Irish Golf News

Stacey Wiliams is the new roup Marketing & PR Director for the Walton Media Group

Walton Media Group has announced the appointment of Stacey Williams as Group Marketing & PR Director, effective 1st July 2015.

A leading figure in the Irish and international golf industry, she recently stepped down as the Chief Executive of the Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association (IGTOA), the national representative body for the Irish golf tourism industry, after eight years of service to the organisation.
 
Stacey has worked extensively in the Irish and international golf industry with the leading bodies in the game including the Confederation of Irish Golf, the PGA Irish Region, the European Tour, European Senior Tour, European Challenge Tour, Ryder Cup Travel Services, The Open Championship, the PGA of America and the PGA Tour.

She has also worked with government bodies and tourism agencies overseas, including Visit Scotland, Visit Britain, Golf Tourism Scotland, the Welsh Assembly, Visit Wales and IAGTO.
 
Since 2009 upon her appointment to the IGTOA, Stacey has managed engaged partnerships in the area of the development of Irish golf tourism with the Department of Transport Tourism & Sport in the Republic of Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and their respective National Tourism Development Authorities, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI.
 
Stacey has an extensive international experience in the areas of marketing, public relations, event management, media relations and commercial development in a broad spectrum of sectors.

She will join the senior executive team to oversee the development of all strategic partnerships across the Publishing, Design, Digital, Travel, Event Management, and Consultancy Divisions of the Walton Media Group.
 
Stacey Williams is a Full Member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland, an IAGTO Business Partner and a Member of the International Tourism Association SKAL.
 
Speaking about her appointment Managing Director of the Walton Media Group Linton Walsh said: “We are delighted to have Stacey Williams joining the Walton Media Group, as Group Marketing and PR Director. Stacey has been working at the highest levels in the Irish golf and tourism industry over the last twenty years and her achievements over the last eight years with the IGTOA, has been particularly impressive. Stacey will work alongside COO, John Gilmore on all strategic partnerships, across all our platforms and six separate divisions”.

Sébastien Gros

Three tournaments as a pro, three cheques. Chris Selfridge is learning how to play tour golf the right way.

A share of 35th, 18 shots behind winner Sébastien Gros is not normally a reason to jump up and down but that’s what a level par 71 did for Selfridge in the final round of the Najeti Open Presented by Neuflize OBC, earning him another € 1,300.

The Moyola Park man is now up to 81st in the Road to Oman rankings with €6,077 from six starts and while Rosapenna’s Ruaidhri McGee was pushed down to third by Gros, Irish golf is showing signs on recovery in the Challenge Tour rankings with Gareth Shaw is 55th despite his missed cut in Saint Omer.

Gros became the first home winner of the event for 11 years, cruising to a six shot victory in Saint Omer over compatriot Thomas Linard after final round 69 left him on 14 under.

Gareth Maybin tied for 50th on six over following a closing 75

270 S Gros (Fra) 68 66 67 69, 
276 T Linard (Fra) 69 69 72 66, 
277 R Kakko  (Fin) 67 71 71 68, 
279 T Pilkadaris (Aus) 66 72 70 71, 
280 R Fox (Nzl) 67 73 68 72, J Walters (RSA) 71 70 68 71, 
281 O Bekker (RSA) 71 73 67 70, 
282 M Bremner (RSA) 72 70 69 71, B Stone (RSA) 71 70 69 72, J Hansen  (Den) 70 71 72 69, 
288 C Selfridge  (Nir) 71 73 73 71, 
290 G Maybin (Nir) 74 71 70 75.

Amateur golf — Home hero Colm Campbell retained the Warrenpoint Senior Scratch Cup on Sunday.The Irish international shot rounds of  72 and 66  to win by a stroke on four under par 138 from  Stephen Coulter who shot rounds of 70 and 69 in tough, windy conditions
 
Ryan Symington was third with Ross Dutton fourth and  Jason Murphy fifth.Last year's win capitulated Campbell to further success as he claimed the East of Ireland title and his first Irish cap. After a slow start to the season perhaps an upturn in fortunes is due.

Paula Grant is one of the big names into the last 16 at Rosapenna

Title favourite Olivia Mehaffey remained on course for her fourth win of the year in the Irish Women’s Close at stunning Rosapenna.

The world No 59 cruised into the last 16 at the County Donegal resort thanks to a 5 and 4 win over Laytown and Bettystown’s Barbara Cooney and a now faces international team mate Sinead Sexton from Lahinch in Monday’s second round over the Old Tom Morris links.

Holywood’s Jessica Carty turned in three under par after carding a birdie at the first and an eagle at the sixth en route to a 6 and 5 win over former Irish Close champion Karen Delaney from Carlow.

The Island’s Gillian O’Leary lso secured a notable win against current international Jessica Ross from Donaghadee while Warrenpoint’s Tara Gribben beat Waterford Castle’s Katie Aherne 2 up thanks to an eagle at the par-five sixth and birdies at the 11th, 13th and 18th.

Internationals Ciara Casey (Hermitage), Maria Dunne (Skerries), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy), Paula Grant (Lisburn), Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) and defending champion Mary Doyle (The Heath) also made it safely through the first round.

In the Ita Wallace Plate, former Ladies Eurooean Tour professional Danielle McVeigh will play Portsalon’s Claire McGonagle in the first semi-final with the victor to play the winner of the clash between Lurgan’s Maeve Cummins and Castle Dargan’s Maeve Kelly. 

Irish Women’s Amateur Close Championship, Rosapenna Hotel and Golf ResortRound two tee times

1. 08:30 Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co. Down Ladies) v Sinead Sexton (Lahinch)
2. 08:39 Ciara Casey (Hermitage) v Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington)
3. 08:48 Maria Dunne (Skerries) v Jessica Carty (Holywood)
4. 08:57 Laura Doherty (Howth) v Shannen Brown (The Heath)
5. 09:06 Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) v Gillian O’Leary (The Island)
6. 09:15 Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) v Paula Grant (Lisburn)
7. 09:24 Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) v Mary Doyle (The Heath) 
8. 09:33 Louise Coffey (Malone) v Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint)

Championship Matchplay – Results Round 1

• Olivia Mehaffey (RCD Ladies) bt Barbara Cooney (Laytown & Bettystown) 5&4
• Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) bt Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) 7&5
• Ciara Casey (Hermitage) bt Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry) 1up
• Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) bt Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 5&4
• Maria Dunne (Skerries) bt Ailish McCartan (Greenore) 3&2 
• Jessica Carty (Holywood) bt Karen Delaney (Carlow) 6&5 
• Laura Doherty (Howth) bt Mary Dowling (New Ross) 6&5
• Shannen Brown (The Heath) bt Niamh Ward (Lurgan) 5&3
• Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) bt Fiona Farrell (Skerries) 3&2
• Gillian O'Leary (The Island) bt Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) 3&2 
• Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) bt Valerie Clancy (Killarney) 3&2 
• Paula Grant (Lisburn) bt Roisin Brady (Co. Louth) 2&1
• Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) bt Nicole McGavisk (Donabate) 7&6 
• Mary Doyle (The Heath) bt Sophie Harrison (Killeen Castle) on the 19th 
• Louise Coffey (Malone) bt Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) 2&1 
• Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) bt Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) 2up

 

Plate Semi-Final Draw

• Claire McGonagle (Portsalon) v Danielle McVeigh (RCD Ladies) 
• Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) v Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) 

Plate Matchplay – Results Round 2

• Claire McGonagle (Portsalon) bt Elisa Corcoran (Grange)  19th 
• Danielle McVeigh (RCD Ladies) bt Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) 2&1
• Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) bt Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 3&1 
• Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) bt Deborah McCooke (Galgorm Castle) 2&1

Plate Matchplay – Results Round 1

• Elisa Corcoran (Grange) bt Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) 4&3
• Claire McGonagle (Portsalon) bt Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) 3&2
• Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) bt Noreen Maloney (Oughterard) 1up
• Danielle McVeigh (RCD Ladies) bt Catherine McCanny (City of Derry) 19th hole
• Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) bt Rachel Thompson (Cork) 6&4
• Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) bt Sara Byrne (Douglas) 3&2
• Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) bt Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) 2&1
• Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) lost to Deborah McCooke (Galgorm Castle) 20th hole

Winner Tony McClements (Hollywood) with the 2015 Irish Mid Amateur Open Championship trophy after his victory at New Forest. Picture by Pat Cashman

Holywood's Tony McClements ground out a hard-fought victory at the Irish Mid-Amateur Open Championship in testing conditions at the spectacular New Forest Golf Club, writes the GUI.

Kevin McIntyre (President Elect, GUI) presenting Tony McClements (Hollywood) with the 2015 Irish Mid Amateur Open Championship trophy after his victory at New Forest Golf Club. Also in the picture are (from left) Des Morgan (Golf Director, New Forest Golf Club), Conor McGuinness (Vice Captain, New Forest Golf Club), John Cunningham (President, New Forest Golf Club) and Sherrie E Buckley (Lady Captain, New Forest Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman

One shot behind overnight leader Joe Lyons (Galway), McClements made the best start of all the prospective challengers, reaching the turn in level par before succumbing to the conditions on the back nine.

His nearest challenger on the day turned out to be Slievenamon's Michael Barrett, but after birdying the 17th, McClements had a three-shot lead.

He missed the fairway left off the 18th tee, and played back onto the fairway before pitching to 20 feet.

Barrett made a regulation four, leaving McClements with three putts to win, which he duly took.

Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) and Alan Condren (Greystones) finished a shot further back from Barrett on 12 over in tied third position, ahead of Lyons, who finished fifth on 13 over, two shots ahead of Dave O'Donovan (Muskerry) and Paul Flynn (Tramore).

