Gleeson 90

T3 Mark O'Sullivan; Padraig Dooley 89

Bearna five-handicapper Liam Power fired two birdies and three bogeys in a one over 73 to win the Multi Cargo Ltd sponsored Leinster Boys Under 16 Amateur Open at Beaverstown.

The Heritage's Lorcan O'Sullivan birdied the last to card a 75 and take second spot ahead of Tramore's Jack Hearn (75) and Rosslare's Jack McGarry (75).  

Connemara's Luke O'Neill (76) was fifth from Waterford Castle's Andrew Mulhall (76) and defending champion Cameron Raymond from Newlands.

Leinster Boys Under 16 Amateur Open Championship 2015, Beaverstown (Par 72) 

SPONSORED BY MULTI CARGO LTD (Dublin Airport) represented by Mr. Pat McCallion

Par 72 SSS 71 CSS 73 - Detailed scoring

73 Liam Power (Bearna)

75 Lorcan O'Sullivan (The Heritage), Jack Hearn (Tramore), Jack McGarry (Rosslare)

76 Luke O'Neill (Connemara), Andrew Mulhall (Waterford Castle), Cameron Raymond (Newlands)

77 Robert Galligan (Elm Park), Jack Small (Elm Park), Caolan Dunn (Foyle), Allan Hill (Roscommon), AJ McCabe (Malahide)

78 John Brady (Rosslare), Joshua Robinson (Lisburn), Jordan Logue (Hilton Templepatrick), Ryan Thompson (Greenacres), David Cunningham (Tandragee), Mark Power (Kilkenny)

79 Tom Armstrong (Co. Sligo), Ian Halpin (Cahir Park), Greg Barrett (Mallow), Ross Kelly (Tuam), Liam Travers (Ardee), Luke Boore (Lucan), Josh Black (Hilton Templepatrick), Brendan Rossiter (Rosslare)

80 Patrick Somers (Grange), Zachariah Glynn (Bray), David Kitt (Mountbellew), Mark Stoops (Holywood), Joseph Byrne (Baltinglass), Scott Young (Fintona), Evan Henry (Ballyhaunis), Annraoi Collins (Laytown & Bettystown), Charlie Dawson (Faithlegg), Conor McDonald (Lurgan), David Keery (Shandon Park)

81 Edward Walsh (Mallow), Niall Hearns (Mountrath), Cillian Lawless (Athenry), Paddy Culhane (Galway), Charlie Denvir (Powerscourt), Jack Duffy (Buncrana), Adam Cromwell (Co. Armagh), Joseph Keyes (Co. Sligo), Robert Moran (Castle), Andrew Hickey (Ballyhaunis), Ben Beaumont (Bangor), Oisin O'Meara (Glasson), Stephen Rennick (Curragh), Rory Sloan (Shandon Park), Max Dorman (Bangor), Jack Tuohy (Galway Bay), Edward Rowe (Tandragee), Matthew Stainsby (North West), Odhrán Maguire (Slieve Russell), Fergal Collery (Castle Dargan), Ross Moore (Royal Portrush)

82 Scott Miller (Clandeboye), Seamus Burke (Mount Juliet), Evan Hollowed (Newlands), Liam Dowling (Mallow), Christopher Cosgrave (Elm Park), Jack Joyce (Greystones), Alexander Flynn (Dun Laoghaire), Shane Irwin (Killeen), Aaron Mee (Royal Tara), Darragh Rochford (Bray), Adam Boland (Mitchelstown), Adrian O'Connor (Milltown)

83 David Duggan (Highfield), Harry Butler (Whitehead), Reece Black (Hilton Templepatrick), Shane Conroy (Mountrath), Conor Meade (East Clare), Darren Scott (Clandeboye), Harry Sutton (Bray), Conor Glennon (Glasson), Stephan Campbell (The Island), Tom Kelly (The Heritage), Tommy Smyth (Castle), Aaron Lennie (Clandeboye), Jake Rowe (Tandragee)

84 Peter Clark (Royal Portrush), Michael Lenihan (Goldcoast), Richard Duggan (Kilkenny), Sean Laverty (Dundalk), Ryan Mc Nelis (Fintona), John Twomey (Waterford), Shane Kearney (Esker Hills), Joe O Farrell (Galway), Joshua McCabe (Roganstown G & CC), Tim Farrelly (Howth), Sean Doyle (Black Bush), Cian Mooney (Faithlegg), Ronan Cowhey (Elm Park)

85 Darren Leufer (Tuam), Ned Kirwan (Mount Juliet), Daniel Tully (Royal Tara), Seán Dowling (Beaverstown), Luke Merrigan (Bray), Harry Gillivan (Westport), Sean Marks (Kilcock), Patrick Greene (Holywood), Kyle Patton (Lisburn), Sean Casey (Co. Sligo), Eoin Griffin (Galway), Conor Ruane (Galway Bay), Ross Latimer (Knock), Eoin McCarthy (Faithlegg), Brian Staunton (Mount Juliet), Ashley Emerson (Ardglass)

86 Ryan Brady (Newbridge), Ross Murphy (Clandeboye), Sebastian Ewing (Holywood), Paddy Bird (Co. Sligo), Mark Duggan (Highfield), Rhys Goodall (Hilton Templepatrick), Jeff Hogan (Castletroy)

87 Liam Dunphy (Woodbrook), Peter Taylor (Tandragee), Pauraic Mc Nelis (Fintona), Max Kennedy (The Royal Dublin), Darragh McCann (Lurgan), Tom Wallace (Killiney), Darragh Lynch (Slievenamon)

88 Morgan Hanley (Limerick), Sean Downes (Beaverstown), Paul Conroy (Enniscorthy), Jack Doherty (Carton House), Eoin Murphy (Dundalk), Daniel Reilly (Galgorm Castle), Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire), Scott O'Brien (Limerick), Barry Howlin (The Heritage)

89 Oliver Pearson (Cahir Park), Conor Murtagh (Balcarrick), James Temple (Portmarnock), Padraig Fallon (Dundalk), Sean Leonard (Mitchelstown)

90 George Morgan (Grange)

91 Cian McCormack (Ashbourne)

92 Patrick Cunnane (Malone), Nathan O Brien (Rosslare), Glenn McCreery (Knock)

94 Ross McCabe (Roganstown G & CC), Donal Groome (Moyvalley)

95 Mikey Culhane (Galway)

96 Roy Whelan (Mallow).

Olympia Fields' iconic clock tower.

Brabazon Trophy winner Cormac Sharvin and West Waterford's Gary Hurley will likely miss the Home Internationals, scheduled for Royal Portrush from August 12-14, after they qualified for the US Amateur Championship at Olympia Fields from August 17-23.

The Island's Gavin Moynihan would also have been eligible to tee it up as a member of the 2013 Walker Cup side. However, with a professional career beckoning after his likely Walker Cup selection, Moynihan has little to gain from a tilt at a title that offers the winner a place in the Masters, The Open and the US Open in 2016.

Hurley and Sharvin have both entered and earn exemptions from Sectional Qualifying as they were in the Top 50 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings on June 24.

Olympia Fields has hosted four major championships—two U.S. Opens, 1928 and 2003, and two US PGA Championships, 1925 and 1961. Other events held at Olympia Fields include five Western Opens, and the 1997 U.S. Senior Open.

Olympia Fields Country Club, 25 miles south of Chicago

Shane Lowry en route to a share of ninth in the US Open earlier this month

The PGA TOUR announced today that Shane Lowry has joined South Africa's Branden Grace and Australia's Cameron Smith in accepting Special Temporary Membership for the remainder of the 2014-15 PGA Tour season.

The three players join Patrick Rodgers of the United States (June 8) and Danny Willett of England (May 13), who both joined the TOUR as Special Temporary Members earlier this year.

Both Grace and Smith tied for fourth at the U.S. Open to earn 127 Non-Member FedExCup points while Lowry tied for ninth to earn 82 Non-Members FedExCup points.

With their US Open finishes, all three players surpassed the total number of FedExCup points of the player who finished No. 150 (323 points) on the 2013-14 FedExCup points list.

For the season, Grace now has 371 points in nine starts, Smith has 362 points in 11 starts and Lowry has 339 points in 10 starts.

The three players are eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the 2014-15 season as they attempt to earn 2015-16 PGA TOUR cards through the Non-member Money List or Non-member FedExCup Points List.

Special Temporary Members are not eligible for the FedExCup Playoffs, but Special Temporary Members or non-members who subsequently become regular PGA TOUR members by winning an official event during the season will be counted on the FedExCup points list, along with any FedExCup points earned as a non-member (excluding those won at World Golf Championships events as a non-member) and thus be eligible for the FedExCup Playoffs.

To earn his PGA Tour card for 2015-16, Lowry must equal the cash or points earned by the Top-125 on Money List or the FedExCup Points List.

Lowry's current official earnings of 502,517 would leave him around 136th on the money list while 339 FedEx Cup points would leave him 126th.

Lowry will make at least two more starts in the US this summer with the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron and the US PGA at Whistling Straits.

Web.com Tour — Seamus Power finished tied 19th as American Rob Oppenheim in the Air Capital Classic presented by AETNA in Kansas.

As Power shot a one over 71 to finish on six under par, Oppenheim fired a six-under-par 64 to come from six shots off the pace and win on  13-under par 267, more than an hour in front of the final pairing.

Third-round leader Andy Winings, who rolled in a 60-foot birdie putt at No. 10, stumbled on the back nine with three bogeys, including one at the final hole that handed the title to the 35-year old Oppenheim.

Winings closed with a 1-over 71 that left him alone in second, one shot back. Rhein Gibson (65) and Nicholas Lindheim (70) shared third place at 11 under par, while Darron Stiles (65) finished solo fifth, three back.

“You never know out here,” said Oppenheim, who collected his first Tour title and moved to No. 13 on the money list with the $108,000 first-place check. “It’s a lot less pressure and definitely easier playing from where I was than being in the lead. The leaders don’t want to make mistakes and I’m just firing at pins and trying to go as low as I can.”

Power was two under for his round with five holes to go but dropped three shots coming home and fell one spot to 69th in the money list after picking up a cheque for $5,996.

With Casey in the greenside bunker, Bubba just hit this approach at the second playoff hole. #QuickHits http://t.co/sfxJDz9mfk

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 28, 2015

.@BubbaWatson is your winner, his eighth PGA TOUR victory and second at the @TravelersChamp. #QuickHits http://t.co/g2hkeHHEhi

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 28, 2015 PGA Tour — Bubba Watson birdied the second extra hole to beat Paul Casey in a playoff for the Travelers Championship at TPC River HighlandsWatson shot a three under 67 and Casey a 65 are they tied on 16 under but it was left-hander Bubba who claimed the eighth of his career and his second at TPC River Highlands, which also came in a playoff."I proved to myself in '10 that I could win under pressure in the playoff; I proved to myself that I could mess up 17 and still have a chance to win, and so I knew that if I just kept my head down and kept doing what I needed to do, I could still have a chance to win, and that's what I did,” Watson said after making a birdie at their second visit to the 18th.After Watson and Casey traded pars on the par-4 18th the first time around — Casey bunker his approach from the middle of the fairway as Watson hit the green from the rough, they headed back to the tee.

Players who qualified for @TheOpen via The Travelers: -Harman -Donald -DeLaet -Pettersson http://t.co/paKyGJM6qa pic.twitter.com/8VSRLoIMpL

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 29, 2015 Casey drove into a fairway bunker and found the sand again on his approach before hitting a flyer over the green.It didn’t matter. Watson found the fairway, hit the green and trickled home a 12-footer for birdie and the win.According to the Tour, only Rory McIlroy with 11 has more victories on the PGA TOUR than Watson since 2010.

Pablo Larrazábal with the BMW International Open. Picture: Getty Images

Michael Hoey picked up some useful Race to Dubai cash — €55,000 — when he finished tied seventh behind Pablo Larrazábal in the BMW International Open in Munich.

Tied for the lead early on when he birdied the fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth to close a five-stroke gap on overnight leader James Morrison, who eventually struggled to a 77 and a share of 11th on 11 under, the 36 year old could't manage that sixth European Tour win but it was still his first Top 10 since he tied for seventh in the 36-hole Portugal Masters last October.

Like many, he found the back nine a tough prospect and bogeyed the 13th and 14th to slip back to seventh alongside Peter Hanson on 13 under par.

But he had the consolidation of a decent cheque that eases his Race to Dubai position and his decent showing will give him confidence for the rest of the season.

Race to Dubai - How the Irish stand

1. 1 MCILROY Rory (8) €2,875,645 
2. 22 LOWRY Shane (8) €651,956 
3. 71 MCDOWELL Graeme (8) €211,272 
4. 88 PHELAN Kevin (12) €166,034 
5. 90 HOEY Michael (17) €165,357 
6. 113 CLARKE Darren (10) €123,233 
7. 124 LAWRIE Peter (17) €105,647 
8. 175 MCGRANE Damien (18) €49,880 
9. 206 HARRINGTON Padraig (3) €22,303 
10. 220 MAYBIN Gareth (8) €15,286 
11. 228 THORNTON Simon (3) €10,650 
12. 247 MCGINLEY Paul (2) €3,954 

Larrazábal captured the title for a second time with a bogey free final round of 66, holding off Henrik Stenson by a single shot at Golfclub München Eichenried.

The Catalan emerged from a congested leaderboard with five birdies on the front nine, followed by another decisive gain on the 16th hole to claim his fourth European Tour title.

His 17 under par total of 271 just edged him past Stenson, the world No 7, who had surged up the leaderboard with a fine round of 65 that feature five birdies and an eagle on the par five 11th hole.

Englishman Chris Paisley closed with a round of 71 to finish third on 15 under par, while two-time US Open Champion Retief Goosen (67) shared fourth place on 14 under par with Spaniard Carlos Del Moral (69) and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (68).