Alan Condren (Greystones) reacts to his missed putt on the 17th during the final day of the 2015 Irish Mid Amateur Open Championship at New Forest Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Irish Mid-Amateur Open Championship, New Forest Golf Club (Par 72)

Hole-by-hole scores

Final

226 Tony McClements (Holywood) 75 72 79

227 Michael Barrett (Slievenamon Golf Club) 73 74 80

228 Alan Condren (Greystones) 75 77 76, Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) 71 80 77

229 Joe Lyons (Galway) 70 76 83

231 Dave O'Donovan (Muskerry) 75 75 81, Paul Flynn (Tramore) 74 84 73, Peter Kirby (Dun Laoghaire) 71 77 83

232 Simon Miskelly (Knock) 76 77 79, Joe Crangle (Fortwilliam) 75 77 80

233 Ronan Maher (Mullingar) 74 81 78, Fergal Kennedy (The Island) 73 82 78

235 Ciaran Campbell (Carton House) 87 71 77, Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion) 83 71 81, Declan McInerney (Lahinch) 75 81 79, Gus Fitzpatrick (Naas) 75 78 82

236 Dara Bruen (Castlerea) 77 77 82, John O'Brien (Castlemartyr) 75 76 85, Keith Daniels (Loughrea) 72 78 86

238 Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club) 78 79 81

239 Joe Bernie (Athenry) 80 80 79

240 Derek Ronan (New Ross) 81 78 81, Paul Reilly (Co. Louth) 77 80 83

241 Paul O'Connor (Malahide) 75 81 85

242 Mark Clifford (Lucan) 84 79 79, Barry Forsyth (Corballis Links Golf Club) 83 79 80, Peter McNeill (Woodbrook) 78 78 86

243 Aidan Maguire (Headfort) 82 79 82, Trevor Dooley (Forrest Little.) 80 81 82, Thomas Hogan (Headfort) 79 82 82

244 Damien O'Driscoll (Newlands) 80 76 88, Frank Flynn (Laytown & Bettystown) 78 81 85, Darragh Smith (Malahide) 76 84 84

245 Barry Wilde (Balbriggan) 80 79 86

249 Shane Corr (Mannan Castle) 83 80 86

251 Brian Murphy (Delgany) 78 85 88

NR Paul Burke (Mullingar) 74 85 NR, Kevin Condren (Greystones) 77 83 NR, Diarmuid Linehan (Muskerry) 86 77 NR

Missed Cut

164 David Scully (Galway) 83 81, Johnny Ward (Banbridge) 77 87 

165 Lewy Halpin (Shannon) 86 79, Michael McCormick (England) 85 80, Colin Rayfus (Knightsbrook) 84 81 

166 Donal O'Brien (Laytown & Bettystown) 87 79 

167 Enda Brady (Headfort) 87 80 

168 Paul Bray (New Forest) 86 82 

171 Marcus Taglienti (Wicklow Golf Club) 89 82 

172 George Armstrong (Carrickfergus) 86 86 

176 Daniel McGrath (Tuam) 85 91 

NR/WD Colin Wilton (Banbridge) 77 NR, Alan Thomas (Dungarvan) 78 NR, Russell Durnin (Laytown & Bettystown) NR 80, Lloyd O’Rourke (Naas) 81 NR, Colin Cunningham (Carton House) 81 NR, Alan Doherty (Corrstown) 81 NR, Michael Power (Moate) 83 NR, John Healy (Delvin Castle Golf Club) 83 NR, Michael Eaton (Holywood) 84 NR, Ian Smyth (Clandeboye) 84 NR, Morgan Pierse (Grange) 86 NR, John Bodkin (Tuam) NR NR, Colm McIlroy (Holywood) NR WD, Kevin Canavan (Corballis Links Golf Club) WD WD, Rory Leonard (Banbridge) WD WD 84 Mark Somers (Smurfit) 84 NR 

CSS

• Round 1: 74
• Round 2: 76
• Round 3: 76 (R/O)

Carne Golf Links

Clontarf professional Eamonn Brady and European Tour regular Damien McGrane shared first prize at the Shell Pro-Am at Carne Golf Links.

The result continues a remarkable run of form for Brady who has now racked up five victories in PGA in Ireland events this summer.

“I hit it great on Saturday, missed only one green but I struggled a bit today (Sunday),” said Eamonn who will play in Monday's Regional Qualifying event for The Open at The Island (see field).

“I dropped a few shots coming in and thought maybe I had blown it but I did just enough to hang on to match Damien.”

The players battled cold, damp conditions all weekend at the 36-hole event with winds gusting to around 40mph at one stage on Sunday.

Brady led after round one, following a fine two under par round of 69 on Saturday but Sunday's two-over 73 opened the door for the rest of the field.

His nearest rival after the opening round, Killarney's Daniel Sugrue couldn't manage to bridge the gap, following up Saturday's opening round of 70 with a 73.

McGrane was two shots behind after an opening 71 and, starting at the 10th, he went to the turn in one under 35. The European Tour regular gave himself chances over the closing nine holes but could not find another birdie and a bogey five at his final hole ultimately cost him outright victory.

Shell Pro-Am at Carne Golf Links, sponsored by Shell (Par 71)

Detailed scores

T1 E Brady (Clontarf GC) 69/73; D McGrane 71/71 (142) lvl

3 D Sugrue (Killarney Golf 7 FC) 70/73 (143) +1

4 N O'Briain (Old Conna GC) 71/73 (144) +2

5 M Staunton (Delgany GC) 72/73 (145) +3

6 C McNamara (Monkstown GC) 73/73 (146) +4

7 N Fox (GUI National Academy) 74/73 (147) +5

T8 J Bolger (Kilkenny GC) 72/76; D Mooney (Ballyliffin) 78/70 (148) +6

T10 D Beattie (Deer Park Hotel) 73/76; K Fahey (GUI National Academy) 77/72; L Bowler (Wexford GC) 77/72; G Robinson 76/73 (149) +7

Pro-Am

1 D McWilliams 92/85 (177)

2 D Sugrue 89/87 (176)

T3 M O'Sullivan 85/89; Jimmy Bolger 87/87 (174)

Jack Lynch. Picture: Pat Cashman

The death occurred today of Jack Lynch, former President of the Golfing Union of Ireland and a stalwart of Limerick Golf Club and Munster golf.

In recognition of his services to Irish golf, he was presented with the COSPOIR Sports Service Award in 1996, long before he became president of the GUI in 2002, an office in which he served with great distinction.

The citation went thus:

“For service to the sport of Golf, Jack Lynch is receiving the 1996 Sports Service Award."Jack has served Limerick, Munster and Irish golf unselfishly for the past twenty years. During that period, Jack sacrificed his own game, which took him to the latter stages of a number of major Irish Amateur Championships, to devote his time to the administrative service of his fellow golfers.

Jack Lynch

"As a member of the committee of Limerick Golf Club, Jack has held a number of positions, including Competitions Secretary, Junior Golf Officer, Senior and Junior Cup Captain and Course Chairman. It was not uncommon to see Jack at first light on a frosty winter morning as he inspected the golf course to determine whether it was fit to play on or not."For the past fifteen years, Jack has served as a member of the Munster Branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland, as well as being a member of the Golfing Union’s Central Council. He has held several key positions in the Munster Branch, including Competitions and Rules. Many established golfers have bowed to Jack’s superior knowledge of the rules in his role as match referee."From 1985 to 1987, Jack captained the Irish Youths Golf Team which included a number of famous golfers, such as Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Eoghan O’ Connell and Jim Carvill, all of whom are now in the professional ranks. He has also been a selector for the Irish Senior Team for the past four years."Jack’s great contribution to Limerick, Munster and Irish golf was recognised in 1996 when he was elected as Chairman of the Munster Branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland. This honour will culminate in 2002, when Jack will become President of the Golfing Union of Ireland.”This is a fitting tribute indeed to a man who has devoted his life to the administration of the game of golf in Ireland. Jack had quite a successfiil career on the field of play also, featuring on the Limerick Golf Club Senior Cup winning teams of 1976, 1980 and 1982 and represented Munster in the Interprovincial Championships in 1972. He also captained the Limerick Junior Cup side to the Irish title at Royal Portrush in 1979."

Beloved husband of Noreen and dearly loved father of Mark, Mike, Paul and Kate, he is reposing at Thompson’s Funeral Home, Thomas Street in Limerick on Monday evening from 5pm to 7pm followed by removal to St Joseph’s Church, O’Connell Avenue. Requiem Mass is on Tuesday at 11.30am with funeral afterwards to Castlemungret Cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations if desired to the Irish Heart Foundation.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Shane Lowry salutes the crowd after a birdie

Shane Lowry is like a kid in a sweet shop at Chambers Bay and while he has just two wins on his CV and only one as a professional, he can give himself a shot at golfing immortality on Sunday.

A level par 70 in the toughest conditions of the week is testament to this 28-year old’s ability to win a US Open from three strokes behind a quartet of co-leaders in the amazing, vertigo stricken Jason Day (68), the laconic and powerful Dustin Johnson (70), the precociously brilliant Masters champion Jordan Spieth (71) and the ball-striking phenom that is South Africa Branden Grace (70).

"It's so tough out there anything can happen in the space of one hole, Lowry said. "You just have to stay patient. The one thing I have to do is put myself into position with nine holes to go and we'll see what happens then."

Lowry might be tied for fifth with Louis Oosthuizen (66), Aussie surprise package Cameron Smith (69) and J.B. Holmes (71) but he’s got just four names ahead of him and all four are eminently beatable, especially over the “links” of Chambers Bay.

If plays as he did on Saturday — just one fairway and only six greens missed — the pride of Co Offaly showed that he has the short game and the putting stroke to stick around until the last nine holes.

Sure, he made two bogeys coming in and missed some birdie chances. But he also holed some clutch putts and hit so many quality iron shots that he might have finish the day a shot or two closer to the lead.