 

Darren Clarke (69) tied for 20th on nine under par as Shane Lowry went to the turn in 32 but, undoubtedly struggling to get over his US Open exertions, he dropped five shots on the way home and tied for 29th on seven under after a 73.

Damien McGrane, struggling to hold on to his card, posted a 72 to share 40th as Peter Lawrie's 70 moved him up just two places to tied 53rd on four under.

Kevin Phelan is 88th in the Race to Dubai as he bids to win back his card but after starting 68-71, a 76 75 finish was not the weekend he had in mind as he came home 64th on two over.

“Every title is very special, but this place, from the first time I arrived to this golf course, it's something that suits my eye," Larrazábal said. "It suits my eye from the tee and on second shots and on the greens.

“I am lucky, winning four times, and three very special ones, because obviously I have won this one twice.  There was an article where they called me the 'giant killer.' 

"In France, Monty was runner‑up, and here, four years ago with Sergio runner‑up, in Abu Dhabi with Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, and this time, Henrik Stenson.  So it cannot be a lot better.”

“I guess those two holes (11 and 12) were worth coming and watching," Stenson said of his eagle-birdie charge.  "It was not free today.  You had to pay admission to come in, so I guess I gave them something to watch there.

“I hit some great shots and took full advantage of those two holes and thought if I could post a low number in the club house, see what happened.  I'm very happy with the way I putted and played today.”

Complete final round scores (par 72)

271 P Larrazábal (Esp) 70 66 69 66,

272 H Stenson (Swe) 67 71 69 65,

273 C Paisley  (Eng) 69 67 66 71,

274 R Goosen (RSA) 68 70 69 67, C Del Moral (Esp) 69 71 65 69, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 67 71 68 68,

275 P Hanson (Swe) 69 68 67 71, Michael Hoey  (Nir) 69 65 71 70,

276 D Howell (Eng) 69 70 72 65, D Gaunt (Eng) 65 73 70 68,

277 D Horsey (Eng) 70 68 69 70, R Fisher (Eng) 71 69 67 70, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 67 74 69 67, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 65 67 74 71, T Jaidee (Tha) 68 67 68 74, J Morrison  (Eng) 67 66 67 77,

278 M Madsen  (Den) 71 69 71 67, B Dredge (Wal) 69 68 70 71, S Wakefield (Eng) 71 70 69 68,

279 M Schneider (Ger) 68 70 71 70, H Otto (RSA) 71 69 71 68, Darren Clarke (Nir) 70 71 69 69, M Carlsson  (Swe) 70 68 72 69, J Quesne  (Fra) 68 71 72 68, V Dubuisson  (Fra) 72 67 67 73, P Oriol (Esp) 70 71 68 70,

280 K Broberg (Swe) 71 69 68 72, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 71 68 72 69,

281 G Stal  (Fra) 70 70 67 74, M Kieffer (Ger) 72 69 69 71, T Olesen (Den) 71 68 69 73, C Doak (Sco) 71 70 69 71, L Jensen (Den) 65 69 73 74, V Riu  (Fra) 67 73 70 71, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 71 67 71 72, P Lawrie (Sco) 68 71 69 73, J Van Zyl (RSA) 70 68 70 73, Shane Lowry  (Irl) 72 67 69 73, J Carlsson (Swe) 69 69 75 68,

282 F Fritsch  (Ger) 68 72 74 68, G Mulroy (RSA) 69 71 69 73, A Wall (Eng) 70 69 70 73, A Hansen (Den) 69 69 71 73, E Espana (Fra) 69 69 72 72, A Johnston (Eng) 66 72 72 72, Damien McGrane (Irl) 69 72 69 72,

283 G Bourdy (Fra) 75 66 73 69, T Bjørn (Den) 71 68 72 72, M Siem  (Ger) 71 70 70 72, S Kjeldsen (Den) 73 68 73 69, T Hatton (Eng) 71 70 66 76, O Farr (Wal) 69 71 72 71,

284 Peter Lawrie (Irl) 70 67 77 70, A Cañizares  (Esp) 70 66 72 76,

285 M Foster (Eng) 76 65 69 75, A Kirstein (Ger) 70 71 69 75, J Campillo (Esp) 69 71 75 70,

286 E Pepperell (Eng) 69 70 78 69, J Lagergren (Swe) 68 69 75 74,

 287 T Van Der Walt (RSA) 68 72 77 70,

288 J Roos (RSA) 71 70 74 73, J Luiten (Ned) 72 68 77 71,

289 A Velasco (Esp) 71 69 72 77,

290 Kevin Phelan (Irl) 68 71 76 75,

291 M Ford (Eng) 70 69 76 76.

Jack Senior with the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge trophy. Picture: Getty Images

Chris Selfridge added another €5,083 to his bank balance and moved up the Challenge Tour money list thanks to the first Top 10 of his professional career.

The Moyola Park star, 23, tied for 10th in the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts and is now 56th in the Road to Oman rankings with €11,160 from just four starts.

Two bogeys and three birdies in a closing, one under par 70 left the four-time Irish amateur major winner—he won two Norths, one East and one Irish Close—seven strokes outside a three-man playoff of the title that saw England’s Jack Senior secure a maiden Challenge Tour title after  four extra holes.

The 26 year old eagled the par four ninth hole at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club to burst into back nine contention and then birdied the 13th and 16th holes before rolling home a 15 foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to secure a play-off with compatriot Robert Coles and Thailand’s Prom Meesawat.

Senior’s final round of four under 67 set the clubhouse target of 16 under par which was soon matched by Meesawat (68) and Coles (70).

Inseparable after 72 holes, the trio returned to the 18th three times but a winner could not be determined so they moved to the first where Senior’s booming drive almost found the par four green. 

With Meesawat and Coles playing their second shots to 25 and 20 feet respectively, Senior knew he had a great chance if he could land his chip close.

With the pressure on again, the former Walker Cup player responded brilliantly again as he flopped his chip to just six inches.

With Meesawat and Coles missing their birdie putts, Senior was left the easiest winning putt he will ever have and tapped-in for a potentially career-changing victory worth €40,000 that propels him from 29th to third in the Road to Oman Rankings and a great position to win one of the 15 European Tour cards on offer to the Challenge Tour’s finest at the end of the season.

“Hitting driver down the first in the play-off was massive,” said Senior. “I knew the other two guys didn’t have the firepower to get it over the hill. I hit driver there this morning and every time the wind was right I was going to hit driver because the shot really suited me.

 “I actually thought I could get it on the green if I got the right line but I was just happy I got it close and had a great lie so all I really had to do was flick it up there and it was always going to release to the pin.

Senior has been close to making his breakthrough on the Challenge Tour, most notably at the Made in Denmark Challenge but a poor final round saw him finish tied for fourth.

“I should have won in Denmark a few weeks ago but had a disappointing finish there so to come here just a few weeks later is very satisfying,” he smiled.

“The key today was the eagle on nine. I hit a great drive and just committed to it. I just thought ‘you have to stand up and be counted’ and I hit a great drive down there onto the green to about five feet and rolled in the putt.

“After that, which was just after I made a great birdie on eight from a horrendous lie, that’s when I thought that maybe I had a chance to win, that it might be my day. I knew I had been playing well enough to win recently but you just never know till you get over the line.”

Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar tied for 35th on three under after a 70 in what was just second Challenge Tour start of the season.

As for the Road to Oman standings, Ruaidhri McGee is eighth from nine starts, Selfridge 56th (4 starts), Gareth Shaw 66th (5), Simon Thornton 126th (4), Mick McGeady 157th (5), Dunbar 159th (2), Gareth Maybin 173rd (4), Richard Kilpatrick 174th (2), Kevin Phelan 184th (1), Peter Lawrie 185th (1), Niall Kearney 207th (1), Stephen Grant 213th (5) and David Rawluk 234th (1).

Complete Final Round Scores

268 J Senior (Eng) 66 69 66 67 *Senior wins sudden-death play-off at the fourth extra hole, R Coles (Eng) 66 66 66 70, P Meesawat  (Tha) 65 69 66 68,

270 G Boyd  (Eng) 64 64 70 72,

271 J Hansen  (Den) 68 68 69 66,

273 M Orrin (Eng) 68 65 72 68, M Lafeber (Ned) 65 71 68 69, R McGowan  (Eng) 66 71 67 69, J Heath  (Eng) 68 70 68 67,

275 S Griffiths (Eng) 72 67 67 69, Chris Selfridge  (Nir) 69 65 71 70, R Fox (Nzl) 68 69 70 68,

276 R Kellett (Sco) 68 67 70 71, S Jeppesen  (Swe) 68 70 67 71, J Stalter (Fra) 67 67 72 70, R Evans  (Eng) 68 68 68 72,

277 H Porteous (RSA) 67 71 67 72, J Lima  (Por) 65 73 68 71, T Remkes (Ned) 69 67 68 73,

278 R Gouveia (Por) 70 70 70 68, P Archer (Eng) 72 67 70 69,

279 D Burmester (RSA) 66 70 70 73, O Bekker (RSA) 70 69 68 72, S Heisele (Ger) 68 69 70 72, M Søgaard  (Den) 72 68 68 71, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 68 71 73 67, C Ford (Eng) 70 66 73 70, A McArthur  (Sco) 70 67 68 74, E Saltman  (Sco) 66 74 69 70,

280 R Davies (Wal) 68 72 70 70, S Arnold  (Aus) 70 69 74 67, E Bertheussen (Nor) 67 71 67 75, J Guerrier  (Fra) 70 70 68 72, C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 69 71 71,

281 T Linard (Fra) 70 67 72 72, J Makitalo  (Fin) 69 69 72 71, D Im (USA) 71 69 68 73, Alan Dunbar (Nir) 69 70 72 70, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 73 67 73 68,

282 J Billing (Swe) 71 69 69 73, C Hanson (Eng) 72 68 71 71, M Röhrig (Ger) 68 70 73 71, C Gloet  (Den) 69 71 71 71, C Arendell (USA) 70 70 71 71, J Fahrbring (Swe) 68 72 72 70, N Elvira  (Esp) 71 67 71 73, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 72 68 71 71,

283 D Coupland (Eng) 72 65 73 73, W Harrold (Eng) 68 66 73 76, M Delpodio  (Ita) 71 68 71 73, J Sarasti (Esp) 71 69 73 70, D Huizing (Ned) 69 71 71 72, B Åkesson (Swe) 69 67 74 73, G Forrest (am) (Sco) 73 67 72 71,

284 J Gonnet  (Fra) 70 68 72 74, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 69 70 75, F Calmels  (Fra) 72 65 73 74, N Kimsey (Eng) 70 70 74 70,

285 N Henderson (Sco) 68 72 70 75,

286 S Walker (Eng) 71 67 72 76, A Knappe (Ger) 69 71 77 69, B Etchart  (Esp) 69 71 67 79, S Gros (Fra) 71 69 72 74,

287 N Quintarelli (Ita) 68 71 72 76, J Huldahl (Den) 71 69 71 76,

288 D Dixon (Eng) 68 71 76 73, P Dwyer (Eng) 69 71 75 73, J McDonald (am) (Sco) 70 70 74 74,

289 A Bernadet  (Fra) 70 70 70 79,

295 J Byrne (Sco) 70 70 76 79.

Web.com Tour — Nothing but birdies will do on the second tier US circuit and first round leader Seamus Power finds himself six shots behind American Andy Winings heading into today's final round of the Air Capital Classic presented by Aetna in Kansas.

After opening with a seven under 63 in windy conditions, the West Waterford player has added a brace of level par 70s to his tally, posting two birdies and two bogeys yesterday to remain at seven under.

He's tied for 11th place in the event and at 68th in The 25, the money list race for 25 PGA Tour cards and still has a great chance of a big cheque or a run at the $108,000 jackpot at Crestview Country Club in Wichita.

A three hour weather delay on Friday did not help Power's chances, but he is still playing well heading into Sunday's final round.

Winnings' four under 66 got him to 13-under par, two better than Nicholas Lindheim (65) and three in front of Nebraska’s Scott Gutschewski (67) and Floridian Brett Stegmaier (67).

Graham DeLaet was this close to a hole-in-one albatross. http://t.co/ix5SRp2txp

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 28, 2015 PGA Tour — Former Walker Cup player Brian Harman birded the 18th to card a 65 and take a one-shot lead over Bubba Watson and Graham DeLae after three rounds of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.Watson, who led by two at the start of the round, had just three birdies in soft conditions at TPC River Highlands.“Today I just couldn't get my clubs right," Watson told PGATour.com. "I thought one would bounce and it didn't bounce. I thought one would not bounce and it bounced. So I just didn't have enough close birdie putts.”Because of expected bad weather, players will go off in groups of three between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ET off both tees.

James Morrison. Picture: Getty Images

Michael Hoey carded a one under 71 to go into the final round of the BMW International Open five shots behind England’s James Morrison.

The Belfast man had four birdie and three bogeys at Golfclub München Eichenried to share fifth place on 11 under par as he searches for his sixth European Tour win.

But Morrison looks comfortalbe and takea a two-shot lead into the final round as he chases a second European Tour title in as many months.

The in-form Englishman, who won last month’s Open de España, fired six birdies in a five under par round of 67 to move to 16 under par at .

His only bogey of the day - and only his second in 54 holes – came on the closing hole, when his approach from the rough cut left over the grandstand and struck a female marshal on the arm. From another difficult lie, he then left his chip short and required two putts, but that was the only blemish in an otherwise impressive round.

Morrison will be joined in the final group by his compatriot Chris Paisley, who made his move with seven birdies in nine holes from the third hole, eventually signing for a six under par round of 66.

The Qualifying School graduate climbed to 14 under par, with Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee a further shot back following a round of 68 which included an eagle on the sixth hole, as well as four birdies.