Lowry was so focussed on the job in hand that he hardly noticed that Johnson had double bogeyed the 13th and to come back from six under to four or that Spieth had back pedalled from seven under early on.

“I looked up, I thought I was a little bit farther behind than I am,” Lowry said. “I thought the leader was maybe five or six and I looked up and Dustin was 4. Yeah, I'm in a decent position going into tomorrow.”

If Chambers Bay was a high diving competition, the technical difficulty element would be sky high, as Lowry explained when describing his bogey at the 14th, where he pitched pin high, ran through the back and bogeyed  to go back to one under for the round having followed an early bogey at the second with brilliant birdies at the sixth, ninth and 10th. 

"I had 210 yards to the flag and 180 yards to the front,” he said of the 534-yard, par-four 14th. “I hit my 7-iron 180 yards, and it just went over the green. It was into the wind as well. I had no club to hit the green. You're just praying that you're hitting greens. 

“You're just standing there trying to hit good shots. That's what I've done the last few days. To be honest, I feel very in control of my game and my iron play has been quite good this week. I'm just hoping to hold up for one more day.”

• 9:24 PM Kevin Kisner (+2), Alexander Levy (+2)
• 9:36 PM Matt Kuchar (+2) Charl Schwartzel (+2)
• 9:48 PM  Patrick Reed (+1), Joost Luiten (+1)
• 10:00 PM Tony Finau (+1), Henrik Stenson (+1)
• 10:12 PM Andres Romero (+1), Brandt Snedeker (+1)
• 10:24 PM J.B Holmes (-1), Shane Lowry (-1)
• 10:36 PM Cameron Smith (-1), Louis Oosthuizen (-1)
• 10:48 PM Jordan Spieth (-4), Branden Grace (-4)
• 11:00 PM Dustin Johnson (-4), Jason Day (-4)

Lowry had a chance to birdie the par three 15th, which was playing at 252 yards, after a stunning tee shot rolled back off the back stop to eight feet. 

But he missed the putt, hit a bad drive at the next and made bogey and then did well not to three putt the 17th after coming up 10 feet short with his approach putt.

He’s clearly loving the experience, despite missing an eight footer for birdie at the 18th. And he admitted he’s excited and loving the occasion.

"Yeah, I am. I said to my caddie coming up the last, it's probably one of the most enjoyable days I've had at a golf course in a while. 

“Being in contention in a tournament like this, what more do you want. It's great. I'm excited about tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it. 

“I’ll definitely sleep after that round today. I'll get up and just chill out in the morning. A nice late tee time tomorrow is something that what you want.”

As for the golf course, he admits it’s tough but he’s happy to take things as they come and remain positive.

"It's tough. It's very tough. But I think it's playable,” he said. “I think it's been getting a lot of stick. The greens are not the best surfaces, but if you hit a good putt nine times out of ten it goes in. Sometimes you hit a good putt and it misses. That's the thing a lot of players are focusing on. 

“Yeah, it's very tough. It's tough to hit greens. But at the end of the day it's a U.S. Open. Like, the leader is 4-under. A U.S. Open is not normally like that. I don't know what was in the top 10 last year at Pinehurst, but in my opinion, Pinehurst is on a similar scale to this, and hard, as well. 

“If you miss the green at Pinehurst you couldn't chip. It was designed -- you're supposed to be able to chip with the grain on the grass. I think that was a little more unfair than this is. So, yeah, I think the course, fair enough, the greens are not a hundred percent, but the golf course is still a good golf course.”

Asked what it might mean to clinch the title, Lowry said: "I don't know. I don't know. It would obviously mean everything. 

“So, yeah, I'm going to go out there and give it a hundred percent tomorrow and what happens will happen. What will be, will be. 

“I think if I played the way I played today I should have a chance coming down the last few holes.”

Of the top 8, only Spieth and Oosthuizen have won majors and while there are 20 players within seven strokes of the leading quartet, it’s difficult to see many of them getting to one or two under par.
Patrick Reed was gutted to shoot 76 to fall back to one over par and predicted he will need to shoot a 63 or 64 to have a chance.

“Five shots back. If it stays firmer, faster, and the win blows, I have a chance,” Reed said. “I have to go really low. I don't see all the guys that are ahead of me going and shooting over par. They might shoot even, 1-under, 2-under, I'm going to have to shoot 6 or 7 for me to realistically have a shot.”

Knowing the USGA’s penchant for a low winning score, a betting man might be inclined to think more conservatively. 

Lowry will have to play the round of his life to win but at 28 he’s got the skills and the heart to do it.

Rory McIlroy lips out from three feet for birdie at the 10th, 

Rory McIlroy confessed that the Chambers Bay horror greens got into his head as he all but kissed the US Open goodbye last night.

The world No 1 felt he should have shot a 65 to revive his slim hopes of a fifth major win. 

But he missed seven birdie putts inside 15 feet on the back nine alone and had to drain a 10 footer for par at the last just to shoot 70 and remain back in the pack on four over par.

Admitting he lost the plot with that bad finish on Friday and three missed just after the turn last night, McIlroy confessed the problem was in his head,

He said: "Whenever you start to miss a couple you start to get a little tentative. You start to doubt yourself. You start to doubt the greens a little bit. And then it just sort snowballs from there.

“Every year the U.S. Open is very frustrating, apart from 2011. I came off the green on the last there and I said to JP, ‘Thank God I’ve got one of these.’ 

“You keep trying and keep going and I’ll give it a good go tomorrow.But I'm glad my name is on the trophy at least once and I'll try to make it twice at some point.”

Explain his mindset going out after Friday’s double bogey-bogey finish, he said: “I was very frustrated to drop three shots on the last two holes and go from somewhat in contention, six shots back to nine shots back last night. 

“It's a big  difference, especially here when it's so hard to make  up shots, so hard to make birdies. 

“So I was  disappointed, but at least I had a chance today to go  out and try and shoot a good score and get myself  somewhat back into it. 

“And for half of the round today it looked like I would. And it was just another disappointing finish.”

Two under after birdies at the second and seventh, Mcilroy had chances inside 15 feet on the first six holes on the back nine as well as an eight footer at the 17th and missed them all. 

But apart from bogeys at the 11th, where he three putted from 40 feet, and the 15th, where he was bunkered off the tee, the killers were a lip-out for birdie from four feet at the 10th and his failture to get up and down for birdie at the 12th.

McIlroy said: “I would say that the putt on 10 was the real momentum stopper. I hit it really close there. 

"That's a pin position where if you get it within 20 feet of the hole, you are going to be happy. To get it within three feet and miss that, that sort of stopped any momentum that I had. 

“Then the bogey straight after and then not to birdie the 12 after that, those three holes I let a few shots slip and couldn’t recover there. Even though I gave myself plenty of chances on the way in after that.

“I holed a few nice ones early on, but once I missed a couple it got into my head and couldn't really get out of it. 

“I didn’t let it go and I wasn’t trusting myself and trusting the pace of the greens. And then I was making some tentative strokes and then the ball tends to wander off line when you don’t hit it firm enough out here.”

Even Paul McGinley — his No 1 fan — wondered aloud how good McIlroy would be if he putted consistently well.

“What kind of player would Rory McIlroy be if he had Jordan Spieth putting for him?” Europe’s winning 2014 Ryder Cup skipper asked during his Sky Sports commentary.

The only putt McIlroy holed on the back nine was a 10 footer for par at the par-five 18th for par after he’d hit two fantastic shots into the greenside bunker but couldn't hold the green with his third.

Explaining why he raised his arms in triumph after that one, McIlroy said: “It was just nice to see one drop at the last there. I feel like I turned  a 65 into a 70 today. Just real disappointed.

“I'm hitting great shots and great drives and giving myself chances the whole time. So it's just hard to stay patient whenever I'm not holing anything. 

“I feel mentally I’ve accepted most things this week, which is good.”

Refusing to give up today, he said: “Depending on what the guys do this afternoon, if I can go out there and try to get to even par for the tournament as quickly as possible you never know what can happen. 

"I'll need something spectacular tomorrow. If I can hit the ball like I did today and have one of my best every putting rounds, I still have a chance. We’ll see how that materialises."

As for Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke it was a week to forget for Northern Ireland’s other two active major winners.

McDowell came into the event struggling for form and while he did enough from tee to green to have hopes of making the cut, he was poor with the blade.

More worrying was his admission early in the week that motivation has become a real problem for the 2010 US Open champion and three-time Ryder Cup winner.

“I obviously haven't enjoyed the season, early in the year, not playing well, not scoring well, losing a little of confidence and belief,” McDowell said. “Thinking am I done, finished, washed up, should I think about getting a new job. 

“All these crazy human instinct thoughts go through your mind, and it's just about trying to get back in your processes and trust what you're doing. And knowing that it's not necessarily going to happen fast. 

“You've got to just dig in and start grinding again and go back to all the things that worked in the past.”

At the age of 46, Ryder Cup skipper Clarke will have few more chances to win a US Open but he too had a nightmare on the greens at Chambers Bay.

A total of 74 putts for two rounds was bad enough but Clarke was also fifth last for driving distance, out-hitting only Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Steve Marino, 15 year old Cole Hammer and senior player Colin Montgomerie.

Behind every good man... Joe Lyons (Galway) with his wife Vera lining up his putt on the 18th green during the first day of the 2015 Irish Mid Amateur Open Championship at New Forest Golf Club today (20/06/2015) . Picture by Pat Cashman

Galway's Joe Lyons followed a two under 70 with a 76 to take the slimmest of leads into the final round of the Irish Mid-Amateur Open Championship at the spectacular New Forest Golf Club.