Former Ryder Cup player Peter Hanson continued his return from a back injury with three birdies in his last four holes for a round of 67. He sits four shots back on 12 under par, in fourth position.

Shane Lowry continued his climb up the leaderboard but would have been just a shot outside eh Top 10 had he not bogeyed the last for a 69.

Darren Clarke eagled the 18th while Damien McGrane had six birdies in 69s as they share 32nd on six under

However, Peter Lawrie failed to make a birdie in a 77 while Kevin Phelan dropped four shots in three holes from the seventh to the ninth en route to a 76 to leave them down the leaderboard on two under and one under respectively.

Complete round three scores (par 72)

200 J Morrison  (Eng) 67 66 67,

202 C Paisley  (Eng) 69 67 66,

203 T Jaidee (Tha) 68 67 68,

204 P Hanson (Swe) 69 68 67,

205 P Larrazábal (Esp) 70 66 69, C Del Moral (Esp) 69 71 65, Michael Hoey  (Nir) 69 65 71,

206 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 65 67 74, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 67 71 68, V Dubuisson  (Fra) 72 67 67,

207 R Goosen (RSA) 68 70 69, D Horsey (Eng) 70 68 69, R Fisher (Eng) 71 69 67, L Jensen (Den) 65 69 73, T Hatton (Eng) 71 70 66, B Dredge (Wal) 69 68 70, G Stal  (Fra) 70 70 67, H Stenson (Swe) 67 71 69,

208 Shane Lowry (Irl) 72 67 69, K Broberg (Swe) 71 69 68, P Lawrie (Sco) 68 71 69, J Van Zyl (RSA) 70 68 70, T Olesen (Den) 71 68 69, A Cañizares  (Esp) 70 66 72, D Gaunt (Eng) 65 73 70,

209 L Bjerregaard  (Den) 71 67 71, A Hansen (Den) 69 69 71, G Mulroy (RSA) 69 71 69, A Wall (Eng) 70 69 70, M Schneider (Ger) 68 70 71, P Oriol (Esp) 70 71 68,

210 M Kieffer (Ger) 72 69 69, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 67 74 69, M Carlsson  (Swe) 70 68 72, Damien McGrane (Irl) 69 72 69, V Riu  (Fra) 67 73 70, A Johnston (Eng) 66 72 72, A Kirstein (Ger) 70 71 69, Darren Clarke (Nir) 70 71 69, S Wakefield (Eng) 71 70 69, M Foster (Eng) 76 65 69, C Doak (Sco) 71 70 69, E Espana (Fra) 69 69 72,

211 H Otto (RSA) 71 69 71, M Madsen  (Den) 71 69 71, J Quesne  (Fra) 68 71 72, M Siem  (Ger) 71 70 70, T Bjørn (Den) 71 68 72, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 71 68 72, D Howell (Eng) 69 70 72,

212 J Lagergren (Swe) 68 69 75, O Farr (Wal) 69 71 72, A Velasco (Esp) 71 69 72,

213 J Carlsson (Swe) 69 69 75,

214 F Fritsch  (Ger) 68 72 74, G Bourdy (Fra) 75 66 73, S Kjeldsen (Den) 73 68 73, Peter Lawrie (Irl) 70 67 77,

215 Kevin Phelan (Irl) 68 71 76, M Ford (Eng) 70 69 76, J Campillo (Esp) 69 71 75, J Roos (RSA) 71 70 74.

Robert Coles. Picture: Getty Images.

Chris Selfridge is chasing down his first Top-10 as a professional in the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts.

The Moyola Park player followed his second round 65 with a level par 71 but while he’s now seven shots behind co-leaders Robert Coles and Gary Boyd on eight under, he’s tied for ninth and in with a great chance of winning a decent cheque.

Coles drew level with compatriot Boyd (70) on 15 under, two shots ahead of Thailand’s Prom Meesawat (66) and three better than England’s Jack Senior (66) in the battle for the title and €40,000 first prize.

Coles is the first to admit that his form – he has made just two cuts from seven appearances on the Challenge Tour this year – has been far from what is required to succeed at this level, but a recent change of coach has brought a fresh outlook to his game.

“I’ve been playing rubbish this year so this is a bit of a bonus,” said the 42 year old. “You can never put your finger on what is wrong but it’s just been a combination of little things. 

"I changed coach and went back to some of my old methods to see if that would help. I probably needed a bit of freshness. Thigs have been steady all week but didn’t know it would be this good.”

Alan Dunbar shot a one over 72 and fell 14 places to tied 49th on two under.

Complete Third Round Scores:

198 R Coles (Eng) 66 66 66, G Boyd (Eng) 64 64 70,

200 P Meesawat (Tha) 65 69 66,

201 J Senior (Eng) 66 69 66,

204 R McGowan (Eng) 66 71 67, M Lafeber (Ned) 65 71 68, T Remkes (Ned) 69 67 68, R Evans (Eng) 68 68 68,

205 S Jeppesen (Swe) 68 70 67, H Porteous (RSA) 67 71 67, A McArthur (Sco) 70 67 68, R Kellett (Sco) 68 67 70, M Orrin (Eng) 68 65 72, C Selfridge (Nir) 69 65 71, E Bertheussen (Nor) 67 71 67, J Hansen (Den) 68 68 69,

206 J Stalter (Fra) 67 67 72, J Lima (Por) 65 73 68, D Burmester (RSA) 66 70 70, J Heath (Eng) 68 70 68, S Griffiths (Eng) 72 67 67,

207 O Bekker (RSA) 70 69 68, R Fox (Nzl) 68 69 70, B Etchart (Esp) 69 71 67, S Heisele (Ger) 68 69 70, W Harrold (Eng) 68 66 73,

208 M Søgaard (Den) 72 68 68, D Im (USA) 71 69 68, J Guerrier (Fra) 70 70 68,

209 N Elvira (Esp) 71 67 71, E Saltman (Sco) 66 74 69, T Linard (Fra) 70 67 72, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 69 70, P Archer (Eng) 72 67 70, C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 69 71, J Billing (Swe) 71 69 69, C Ford (Eng) 70 66 73,

210 R Gouveia (Por) 70 70 70, D Coupland (Eng) 72 65 73, J Makitalo (Fin) 69 69 72, S Walker (Eng) 71 67 72, J Gonnet (Fra) 70 68 72, F Calmels (Fra) 72 65 73, A Bernadet (Fra) 70 70 70, N Henderson (Sco) 68 72 70, B Åkesson (Swe) 69 67 74, M Delpodio (Ita) 71 68 71, R Davies (Wal) 68 72 70,

211 N Quintarelli (Ita) 68 71 72, C Arendell (USA) 70 70 71, D Huizing (Ned) 69 71 71, C Hanson (Eng) 72 68 71, M Röhrig (Ger) 68 70 73, A Dunbar (Nir) 69 70 72, C Gloet (Den) 69 71 71, G Lockerbie (Eng) 72 68 71, J Huldahl (Den) 71 69 71,

212 S Gros (Fra) 71 69 72, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 68 71 73, J Fahrbring (Swe) 68 72 72, G Forrest (am) (Sco) 73 67 72,

213 S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 73 67 73, S Arnold (Aus) 70 69 74, J Sarasti (Esp) 71 69 73,

214 N Kimsey (Eng) 70 70 74, J McDonald (am) (Sco) 70 70 74,

215 D Dixon (Eng) 68 71 76, P Dwyer (Eng) 69 71 75,

216 J Byrne (Sco) 70 70 76,

217 A Knappe (Ger) 69 71 77

Cormac Sharvin with the 2015 Brabazon Trophy

Ireland’s case for four, five or even six places in the 10-strong Walker Cup team were strengthened on Saturday when Cormac Sharvin led a sensational and historic 1-2-3 for the boys in green in the Brabazon Trophy at Notts Golf Club.

The Ardglass star dramatcially scrambled for par on the 18th at Hollinwell to win by one stroke on seven under 281 from The Island’s Gavin Moynihan (66) with Naas’ Jack Hume tied for third, two shots further back alonside American Charlie Danielson and Lancashire’s Paul Kinnear on four under par.

Final scores - PDF | Web

Sharvin, who has been threatening to win since April but come up tantalisingly short each time, joins Niall Kearney (2009) and Ronan Rafferty (joint winner with Peter McEvoy in 1980) on what is a very short list of Irish winners of the English Amateur Open Strokeplay title.

Love this. @GavinMoynihan @CormacSharvin92 pic.twitter.com/5me1DG6LI5

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) June 27, 2015

As things turned out, Kearney was the only Irishman on the 2009 Walker Cup team while Rafferty joined Philip Walton on the 1981 team that lost at Cypress Point.

Both Raffery and Walton were exceptional and the Dubliner made another appearance in 1983 on a side that also featured Arrthur Pierse.

How special the current generation of Irish amateurs turns out to be remains to be seen. But tournament wins are very often a good barometer and with Moynihan and Paul Dunne, who was ninth, set for the professional ranks this year, we will eventually find out how good they really are.

Walker Cup selection is also hit and miss — see Rory McIlroy in 2005 — but with the experienced Moynihan and Dunne clearly two of the best players in Great Britian and Ireland, Gary Hurley ranked third for GB&I in the WAGR and Sharvin No 4 and rising, it’s hard to see how Ireland can be denied four places in Nigel Edward’s team for Royal Lytham and St Annes.

And that’s before we even consider the merits of Hume or Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy. 

The forthcoming European Amateur Team Championships will decide their fate with around 15 players seriously battling for those 10 places.

Here's the breakdown of Irish representatives in the Walker Cup sides over the years:

• 1922 - 0
• 1923 - 0
• 1924 - 1 (CO Hezlet)
• 1926 - 1 (CO Hezlet)
• 1928 - 2 (Co Hezlet, GNC Martin)
• 1930 - 0
• 1932 - 1 (J Burke)
• 1934 - 0
• 1936 - 1 (C Ewing)
• 1938 - 2 (J Bruen, C Ewing)
• 1947 - 2 (C Ewing, J Carr)
• 1949 - 4 (C Ewing, J Carr, SM McCready, J Bruen)
• 1951 - 4 (C Ewing, J Carr, SM McCready, J Bruen)
• 1953 - 2 (J Carr, N Drew)
• 1955 - 2 (J Carr, C Ewing)
• 1957 - 1 (J Carr)
• 1959 - 1 (J Carr)
• 1961 - 1 (J Carr)
• 1963 - 3 (J Carr, JF Madeley, D Sheahan)
• 1965 - 1 (J Carr capt)
• 1967 - 2 (J Carr, T Craddock)
• 1969 - 1 (T Craddock)
• 1971 - 1 (RJ Carr)
• 1973 - 0
• 1975 - 1 (P Mulcare)
• 1977 - 0
• 1979 - 0
• 1981 - 2 (R Rafferty, P Walton)
• 1983 - 2 (P Walton, A Pierse)
• 1985 - 1 (G McGimpsey)
• 1987 - 1 (J McHenry)
• 1989 - 2 (G McGimpsey, E O'Connell)
• 1991 - 3 (G McGimpsey, P McGinley, P Harrington)
• 1993 - 2 (P Harrington, R Burns)
• 1995 - 2 (P Harrington, J Fanagan)
• 1997 - 2 (R Coughlan, K Nolan)
• 1999 - 1 (P Gribben)
• 2001 - 2 (M Hoey, G McDowell)
• 2003 - 2 (N Fox, C Moriarty)
• 2005 - 1 (B McElhinney)
• 2007 - 2 (R McIlroy, J Caldwell)
• 2009 - 1 (N Kearney)
• 2011 - 2 (P Cutler, A Dunbar)
• 2013 - 2 (K Phelan, G Moynihan)
• 2015 - ?

Delighted for this young man today @CormacSharvin92 . Brabazon Trophy Winner 2015 @ArdglassGolf pic.twitter.com/ZtSVIFxgGb

— Paul Vaughan (@paulvaughanpro) June 27, 2015

As for the Brabazon Trophy, it was a triumph for Ireland, as the EnglandGolf.org reported: 

Sharvin finished on seven-under par at Notts Golf Club, a stroke ahead of Gavin Moynihan, who closed with six-under par 66, and three ahead of Jack Hume, Lancashire’s Paul Kinnear and American Charlie Danielson.Sharvin has been knocking on the door of a big win after a string of high finishes and he said: “It means the world to get over the line. I have given myself so many chances this year and it’s great to get it done.”It undoubtedly strengthens his claim for a place in the GB&I Walker Cup team for this September’s match and he remarked: “It puts my name in the equation a bit more.”Sharvin, 22, had one big slice of luck as he pinned down the biggest win of his career. He needed a par four on the last to clinch the title and his seven-iron second shot sailed over the green, hit the clubhouse wall and rebounded round a sponsor’s board before finishing close to the green.From there he chipped up to about a foot and holed out for the win (pictured right). “You need to get a bit of luck,” he laughed afterwards.He scored two-under 70 today and described it as “a bit of a grind”. The large crowd of spectators would have described it as an amazing display of short game skills as he got up and down from some challenging situations on the home stretch.“The back nine is tricky and I holed a lot of good putts under pressure,” added Sharvin, who arrived at Hollinwell with a new putter and new putting technique, going from cack-handed to conventional, after being dissatisfied with his performance at the Amateur Championship.