The Offaly native, a former winner of the West of Ireland Championship, leads by a shot on two over par from Holywood’s Tony McClements and Slievenamon's Michael Barrett, with a large chasing pack following on what promises to be an exciting final day.

As a result of three withdrawals from within the top-39, those tied for 41st place have been included in the draw.

Joe Lyons (Galway) driving at the 14th tee. Picture by Pat Cashman

Peter Kirby (Dun Laoghaire) driving at the 6th tee during the first day of the 2015 Irish Mid Amateur Open Championship at New Forest Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Irish Mid-Amateur Open Championship, New Forest Golf Club (Par 72)

Detailed scores

1st tee

1. 09:00 Paul Reilly (5) Co. Louth Tony Cleary (-1) Woodstock Golf Club Paul O'Connor (2) Malahide
2. 09:10 Declan McInerney (1) Lahinch Peter McNeill (2) Woodbrook Damien O'Driscoll (4) Newlands
3. 09:20 Fergal Kennedy (1) The Island Ronan Maher (4) Mullingar Dara Bruen (4) Castlerea
4. 09:30 Peter Sheehan (1) Ballybunion Gus Fitzpatrick (3) Naas Simon Miskelly (-2) Knock
5. 09:40 Joe Crangle (-0) Fortwilliam Alan Condren (-3) Greystones Niall Gorey (-2) Palmerstown Stud
6. 09:50 John O'Brien (-0) Castlemartyr Jim Carvill (-2) Banbridge Keith Daniels (1) Loughrea
7. 10:00 Dave O'Donovan (-1) Muskerry Eddie McCormack (-2) Galway Bay Golf Club Peter Kirby (-2) Dun Laoghaire
8. 10:10 Michael Barrett (1) Slievenamon Golf Club Tony McClements (0) Holywood Joe Lyons (-0) Galway

10th tee

1. 09:00 Craig McEvoy (4) Lucan Brian Murphy (6) Delgany Andrew Norrby (4) Balmoral
2. 09:10 Randal Cross (4) Enniscrone Ger Cohen (2) Beaverstown Shane Corr (4) Mannan Castle
3. 09:20 Mark Clifford (3) Lucan Diarmuid Linehan (5) Muskerry Barry Forsyth  (3) Corballis Links Golf Club
4. 09:30 Thomas Hogan (3) Headfort Trevor Dooley (5) Forrest Little. Aidan Maguire (3) Headfort
5. 09:40 Darragh Smith (4) Malahide Kevin Condren (0) Greystones Joe Bernie (3) Athenry
6. 09:50 Paul Burke (1) Mullingar Frank Flynn (2) Laytown & Bettystown Barry Wilde (3) Balbriggan
7. 10:00 Derek Ronan (2) New Ross Paul Flynn (-1) Tramore Ciaran Campbell (2) Carton House

Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) playing his second shot to the 5th during the first day of the 2015 Irish Mid Amateur Open Championship at New Forest Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Irish Mid-Amateur Championship 2015, New Forest (CSS Round 1 = 74; Round 2 = 76)

146 Joe Lyons (Galway) 70 76 

147 Tony McClements (Holywood) 75 72, Michael Barrett (Slievenamo) 73 74 

148 Peter Kirby (Dun Laoghaire) 71 77 

149 Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay Golf Club) 72 77 

150 Dave O'Donovan (Muskerry) 75 75, Keith Daniels (Loughrea) 72 78 

151 Jim Carvill (Banbridge) 77 74, John O'Brien (Castlemartyr) 75 76, Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) 71 80 

152 Alan Condren (Greystones) 75 77, Joe Crangle (Fortwilliam) 75 77 

153 Simon Miskelly (Knock) 76 77, Gus Fitzpatrick (Naas) 75 78 

154 Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion) 83 71, Dara Bruen (Castlerea) 77 77 

155 Ronan Maher (Mullingar) 74 81, Fergal Kennedy (The Island) 73 82 

156 Damien O'Driscoll (Newlands) 80 76, Peter McNeill (Woodbrook) 78 78, Declan McInerney (Lahinch) 75 81, Paul O'Connor (Malahide) 75 81 

157 Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club) 78 79, Paul Reilly (Co. Louth) 77 80, Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary) 76 81 

158 Ciaran Campbell (Carton House) 87 71, Paul Flynn (Tramore) 74 84 

159 Derek Ronan (New Ross) 81 78, Barry Wilde (Balbriggan) 80 79, Frank Flynn (Laytown & Bettystown) 78 81, Paul Burke (Mullingar) 74 85 

160 Richard Williams (Naas) 85 75, Martin O'Toole (Lucan) 82 78, Joe Bernie (Athenry) 80 80, Kevin Condren (Greystones) 77 83, Darragh Smith (Malahide) 76 84 

161 Aidan Maguire (Headfort) 82 79, Trevor Dooley (Forrest Little.) 80 81, Thomas Hogan (Headfort) 79 82 

162 Barry Forsyth (Corballis Links Golf Club) 83 79 

163 Diarmuid Linehan (Muskerry) 86 77, Mark Clifford (Lucan) 84 79, Shane Corr (Mannan Castle) 83 80, Ger Cohen (Beaverstown) 82 81, Randal Cross (Enniscrone) 80 83, Andrew Norrby (Balmoral) 79 84, Brian Murphy (Delgany) 78 85, Craig McEvoy (Lucan) 78 85 

Dave O'Donovan (Muskerry) blasting from the bunker at the 18th. Picture by Pat Cashman

Missed Cut

164 David Scully (Galway) 83 81, Johnny Ward (Banbridge) 77 87 

165 Lewy Halpin (Shannon) 86 79, Michael McCormick (England) 85 80, Colin Rayfus (Knightsbrook) 84 81 

166 Donal O'Brien (Laytown & Bettystown) 87 79 

167 Enda Brady (Headfort) 87 80 

168 Paul Bray (New Forest) 86 82 

171 Marcus Taglienti (Wicklow Golf Club) 89 82 

172 George Armstrong (Carrickfergus) 86 86 

176 Daniel McGrath (Tuam) 85 91 

NR/WD Colin Wilton (Banbridge) 77 NR, Alan Thomas (Dungarvan) 78 NR, Russell Durnin (Laytown & Bettystown) NR 80, Lloyd O'Rourke (Naas) 81 NR, Colin Cunningham (Carton House) 81 NR, Alan Doherty (Corrstown) 81 NR, Michael Power (Moate) 83 NR, John Healy (Delvin Castle Golf Club) 83 NR, Michael Eaton (Holywood) 84 NR, Ian Smyth (Clandeboye) 84 NR, Morgan Pierse (Grange) 86 NR, John Bodkin (Tuam) NR NR, Colm McIlroy (Holywood) NR WD, Kevin Canavan (Corballis Links Golf Club) WD WD, Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) WD WD, Rory Leonard (Banbridge) WD WD 84 Mark Somers (Smurfit) 84 NR 

Olivia Mehaffey. Picture: Pat Cashman

Olivia Mehaffey birdied two of her last four holes to head the qualifiers in the Irish Women's Close  from Enniscrone's Sarah Helly and set up a first round clash with Laytown and Bettystown's Barbara Cooney at Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort on Sunday.

The reigning Irish Under 18, Scottish Strokeplay and Welsh Strokeplay champion shot a second successive level par 73 on the Old Tom Morris Links as US based Sarah Helly from Enniscrone followed a 72 with a 74.

According to the ILGU, there was sunshine and little wind in the morning before the breeze got up in the afternoon as the top 32 players after the qualifying rounds progress to the Championship matchplay with the next best 16 compete in the Plate.

CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW

1. 09:42 Olivia Mehaffey (RCD Ladies) v Barbara Cooney (Laytown & Bettystown)
2. 09:51 Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) v Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe)
3. 10:00 Ciara Casey (Hermitage) v Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry) 
4. 10:09 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) v Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) 
5. 10:18 Maria Dunne (Skerries) v Ailish McCartan (Greenore) 
6. 10:27 Jessica Carty (Holywood) v Karen Delaney (Carlow) 
7. 10:36 Mary Dowling (New Ross) v Laura Doherty (Howth) 
8. 10:45 Niamh Ward (Lurgan) v Shannen Brown (The Heath)
9. 10:54 Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) v Fiona Farrell (Skerries)  
10. 11:03 Gillian O'Leary (The Island) v Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) 
11. 11:12 Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) v Valerie Clancy (Killarney) 
12. 11:21 Paula Grant (Lisburn) v Roisin Brady (Co Louth) 
13. 11:30 Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) v Nicole McGavisk (Donabate)  
14. 11:39 Mary Doyle (The Heath) v Sophie Harrison (Killeen Castle)  
15. 11:48 Louise Coffey (Malone) v Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) 
16. 11:57 Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) v Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle)

PLATE DRAW

1. 08:30 Elisa Corcoran (Grange) v Kate Dwyer (Rossmore)
2. 08:39 Claire McGonagle (Portsalon) v Maeve Rooney (Co Sligo)  
3. 08:48 Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) v Noreen Maloney (Oughterard) 
4. 08:57 Danielle McVeigh (RCD Ladies) v Catherine McCanny (City of Derry)  
5. 09:06 Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) v Rachel Thompson (Cork) 
6. 09:15 Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) v Sara Byrne (Douglas) 
7. 09:24 Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) v Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden)  
8. 09:33 Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) v Deborah McCooke (Galgorm Castle)

Irish Women's Close, strokeplay qualifying, Rosapenna, Old Tom Morris Links (Par 73)

Detailed scores

146 Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co. Down Ladies) 73 73 (leading qualifier), Sarah Helly (Enniscrone Golf Club) 72 74

150 Niamh McSherry (Lurgan Golf Club) 73 77

151 Maria Dunne (Skerries Golf Club) 74 77

152 Mary Dowling (New Ross Golf Club) 75 77, Louise Coffey (Malone Golf Club) 72 80

153 Chloe Ryan (Castletroy Golf Club) 75 78

154 Ciara Casey (Hermitage Golf Club) 75 79, Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell Golf Club) 74 80

155 Paula Grant (Lisburn Golf Club) 78 77, Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 77 78

156 Niamh Ward (Lurgan Golf Club) 76 80, Jessica Carty (Holywood Golf Club) 76 80

158 Mary Doyle (The Heath Golf Club) 80 78

159 Gillian O'Leary (Island) 81 78, Sinead Sexton (Lahinch Golf Club) 80 79

160 Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe Golf Club) 78 82

161 Jessica Ross (Donaghadee Golf Club) 83 78, Sophie Harrison (Killeen Castle) 80 81

163 Karen Delaney (Carlow Golf Club) 86 77, Shannen Brown (The Heath Golf Club) 82 81, Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle Golf Club) 81 82

164 Roisin Brady (Co. Louth Golf Club) 86 78, Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington Golf Club) 82 82, Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry Golf Club) 80 84, Valerie Clancy (Killarney Golf Club) 79 85

165 Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast Golf Club) 84 81, Laura Doherty (Howth Golf Club) 80 85

167 Ailish McCartan (Greenore Golf Club) 83 84

169 Nicole McGavisk (Donabate Golf Club) 89 80, Fiona Farrell (Skerries Golf Club) 87 82

170 Barbara Cooney (Laytown & Bettystown) 86 84

171 Elisa Corcoran (Grange Golf Club) 82 89

172 Maeve Cummins (Lurgan Golf Club) 82 90

173 Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) 86 87

174 Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 84 90, Naoimh Quigg (City of Derry Golf Club) 84 90

175 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co. Down Ladies) 94 81, Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden Golf Club) 90 85, Vivienne Houston (City of Derry Golf Club) 87 88, Claire McGonagle (Portsalon Golf Club) 83 92

177 Jenny Hennessy (Lahinch Golf Club) 90 87, Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 88 89

178 Sara Byrne (Douglas Golf Club) 91 87

179 Deborah McCooke (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 92 87, Catherine McCanny (City of Derry Golf Club) 88 91

180 Noreen Maloney (Oughterard Golf Club) 91 89, Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden Golf Club) 85 95

184 Rachel Thompson (Cork Golf Club) 88 96

190 Kate Dwyer (Rossmore Golf Club) 95 95
WD/DQ Chloe Weir (Shandon Park Golf Club) 81 WD,  Aedin Murphy (Carlow Golf Club) DQ 

Romain Langasque of France, the 2015 Amateur champion. Credit: The R&A.

20 June 2015, Carnoustie, Scotland: Frenchman Romain Langasque saw off the challenge of Scotland’s Grant Forrest to win the 120th Amateur Championship at Carnoustie today, writes the R&A.

Langasque was in commanding form as he won the 36-hole Final by 4&2 and he has secured a place in next month’s 144th Open at St Andrews. His victory also gains him a place in next year’s US Open at Oakmont and, traditionally, an invitation to the Masters Tournament.

The 20-year-old Frenchman sealed the win on the par three 34th hole when Forrest conceded the hole and the match after his tee shot had gone through the back of the green and his chip coming back went past the hole with Langasque facing a 10ft birdie putt.

Langasque, who hails from Cabris in southern France, took charge of the early proceedings in the morning round and won the par four 3rd hole after splashing out from a greenside bunker to a foot from the hole.

The Frenchman notched up three consecutive birdies, holing three putts in the 20ft range, from the 8th hole to go four up and take a grip on the match. Forrest bogeyed the par four 11th hole to fall five behind but showed his battling qualities to bounce back with an excellent drive and approach for an eagle on the par five 12th to win the hole.

Langasque kept up the pressure and restored his five-hole lead by winning the 14th after Forrest put his drive out of bounds.

Forrest recovered to win the 15th with a birdie and the 16th when Langasque failed to get up and down with his chip from left of the green. On the 17th, Forrest pulled his approach into thick rough left of the green and, when he could only find the edge of the green with his first chip and his next went past the cup, the hole was lost.

On the 18th, Langasque lost the hole after driving into a bunker on the right of the fairway and finding a greenside bunker before hitting his escape out of bounds to the left of the green. He finished the morning round with a three-hole lead.

In the afternoon round, Forrest’s hopes of mounting a comeback were severely dented when his opening drive found a bush in the rough to the left of the fairway and he lost the hole. He fell further behind when his tee shot again found the rough on the left on the 20th hole and Langasque birdied the par four 21st after driving the green. Langasque moved seven holes ahead on the 23rd hole, after Forrest missed the green to the left, and things looked ominous for the Scot.

The Craigielaw player won the 24th with a birdie and the 26th after Langasque found a bunker with his tee shot. His recovery continued on the 30th hole when he holed a near 60 ft putt for eagle and then on the 32nd when Langasque found a bunker with his tee shot and then two other bunkers to let Forrest win the hole with a birdie four.

On the 33rd hole, Langasque hit a wonderful seven iron shot 190 yards from a fairway bunker on to the green to ensure the hole was halved and he went on to secure his victory at the next hole with a precise four iron approach to 10ft.

Langasque becomes the third Frenchman to win the Amateur Championship after Philippe Ploujoux in 1981 and Julien Guerrier in 2006.

Key quotesRomain Langasque

“This is just a dream for me. It is just incredible that I am going to play at St Andrews in one month’s time for The Open.

“When I came here I played my first practice round and played really well at Panmure maybe six or seven-under-par and then when I played my practice round here at Carnoustie I was maybe six or seven over so when it came to the first round I just tried to do my best on every shot.

“I played ok for the first two rounds and then the more the competition advanced the more I played well. This morning was my best round of the championship and I played really well.”

Grant Forrest

“The start this afternoon really killed it for me. Coming back from seven down was always going to be a tall order.

“The bunker on the 15th (the 33rd) is one of the few bunkers on the course you can move the ball forward from and he hit a great shot. I ended up getting a half. If I had won that hole then two down with three to play is a lot different.

“This week has been a great confidence boost for me which is just what I needed at this point. My confidence was a bit low because I hadn’t been playing well. I am disappointed not to have won but it is good to see that I can compete in a championship like this.”

For the full results from the championship please visit championships.randa.org.

Damian Mooney

Damian Mooney stood strong in windy conditions to win the Galway Golf Club Invitational Pro-Am on Friday.

The Ballyliffin pro kept his composure to edge out the trio of Neil O'Briain (Old Conna), Richard Creamer (Arklow) and Michael McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown) by a single shot.

Damien began his round at the 10th and rattled off eight pars and just one dropped shot at the par three 12th on his way to a one over par 36.

He dropped another shot at the short par four first as he turned for home but followed that blip with seven pars and a birdie at the par four eighth to come home in level par 35 for his 71.

Glen Robinson and amateur partners Joey Costello, Peter Keane and Pat O'Toole won the pro-am prize with 81pts.

Attentions now turn to the 36-hole Shell Pro-Am at Carne Links which takes place on Saturday and Sunday. Delgany's Mark Staunton returns to defend the title he won last year.

Galway Golf Club Invitational Pro-Am at Galway Golf Club (Par 70)Leading pro results

71 Damian Mooney (Ballyliffin) 

73 2 Neil O'Briain (Old Conna Golf Club), Richard Creamer (Arklow Golf Club), Michael McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown)

75 Brian Cosgrove  (Killeen Golf Club)

76 David Mortimer (Galway Golf Club), Eamonn Brady  (Clontarf Golf Club), Patrick Small  (Galway Golf Club), Cian McNamara  (Monkstown Golf Club)

77 Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny Golf Club), Brendan McGovern (Headfort Golf Club), Donal Gleeson  (Old Conna Golf Club)

Pro-Am results

1. Glen Robinson 81pts
2. Cian McNamara 81pts
3. Brendan McGovern 79pts
4. Richard Creamer 79pts

Another great round from @ShaneLowryGolf at the #USOpen He is -1 after 36 holes and currently 4 shots off the lead pic.twitter.com/AYqelMj62I

— Horizon Sports (@Horizon_Sports) June 19, 2015

Shane Lowry is just four shots off the lead but Rory McIlroy barely made the cut before a late mistake by amateur Nick Hardy helped  14 others make the weekend on five over in the car crash US Open.

Chambers Bay's erratic greens, coupled with the firm conditions and shelter skelter slopes have turned the blue riband US Major in the demolition derby with grand slam chasing Jordan Spieth (67) tied for the lead on five under with Patrick Reed (69), who looked certain to lead outright before he bogeyed the last.

The head the field by one from Branden Grace (67) and Dustin Johnson (71), who got to seven under par before bogeys at the 14th 17th and 18th cost him on another day of disasters and drama that saw Graeme McDowell (74 74 for +8) and Darren Clarke (77 80 +17) miss the cut.

While Joost Luiten  (69), Tony Finau (68),  Daniel Summerhays (67) and Ben Martin (70) are tied for fifth on three under, the two unders include Aussie Jason Day, who suffered a bout of Benign Positional Vertigo on his final hole and crumpled to the ground as he left the tee.

After a long wait to get him back on his feet, he clambered unsteadily into a greenside bunker to hit a recovery shot. Wobbling on Bambi legs, he splashed out well and eventually two putted for a bogey and a 70.

It's unclear if he will be able to play in round three but wild horses will not stop Lowry, who grew in confidence with every hole and finished like a major champion with a stunning, 188 yard approach to 18 inches a the 18th setting up a birdie and a level par 70.

The Clara man felt comfortable in the majors for the first time last year, when he finished in the top 10 in the Open at Royal Liverpool.

Having shot 69 in tough Thursday afternoon conditions, Lowry birdied the fifth, bogeyed the sixth but then birdied the par-five eighth to turn for home with the leaders in his sights.