Notts Golf Club looking stunning on the final day of the #BrabazonTrophy - excited finish ahead @EnglandGolf pic.twitter.com/20DeQv6uGe

— Your Golf Travel (@yourgolftravel) June 27, 2015 The Irish contingent clearly came out in determined mood today and the leaderboard was soon reflecting their charge. Gavin Moynihan (The Island) made rapid strides, reaching the turn in four-under 32, helped by three birdies and an eagle, before playing the back nine in 34.Despite his finish he never expected to win. “I was 20th at the start and I was just trying to finish in the top 10.“Obviously I would have liked to have been in a play-off, but I have no regrets. I’m delighted for Cormac, he has been knocking on the door for ages and he was due a win. I couldn’t be more happy for him.”Jack Hume (Naas, Ireland) shot a final round 69 to move into a share of third place on four-under, while others Irish players were also pushing hard. In total five of them finished 11th or better. “It’s a great day for the Irish, I’m proud of everyone,” said Sharvin.

Fan club! New #BrabazonTrophy champion @CormacSharvin92 signs autographs for young admirers http://t.co/2cZrCrRA1R pic.twitter.com/Mm75ZFAkVY

— England Golf (@EnglandGolf) June 27, 2015

Had it not been for three back nine double bogey sixes, Dunne might have forced a playoff rather than finished tied ninth on one under after a 73.

Still, he’s showing signs that his very best stuff is not far away while McElroy (74) tied for 11th on level par with 16-year old Kevin LeBlanc from The Island, the Junior Open champion, who looks like a Walker Cup player for 2017 already after carding a one under 71 with the handicap of a triple bogey seven on the back nine.

Whitehead’s John Ross Galbraith (70) tied for 18th as he continued his move towards top form with Naas Conor O’Rourke growing in confidence all the time after a 71 gave him a share of 23rd on three over.

Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell Jnr (74), who has not played his best stuff since announcing his intention to head to Q-School this year, ended up tied 34th on five over while The Island’s Paul McBride (74) was two shots further back in joint 44th.

Castle’s Daniel Holland (74) was joint 50th on 10 over.  

Padraig Harrington

PGA Tour — Padraig Harrington missed the cut as Bubba Watson shot a 67 to lead the Travelers Championship by two shots from Brian Harman, Brian Stuard and Carl Pettersson on 11 under.

Watson has taken just 53 putts through two rounds but Harrington had an estimated 32 putts as well as a couple of three putts in a five over 75 at TPC River Highlands to miss the cut by three strokes on one over par.

“It’s just my mind right now,” Watson said. “Over the putts, I'm thinking well.”

“These greens are perfect. These greens are running so smoothly.”

Ranked 92nd in the world, Harrington has now missed eight cuts from 15 strokesplay starts and four of his last seven.

Since he won the Honda Classic on March 1 for his first PGA Tour win since 2008, his best finish in 10 starts in a share of 42nd in The Players.

His next scheduled start is the Scottish Open in a fortnight.

Web.com Tour — Seamus Power fired a level par 70 to fall two stokes bhind clubhouse leader Dawie vander Walt in the Air Capital Classic presented by Aetna in Kansas.The West Waterford man led after an opening 63 but he had three birdies and three bogeys on Friday to remain on seven under as South African vander Walt added a 67 to his openin 64 to lead by a shot on nine under from Argentina’s Miguel A. Carballo (65) with American Andy Winings also eight under through 14 holes when he play was suspended.Power was tied for fourth place with Korea’s D.H. Lee (69), Scott Gutschewski (66), Brett Stegmaier (66) and American Matt Mabrey (67) on seven under.

Rafael Cabrera Bello. Picture: Getty Images

Michael Hoey drew on the feelings of freedom he enjoyed on a recent golfing holiday and Peter Lawrie revived the putter that helped him save his card two years ago as they hit the birdie trail in the BMW International Open in Munich.

Restored by a break in La Managa with pals, Hoey had nine birdies in a seven under 65 that left him tied for third on 10 under par, just two shots behind leader Rafa Cabrera Bello, who leads by one from James Morrison (66).

Who is gonna take the green jacket this year? pic.twitter.com/BRYPtvdK6E

— Michael Hoey (@MikeHoeyNI) June 15, 2015

“I knew the greens would be better today, and I putted well,” said Hoey, who birdied the last two holes. “It was an opportunity today to shoot seven under, which I did.  

"I’m very happy with my putting which is the main thing.  I scored really well, and obviously in pro golf on this golf course, you have to score well.”

Lawrie delved into his shed to rescue the putter he used to keep his card in the final event of the season in Australia at the end of 2013. But as he tees it up on his final sponsor’s invitation for the time being, he knows he has to take advantage of this week's event to edge closer to winning back his card.

Seven under par for his last 12 holes, he had just 24 putts in a five under 67 to share ninth spot on seven under and hopes to secure at least a top 10 finish and a place in next week’s French Open.

Cabrera Bello, defeated by Fabrizio Zanotti in a play-off 12 months ago, shot a five under par 67 to lead at Golfclub München Eichenried.

He fired six birdies in his opening 11 holes, including chipping in from the drop zone on the 18th hole (having started on the tenth tee) after finding the water with his approach. 

He made his only bogey of the day on the eighth hole – his penultimate of the day – but a par on the last meant he finished on 12 under par, the same 36-hole total he posted last year.

He is a shot clear of Englishman Morrison, the Open de España champion, who signed for a round of 66.

Home favourite Martin Kaymer missed the cut after finding the water on the 18th hole.

Shane Lowry had six birdies in a 65 to make the cut with ease on five under but Kevin Phelan, who made three early birdies to get to seven under, bogyed the 14th and 18th a 71 left him tied 26th on five unver.

Damien McGrane (72) and Darren Clarke (71) are tied 52nd on three under, meaning all the Irish made the cut.

Complete round two scores (par 72)

132 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 65 67,

133 J Morrison  (Eng) 67 66,

134 L Jensen (Den) 65 69, Michael Hoey (Nir) 69 65,

135 T Jaidee (Tha) 68 67,

136 P Larrazábal (Esp) 70 66, A Cañizares  (Esp) 70 66, C Paisley  (Eng) 69 67,

137 B Dredge (Wal) 69 68, P Hanson (Swe) 69 68, Peter Lawrie (Irl) 70 67, J Lagergren (Swe) 68 69,

138 D Horsey (Eng) 70 68, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 71 67, M Schneider (Ger) 68 70, J Carlsson (Swe) 69 69, J Van Zyl (RSA) 70 68, R Goosen (RSA) 68 70, A Johnston (Eng) 66 72, M Carlsson  (Swe) 70 68, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 67 71, H Stenson (Swe) 67 71, D Gaunt (Eng) 65 73, A Hansen (Den) 69 69, E Espana (Fra) 69 69

139 P Lawrie (Sco) 68 71, A Wall (Eng) 70 69, E Pepperell (Eng) 69 70, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 71 68, T Bjørn (Den) 71 68, Shane Lowry (Irl) 72 67, D Howell (Eng) 69 70, J Quesne  (Fra) 68 71, M Ford (Eng) 70 69, V Dubuisson  (Fra) 72 67, T Olesen (Den) 71 68, Kevin Phelan (Irl) 68 71,