And even though he double bogeyed the 14th, he kept his composure with ease and shrugged off a brace of missed birdie chances that superb birdie at the 18th.

"I went out there today and I thought the setup might be a little bit tougher, Lowry said. "The tees were further back on some holes. I knew if I kept doing what I was doing yesterday, trying to hit some good putts and see what happens.

"And I was going along nicely, missed a great chance on 12, thought if I hit a great putt there to get to 3-under for the tournament, I would have been cruising  then. I felt I got unlucky on 14 and just pulled my second shot. Got an awful lie in the bunker and ended up making double from there. Just one of those -- I hit a great shot into 15, great shot into 16, holed a great par for 17 was massive.

Henrik Stenson says greens and some pins are "borderline laughable." Marks everything outside a foot. "It's like putting on broccoli."

— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) June 20, 2015

"Probably ten feet, which was kind of -- that was big in regards to the whole round.  Then I went on to birdie the last, which was nice. It was  one of those days that I'm quite happy with. It could 
have been a little bit better, but I'm in a great position for the weekend." 

Pleased with his play from tee to green, Lowry admitted that it's taking him time to get is confidence going on the tricky greens,

"The good thing for me is I'm feeling a bit more comfortable on the greens. Not 100 percent, but I'm liking what I'm doing and liking the way I'm hitting my putts. Relax the rest of the evening, hopefully have a nice late tee time tomorrow, looking forward to it."

Making just his third US Open appearance having missed the cut in 2011 and last year, he was pleased to take another step forward in his career but refused to get too carried away about what might lie ahead.

"You never know. It's a bit early to be  talking about winning. There's lots of golf to be played 
yet, so if I could just keep doing my own thing, I'm driving the ball well. My iron play is good. My putting is getting to where I want it. You never know what can happen on Sunday. 

"To be honest I felt quite in control of  myself all day yesterday and today. It feels good to be here and feeling like the way I felt the last couple of days. I was in control of myself, my emotions and everything. Just need to keep that intact the next few days. 

"My game feels very good."

Rory McIlroy birdies the 15th to get to one under for his round only to drop three shots over the last two holes for a second successive 72

Rory McIlroy traditionally struggles in hard and fast conditions, especially when the greens are bumpy.

But he showed a lot of maturity in round two and almost dragged himself onto the fringes of contention only to undo all his hard work over the closing holes.

One over for the day and three over for the tournament with seven holes to go, he was teetering on the projected four over cut line when he got lucky at the driveable 12th, got a fortunate kick onto the green from the right rough and took advantage by holing a 12 footer for an eagle two.

Suddenly just one over, he almost doubled the next when he missed the 100-yard wide fairway in the deep rough and had to hack out. 

But he then missed the green with his third and had to holed a six footer just to save bogey. A birdie two at the next got him back to one over but he went long on the par-three 17th and totally overhit his first putt, rushing it 25 feet past. A four-putt added up to a double bogey five and left him needing no worse that bogey at the last to make the cut.

He drove into sand, however, and was forced to lay up and then nervously two putt for a bogey five. 

As it turned out, he made the cut with a shot to spare are amateur Hardy helped all the players on five over to make the top 60 and ties.

Homeward bound. Golf course was great from tee to the green.I was awful!Sometimes it's hard game.@usopengolf @ChambersBayGolf #keepworking

— Darren Clarke (@DarrenClarke60) June 20, 2015

Darren Clarke made no complaints about the test from tee to green but a Vine was all that was needed to explain his feelings about the greens.

Homeward bound. Golf course was great from tee to the green.I was awful!Sometimes it's hard game.@usopengolf @ChambersBayGolf #keepworking

— Darren Clarke (@DarrenClarke60) June 20, 2015

Even Ernie Els could not resist having a go at the USGA:

Els to Golfweek: "We have to go out there in front of millions and putt on these things. The USGA have got to take a bit of responsibility.”

— Doug Ferguson (@dougferguson405) June 20, 2015

As for the tournament, given the state of play at halway in the previous six majors, a Monday playoff could be on the cards.

36-hole pos. of last 6 major winners: Spieth - Solo 1st McIlroy - Solo 1st, Solo 1st Kaymer - Solo 1st Watson - Solo 1st Dufner - Solo 1st

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) June 20, 2015

USGA CHAMBERS BAY UNIVERSITY PLACE, WASH.
T1 United States Jordan Spieth -5 F* -3 68 67 135
T1 United States Patrick Reed -5 F -1 66 69 135
T3 South Africa Branden Grace -4 F -3 69 67 136
T3 United States Dustin Johnson -4 F +1 65 71 136
T5 Netherlands Joost Luiten -3 F -1 68 69 137
T5 United States Tony Finau -3 F* -2 69 68 137
T5 United States Daniel Summerhays -3 F* -3 70 67 137
T5 United States Ben Martin -3 F E 67 70 137
T9 United States Jamie Lovemark -2 F -2 70 68 138
T9 United States J.B. Holmes -2 F -4 72 66 138
T9 Australia Jason Day -2 F* E 68 70 138
T12 United States Kevin Kisner -1 F -2 71 68 139
T12 Ireland Shane Lowry -1 F E 69 70 139
T12 United States Brian Campbell (a) -1 F +2 67 72 139
T12 France Alexander Levy -1 F -1 70 69 139
T12 Sweden Henrik Stenson -1 F* +4 65 74 139
T17 Argentina Andres Romero E F* -1 71 69 140
T17 Australia Cameron Smith E F E 70 70 140
T17 United States Matt Kuchar E F +3 67 73 140
T17 United States Jason Dufner E F* +2 68 72 140
T21 Australia Geoff Ogilvy +1 F* +2 69 72 141
T21 England Paul Casey +1 F -1 72 69 141
T21 United States Jack Maguire (a) +1 F -2 73 68 141
T21 Japan Hideki Matsuyama +1 F +1 70 71 141
T21 Australia Adam Scott +1 F +1 70 71 141
T21 Italy Francesco Molinari +1 F* +3 68 73 141
T21 United States Brandt Snedeker +1 F* +2 69 72 141
T28 South Africa Ernie Els +2 F* E 72 70 142
T28 United States Ollie Schniederjans (a) +2 F* +3 69 73 142
T28 England Lee Westwood +2 F -1 73 69 142
T28 England Justin Rose +2 F* E 72 70 142
T28 Australia Marcus Fraser +2 F* +1 71 71 142
T28 United States Kevin Na +2 F +2 70 72 142
T28 Scotland Marc Warren +2 F* +4 68 74 142
T35 United States Beau Hossler (a) +3 F +2 71 72 143
T35 South Africa Charl Schwartzel +3 F E 73 70 143
T35 South Africa Louis Oosthuizen +3 F* -4 77 66 143
T35 England Tommy Fleetwood +3 F -1 74 69 143
T35 United States Mark Silvers +3 F +1 72 71 143
T35 Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) Cheng-Tsung Pan +3 F +2 71 72 143
T35 United States Phil Mickelson +3 F* +4 69 74 143
T35 United States Cameron Tringale +3 F* -2 75 68 143
T35 United States Chris Kirk +3 F +3 70 73 143
T44 Canada Brad Fritsch +4 F +4 70 74 144
T44 United States Brad Elder +4 F -2 76 68 144
T44 United States Denny McCarthy (a) +4 F* +3 71 73 144
T44 England Luke Donald +4 F +1 73 71 144
T44 United States Ryan Palmer +4 F E 74 70 144
T44 United States Charlie Beljan +4 F* +5 69 75 144
T44 United States Billy Horschel +4 F +2 72 72 144
T44 United States Zach Johnson +4 F* +2 72 72 144
T44 United States Sam Saunders +4 F +2 72 72 144
T44 Australia John Senden +4 F +2 72 72 144
T44 United States Robert Streb +4 F* E 74 70 144
T44 United States Kevin Chappell +4 F* +5 69 75 144
T44 N. Ireland Rory McIlroy +4 F +2 72 72 144
T44 United States Jim Furyk +4 F* +3 71 73 144
T44 United States Brooks Koepka +4 F* +2 72 72 144
T44 United States Keegan Bradley +4 F +1 73 71 144
T60 United States D.A. Points +5 F* +1 74 71 145
T60 South Africa George Coetzee +5 F +3 72 73 145
T60 South Africa Thomas Aiken +5 F* +1 74 71 145
T60 United States Jimmy Walker +5 F* +3 72 73 145
T60 England Ian Poulter +5 F* +3 72 73 145
T60 Colombia Camilo Villegas +5 F +3 72 73 145
T60 Scotland Jimmy Gunn +5 F +3 72 73 145
T60 United States Andy Pope +5 F* +1 74 71 145
T60 United States Troy Kelly +5 F +3 72 73 145
T60 England John Parry +5 F +3 72 73 145
T60 Argentina Angel Cabrera +5 F* +5 70 75 145
T60 United States Morgan Hoffmann +5 F +4 71 74 145
T60 Spain Sergio Garcia +5 F +5 70 75 145
T60 Scotland Colin Montgomerie +5 F* +6 69 76 145
T60 United States Webb Simpson +5 F +3 72 73 145
T60 United States Nick Hardy (a) +5 F* +5 70 75 145
MISSED CUT
MC United States Roberto Castro 74 72 146
MC United States Bill Haas 73 73 146
MC United States Charley Hoffman 76 70 146
MC South Africa Garth Mulroy 74 72 146
MC United States Cody Gribble 68 78 146
MC England Andy Sullivan 72 74 146
MC Japan Hiroyuki Fujita 72 74 146
MC Germany Marcel Siem 73 73 146
MC Germany Martin Kaymer 72 74 146
MC United States Tom Hoge 73 74 147
MC United States Hunter Mahan 73 74 147
MC India Anirban Lahiri 75 72 147
MC United States Michael Putnam 70 77 147
MC United States Timothy O'Neal 74 73 147
MC United States Jason Allred 74 73 147
MC France Victor Dubuisson 74 73 147
MC United States Bubba Watson 70 77 147
MC Austria Bernd Wiesberger 72 75 147
MC China Wen-Chong Liang 73 74 147
MC Canada David Hearn 72 75 147
MC Japan Masahiro Kawamura 70 77 147
MC South Africa Retief Goosen 77 71 148
MC Sweden Alex Noren 73 75 148
MC Thailand Thongchai Jaidee 71 77 148
MC United States Matt Mabrey 74 74 148
MC United States Brian Harman 69 79 148
MC United States Lee McCoy (a) 74 74 148
MC N. Ireland Graeme McDowell 74 74 148
MC Spain Miguel Angel Jimenez 69 79 148
MC United States Russell Henley 71 77 148
MC United States Kevin Lucas 74 74 148
MC England Jason Palmer 76 73 149
MC India Shiv Kapur 72 77 149
MC Japan Ryo Ishikawa 74 75 149
MC United States Bryson Dechambeau (a) 74 75 149
MC Scotland Bradley Neil (a) 76 73 149
MC England Danny Willett 72 77 149
MC United States Bo Van Pelt 73 76 149
MC United States Lee Janzen 73 76 149
MC United States Ryan Moore 75 74 149
MC United States George McNeill 75 74 149
MC Korea Byeong-Hun An 73 76 149
MC United States Matthew Nesmith (a) 76 73 149
MC South Africa Tjaart van der Walt 77 73 150
MC Australia Marc Leishman 73 77 150
MC Scotland Stephen Gallacher 78 72 150
MC United States Erik Compton 76 74 150
MC United States Jake Knapp (a) 74 76 150
MC United States Tyler Duncan 78 72 150
MC United States Jared Becher 78 72 150
MC United States Steve Marino 75 75 150
MC Denmark Lucas Bjerregaard 73 77 150
MC United States Kyle Jones (a) 78 72 150
MC Korea Gunn Yang (a) 74 76 150
MC Wales Oliver Farr 73 77 150
MC United States Blayne Barber 78 73 151
MC United States Gary Woodland 74 77 151
MC Wales Jamie Donaldson 74 77 151
MC England Sam Horsfield (a) 75 76 151
MC Japan Shunsuke Sonoda 78 73 151
MC United States Brandon Hagy 74 77 151
MC United States Billy Hurley III 80 72 152
MC New Zealand Danny Lee 78 74 152
MC United States Michael Davan 77 75 152
MC United States Brendon Todd 78 75 153
MC United States Davis Riley (a) 73 80 153
MC Australia Kurt Barnes 72 81 153
MC United States Rickie Fowler 81 73 154
MC United States Josh Persons 79 75 154
MC United States Richard Lee 74 80 154
MC Germany Stephan Jaeger 74 80 154
MC Denmark Sebastian Cappelen 70 85 155
MC United States Pat Wilson 79 76 155
MC United States Rich Berberian Jr. 83 72 155
MC United States Lucas Glover 73 83 156
MC United States Tiger Woods 80 76 156
MC Korea Seuk Hyun Baek 74 82 156
MC N. Ireland Darren Clarke 77 80 157
MC United States Cole Hammer (a) 77 84 161
MC United States Alex Kim 80 86 166
WD United States Matt Every 78 78

Leona Maguire

World amateur No 1 Leona Maguire has opted to skip the Irish Women's Close at Rosapenna to better prepare for the Vagliano Trophy, a Ladies European Tour appearance and the European Ladies Team Championship.

The 20-year old Duke and Slieve Russell player has had a stellar freshman season in the US, winning the ANNIKA award. But after reaching the quarter-finals of last week's Ladies' British Amateur at Portstewart and with a hectic summer ahead, she's opted not to travel to Donegal.

“That would have been a big five weeks in a row and I didn’t want to do anything like that,” Leona said, revealing she’s take up an sponsor’s invitation for the ISPS Ladies European Masters between next week's Vagliano Trophy at Malone and the European Ladies' Team Championship at Helsingør in Denmark from July 7-11

“I have received an invitation for the event at the Buckinghamshire so unfortunately the Close was the one that had to go.”

The Heath's Mary Doyle will defend her title at the renowned Old Tom Morris Links following her win at Enniscrone last year..
 
She'll face some stiff competition from Olivia Mehaffey. who has won three times this yearn and last weekend reached the last four at the British Ladies’ Amateur Championship.

Mary Doyle en route to victory in the 2014 Irish Women's Close. Picture: Pat Cashman

Maria Dunne (Skerries), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), Niamh McSherry (Lurgan), Paula Grant (Lisburn), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) and Jessica Carty (Holywood) are all more than capable of winning the title, however. 

Ryan lost out in a playoff at the Irish Ladies’ Open Strokeplay Championship at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club and will have her eyes firmly set on winning her first title of 2015
 
The Irish Women's Close Amateur Championship was first played in 1894, just one year after the foundation of the ILGU, the oldest national Union or Association in ladies' golf.

The Old Tom Morris Links at Rosapenna Golf Club was ranked 37th in Golf Digest Ireland's Top 100 Courses in 2013 and is a testing combination of traditional and modern links holes which bridge a century of golf design influences.

For more information on Rosapenna Golf Resort, click here.

Irish Women's Close Championship, Old Tom Morris Links, Rosapenna Golf ClubDraw – Saturday 20th June 2015

Live scoring

1st tee/10th tee Player (Club)

08.00/13.30  Mary Doyle (The Heath) Olivia Mehaffey (RCDL)

08.10/13.40  Maria Dunne (Skerries) Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) Jessica Ross (Donaghadee)

08.20/13.50  Louise Coffey (Malone) Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) Mary Dowling (New Ross)

08.30/14.00  Gillian O’Leary (The Island) Ciara Casey (Hermitage) Chloe Weir (Shandon Park)

08.40/14.10  Karen Delaney (Carlow) Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe/MU) Shannen Browne (The Heath/MU)

08.50/14.20  Valerie Clancy (Killarney) Laura Doherty (Howth) Sophie Harrison (Killeen Castle)

09.00/14.30  Maeve Kelly (Castledargan) Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) Nicole McGavisk (Donabate)

09.10/14.40  Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) Vivienne Houston (City of Derry)

09.20/14.50  Fiona Farrell (Skerries) Claire McGonagle (Portsalon)

10th tee/1st tee Player (Club)

08.00/13.30  Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) Paula Grant (Lisburn) Chloe Ryan (Castletroy)

08.10/13.40  Jessica Carty (Holywood) Danielle McVeigh (RCDL) Julie McCarthy (Forest Little)

08.20/13.50  Jean O’Driscoll (Muskerry) Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) Aedin Murphy (Carlow)

08.30/14.00  Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) Niamh Ward (Lurgan) Naoimh Quigg (City of Derry)

08.40/14.10  Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) Roisin Brady (Co.Louth)

08.50/14.20  Rachel Thompson (Cork) Jenny Hennessy (Lahinch) Barbara Cooney (Laytown & Bettystown)

09.00/14.30  Elisa Corcoran (Grange) Ailish McCartan (Greenore) Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden)

09.10/14.40  Sara Byrne (Douglas) Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) Maeve Rooney (Co.Sligo)

09.20/14.50  Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) Catherine McCanny (City of Derry) 

09.30/15.00  Noreen Maloney (Oughterard) Deborah McCooke (Galgorm Castle)

 Sebastien Gros. Picture: Alexis Orloff

Only Moyola Park rookie Chris Selfridge and Ballyclare’s Gareth Maybin made the cut as Sebastien Gros launched himself into contention to become the first Frenchman for 14 years to win the Najeti Open Presented by Neuflize OBC.

A second round of 66 at Aa Saint-Omer Golf Club was good enough to secure a two-shot lead on eight under par over England’s Stiggy Hodgson, who added a round of 67 to his opening 69. 

Third place is currently shared by Finland’s Roope Kakko, Frenchman Thomas Linard and joint overnight leader Terry Pilkadaris of Australia, all of whom sit on four under par.

Playing in just his third event since turning professional last month, Selfridge was three over for the day and teetering on the three over cut mark until he birdied his 16th hole and parred the last two for a two over 73 to make it with a shot to spare.

He’s tied for 44th on two over with Maybin a shot further back after a 71.

Alan Dunbar shot 69 but missed the cut by one on four over alongside Ruaidhri McGee, who shot 75.

Simon Thornton went 69-80 to miss the cut by six while Gareth Shaw also shot 80 on Friday to finish on 10 over. 

134 S Gros (Fra) 68 66, 
136 S Hodgson (Eng) 69 67, 
138 T Pilkadaris (Aus) 66 72, T Linard (Fra) 69 69, R Kakko  (Fin) 67 71, 
139 T Sluiter  (Ned) 72 67, H Joannes  (Bel) 66 73, J Dantorp (Swe) 71 68, B Chapellan (Fra) 69 70, 
140 R Fox (Nzl) 67 73, E Dubois (Fra) 69 71

144 C Selfridge  (Nir) 71 73
145 G Maybin (Nir) 74 71

CUT

146 R McGee (Irl) 71 75,  A Dunbar (Nir) 77 69
149 S Thornton (Irl) 69 80, 
152 G Shaw (Nir) 72 80

Europro Tour — Jonny Caldwell and Simon Ward endured another frustrating week on the PGA Europro Tour.Caldwell closed with a two over 73 to finish tied 32nd in the GRENKE Championship at Cumberwell Park, 10 shots behind winner Marcus Armitage, and pick up £375. Ward crashed to a 75 and got just £282 as Armitage shot 66 to pip overnight leader Steve Surry by one and snatch £10,000.1 Marcus Armitage Howley Hall Golf Club -10 68 69 66 203 £10,000 
2 Steve Surry Cumberwell Park -9 65 70 69 204 £6,000 
3 Craig Hinton LJD Technology Services -6 71 69 67 207 £3,000 
T32 Jonathan Caldwell BetMcLean E 74 66 73 213 £375 
T51 Simon Ward Unattached +4 71 71 75 217 £282.50 

European Tour star Michael Hoey joins Andrew Spence from Cathedral Eye Clinic and Kevin Stevens from of the Golfing Union of Ireland (Ulster Branch) to launch the Cathedral Eye Clinic 2015 North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship.