140 M Madsen  (Den) 71 69, V Riu  (Fra) 67 73, R Fisher (Eng) 71 69, F Fritsch  (Ger) 68 72, C Del Moral (Esp) 69 71, G Stal  (Fra) 70 70, J Luiten (Ned) 72 68, G Mulroy (RSA) 69 71, J Campillo (Esp) 69 71, O Farr (Wal) 69 71, A Velasco (Esp) 71 69, K Broberg (Swe) 71 69, H Otto (RSA) 71 69, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 68 72,

141 M Kieffer (Ger) 72 69, J Roos (RSA) 71 70, G Bourdy (Fra) 75 66, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 67 74, M Siem  (Ger) 71 70, S Wakefield (Eng) 71 70, A Kirstein (Ger) 70 71, P Oriol (Esp) 70 71, C Doak (Sco) 71 70, S Kjeldsen (Den) 73 68, Darren Clarke (Nir) 70 71, M Foster (Eng) 76 65, T Hatton (Eng) 71 70, Damien McGrane (Irl) 69 72

Gavin Moynihan. Picture: Pat Cashman

Ardglass’ Cormac Sharvin has been threatening to pull off a win for several weeks. Now he has a chance to finally do it after a fivce under par 67 gave him a one-stroke lead heading into Saturday’s final round of the Brabazon Trophy at Notts Golf Club.

The former Irish Close and reigning British Universities cjhampion had five birdies in an immaculate round to lead by just one stroke on five under from Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson (71) and English pair Jonathan THompson (66) and Ben Taylor.

Scoring

Sharvin’s round began with a birdie on the first and ended with a great par save on the last, when he got up and down from 80 yards, to keep it bogey free.

“I’ve been playing nicely, but not getting the most out of my rounds so I knew there was a low one in there,” Sharvin told Englandgolf.org. “This was one of the best rounds of golf I have played tee-to-green and it could have been a really low one.

“But I started the day five behind so I’m happy to have put myself in contention, I’ve been in contention a few times this year and it’s a nice place to be.”

Ranked 33rd in the world, Sharvin was secodn in the Lytham Trophy and the Irish Amateur Open before coming home third in the Scottish Strokeplay.

He knows a win would secure a Walker Cup place that looks increasingly probable but there are other Irishmen with chances of victory.

Naas’ Jack Hume (69) is just two shots off the pace in a tie for fifth with Greystones’ Paul Dunne (68) and Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy (70)  just three behind Sharvin on two unde.

The Island’s Gavin Moynihan and Kevin LeBlanc are also near the top of the leaderboard. 

Moynihan’s 70 left him five behind in solo 20th on level par with LeBlanc (72) a shot further back in 21st.

Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell (73) is 32nd on three over with Whitehead’s John-Ross Galbraith (72) and Naas Conor O’Rourke (75) tied 37th on four over.

Paul McBride (76) is tied 43rd on five over with Daniel Holland (77) eight over.

The final round starts at 7.30am with the final pair of Sharvin and Thomson teeing off at 11.38am.

Gary Boyd. Picture: Getty Images 

Chris Selfridge added an immaculate 65 to his opening 69 to share fourth place at halfway in the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts.

The Moyola Park rookie is six shots behind Gary Boyd on eight under par but clearly playing with huge confidence in his just four start as a professional.

Alan Dunbar shot 70 to share 35th on three under but the rest of the Irish missed the cut

Leader Boyd shot a second successive 64 to lead by four shots on 14 under par from compatriot Robert Coles (66) and by three from Max Orrin (65).

Complete Second Round Scores:

128 G Boyd  (Eng) 64 64,

132 R Coles (Eng) 66 66,

133 M Orrin (Eng) 68 65,

134 J Stalter (Fra) 67 67, P Meesawat  (Tha) 65 69, C Selfridge  (Nir) 69 65, W Harrold (Eng) 68 66,

Other Irish - Cut 140

143 R McGee (Irl) 71 72,

145 S Grant  (Irl) 74 71, 

146 M McGeady (Irl) 71 75, 

149 R Kilpatrick (Nir) 76 73.

Paul Howard

Europro Tour — Simon Ward shot a one over 73 to finish sixth behind England's Paul Howard  in the Paul Lawrie Foundation Granite City Classic at Newmachar Golf Club.

The Carrickmacross native began he final round a shot behind Howard on 12 under but after a birdie at the first, he dropped three shots before getting back to one over for the day with a birdie at the 16th. Scores

oward, 24, won his first professional title and £10,000, four months after leaving the amateur ranks by carding a final-round 70 to win by one from Paul Shields on 15 under.

Ward tied for sixth on 11 under and earned £1,333.33 while Headfort's Brian Casey also shot 73 to share 42nd on one under and earn £332.50.

Shields would have forced a play-off had he not bogeyed the 17th after amassing seven birdies in his last 18, but the result equals his best finish on Europe’s third-tier golf tour.

Highlights of the Paul Lawrie Foundation Granite City Classic will air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, July 7. 

Alps Tour — David Carey and Brendan McCarroll missed the cut in the Open International de la Mirabelle D'Or near Metz in France.Carey shot a one under 70 to finish in level par, two shots outside the cut line while McCarroll followed his ioening 82 with a 71 to finish on 11 over.England's Harry Casey shot a 65 to lead by one on 10 under from Eduardo Larrañaga. Scores

 

Leona Maguire

Leona Maguire won twice and Olivia Mehaffey was unbeaten as the Continent of Europe came back from a 4-2 mid-afternoon deficit to lead 6.5 to 5.5 at the halfway stage of the two-day Vagliano Trophy match at Malone.

Maguire and Mehaffey teamed up in the morning foursomes and beat Celine Boutier and Justine Dreher 3 and 2 as the session was shared 2-2.

Scoring

In the afternoon singles, Leona Maguire again lived up to her world No 1 ranking, beating Duke team mate Boutier 2 and 1 as Mehaffey lipped out at the 18th for birdie and a win over her Ladies' British Open semi-final nemesis Linnea Strom of Sweden.

"I'm quite happy with our position although it's a pity that Olivia Mehaffey's putt for a birdie on the last green of the last match lipped out," said Elaine Farquharson-Black, the GB and I captain.

"If you had offered me this scoreline before the start of play I would have taken it. We were strong at the top and at the end of our line-up today, but we hit too many slack shots, missed too many fairways."

Leona was two up after six holes but Boutier won back the eighth before seven holes in a row were halved.

Maguire holed a 10ft birdie putt to go two up at the 16th and a half at the the next ended a classic singles tie between two quality players.

Mehaffey was two up after 13 but Strom hit back with gains at the 14th and 16th to set up a nail-biting finish in front of a big gallery on the 18th only to see the Irish star lip out.  

Junior Vagliano Trophy — The Continent of Europe ended the opening day with a 6-3 lead, reversing Team GB & I's winning margin of 2-1 from the morning foursomes.

Killarney's Mairead Martin and Lurgan's Annabel Wilson beat Isabella Holpfor and Mathilde Claisse 5 and 4 in their foursomes but  in the afternoon singles session Mairead lost by 4 and 3 to Mathilde and Annabel fell 3 and 2 to Emma Spitz.