Michael Hoey has joined up with the Ulster Branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland to launch the Cathedral Eye Clinic 2015 North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship.

Played every July over the Dunluce and Valley Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club, the tournament has gone from strength to strength since its launch as the Ulster Scratch Singles in 1937.

Michael Hoey, winner of the Championship in 2000, is now calling on amateur golfers across Northern Ireland (and presumably the whole of Ireland) to enter the tournament which will be played in Portrush from July 13-17.

Commenting on the launch of the Cathedral Eye Clinic North of Ireland Championship, launch, Michael Hoey said: “Growing up, the North of Ireland was always a big thing. We had a caravan at Castlerock golf club so I grew up playing in the area.

"Winning the tournament in 2000 was a huge boost to my career. I’d strongly encourage all amateur players to enter the Championship – getting the opportunity to play in a tournament of this calibre at Royal Portrush is such a boost to any amateur’s game.”

Golfers can enter the Cathedral Eye Clinic North of Ireland Championship at www.golfnet.ie - entries close at 00.30 on Saturday 20 June 2015, with the draw for rounds 1 & 2 due to be issued on Tuesday 23 June.

This is the third year that Cathedral Eye Clinic will sponsor the North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship.

There’s a natural synergy to the partnership, as Cathedral Eye Clinic has helped many elite athletes and sportspeople to rediscover amazing vision, with bespoke eye care solutions, including the very latest technology in laser eye surgery.

Golfers in particular can see a big benefit from these procedures, helping them to get back on the fairways within days of a procedure.

Kevin Stevens, General Secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland (Ulster Branch) recently had treatment with Cathedral Eye Clinic with great success.

Speaking about his treatment, Kevin said: “My eye surgery with Cathedral Eye Clinic has changed my life. I no longer have to worry about my glasses steaming up or being rained on. Now my golf game stays uninterrupted and has improved – I can keep my eye on the ball the whole way through the game.

“Cathedral Eye Clinic provided me with a tailored service. Professor Johnny Moore met with me from the start; he oversaw my preparations, eye procedure and aftercare personally, making the whole process as smooth as possible. I just wish I had done it sooner.”

Later this summer, Cathedral Eye Clinic will expand into a new state-of-the-art clinic and research centre on Academy Street in Belfast.  

The brand new clinic will be the first in Ireland to offer third generation laser treatment with the Zeiss VisuMax SMILE procedure. This key-hole style laser eye treatment is pain-free and has a rapid recovery time. It is the newest, most accurate and safest laser treatment available. The Zeiss Smile laser is the premier eye solution for people wanting to get freedom from glasses and contact lenses and it is now available in Belfast.

As part of the partnership, Cathedral Eye Clinic will provide preferential rates to Golfing Union of Ireland members. For further information, or to enquire about bespoke eye care solutions, contact Cathedral Eye Clinic on 028 9032 2020 or by email to info@cathedraleye.com 

Tiger Woods in a familiar place on Thursday at Chambers Bay, the rough

Shane Lowry showed once again that he has the game to contend for major when he chiseled out a career low US Open round with an opening 69 at Chambers Bay.

As Darren Clarke struggled to a 77, Tiger Woods slumped to an 80 and Rickie Fowler crashed to an 82 in tricky afternoon conditions, the pride of Co Offaly ended the day just outside the the top 10 after knocking three shots off his previous best score in a US Open.

Starting on the back nine in tougher afternoon conditions when the greens were bumpier and the wind got up, Lowry bogeyed the 13th but then caught fire before the turn with birdies at the par-three 15th and 17th and a birdie four at the 18th.

Comfortably inside the top 10 on two under, he slipped back with a bogeys at the third and seventh but birdied the par-five eighth and then came up just short with a slick birdie putt from around 20 feet at the par-three ninth.

He ended the day tied for 14th with the likes of Phil Mickelson on one under with a chance to score well ahead of him.

He was certainly helped by playing with American Ben Martin, who grabbed a share of the leaden five under with seven holes to go but dropped two shots coming in.

While Jordan Spieth and Jason Day showed why they're fancied for the title as they posted 68s in the afternoon, others had their struggles. 

Justin Rose was one under with four to play and bogeyed the three of the last four to drop to tied 53rd with the likes of Rory McIlroy after a 72.

It was far worse for Fowler and Woods who will need sensational second rounds to make the cut for the Top 60 and ties.

Fowler dropped eight shots in four holes from the sixth and despite a tap in eagle two at the 10th, he eventually shot an 11 over 81.

That was one shot worse that Woods, who hardly hit a fairway as he followed seven birdies with a triple at the 14th.

He looked en route to break 80 when he birdied the 16th but he topped his approach tot he 18th into a bunker and took six.

Woods promised to keep going despite his latest set back.

"I fought, I fought hard. And that was my number. I couldn't grind out any harder than that. So that's just the way I played and unfortunately it was a high number today," Woods said. 

Rose was disappointed with his finish, admitting: "I threw my round away at the end. I could or should have been three-under par, probably through about 12 or 13. But I just couldn't get the ball in the hole and just a really weak finish, some poor clubs and some tired, lazy swings at the end.

"All in all, a little bit disappointed. I felt like I finished poorly, but I felt like I could have gotten a lot more out of the day."

Like many, he found the greens hard to take.

"I really hope the greens roll better in the morning because it wasn't a lot of fun out there in the afternoon. I couldn't see a putt staying on the line I hit it on and makes it a little frustrating at times. I'm hoping I can get some good looks at it tomorrow and the ball rolls a little truer, so I feel like I can make some birdies."

Masters champion Spieth didn't play his best but he holed his share of putts and posted a good score.

"I didn't strike the ball particularly well. I wasn't pleased with the way I hit it," he said. "I thought I putted well. I missed a couple putts inside ten feet, but that's going to happen out here. That's inconsistency on the greens. I made a lot of them from inside ten feet, too."

Spieth enjoyed his round with Rose and Day and the Australian was certainly pleased to shoot 68 after making two bogeys and a double bogey at the par-three 15th, where he came up short.

"Yes, it was tough this afternoon, it was very, very tough. Bloody 15th hole, down the hill. But looks, everyone was coming up short there, because we - our group kind of made a mess of it. It was a tough one. Glad to come back with a birdie on the 16th.

"That's a U.S. Open golf course, you shoot anything under par on the first round — even though the conditions were a little easier this morning, a lot more gettable this morning, but I played solid golf coming in."

 

Rory McIlroy laments another missed putt. This one was for birdie at the eighth, his 17th.

Rory McIlroy was utterly frustrated with the greens but hopeful that he could regain some confidence in his putting in time to rescue his US Open challenge at Chambers Bay.

The world No 1 missed short putts and bogeyed two of his last three holes to cap a tough day with the blade as he had 30 putts in a two over 72 that left him seven strokes adrift of early leaders Henrik Stenson and Dustin Johnson.

Playing in cool, windless early conditions when the course was playing at its softest and easiest, McIlroy birdied the 11th after a super approach crept back to just six feet and he rolled in the putt. 

But the Holywood man, one of the streakiest putters at the best of times, holed little after that to put himself under pressure for Friday’s second round in what are sure to be tougher conditions on greens that deteriorate as the day goes on because of the meadowgrass that has invaded them.

Rory McIlroy's par miss at the ninth

He bogeyed the 14th, missed three-foot par putt after bunkering his tee shot at the par-three 15th but birdied the 16th to turn in level par 35.

But he could’t make a birdie on the way home and bogged the seventh, pulling a four footer well wide, before burning the edge for birdie at the par-five eighth and then bogeying the par-three ninth after bunkering his tee shot and splashing out to around four and a half feet.

“It was frustrating, especially how I felt I hit the ball from tee to green,” McIlroy said. “I drove the ball great. I hit my iron shots very, very well. Even when you hit good iron shot, getting it to 25, 30 feet is a good shot at times. I felt like I gave myself enough chances out there to convert a few and wasn't able to do that. 

“Missed a couple of short-ish putts on the last few holes there and definitely thought it was a day where you could shoot under par and I didn't take advantage of that.”
 
Asked about the greens, he said: “They are not the best that I've ever putted on. I still feel like if you make a good enough stroke and you have the right speed, there's a good enough chance the ball will go in.

"I need to find a rhythm in my stroke over the next three days, work a bit on the putting green and hopefully it will be better tomorrow.” 

Another McIlroy miss.

He still believes there’s a low score to be had if he can “keep hitting the ball as well as I did off the tee.”
 
“I just didn't quite have it with the putter today and that's something that I need to get right over the next three days if I want to have a chance.’

Asked if his missed putts came from misreads, poor strokes  or poor greens, McIlroy said: “A little bit of both. I think there were a couple of misreads and there were a couple of bad strokes as well. It is just hard whenever the ball is not rolling the way you would want it to on the greens. 

“It is hard to pick a line and just trust it. That;s what I’ve felt. Then you start to make tentative strokes and then you are not getting a true roll on the ball and there is no chance of the ball going in. 

“I just need to work on that and I will do a little bit of work on the putting green before tomorrow’s round and see if I an figure something out before going out there tomorrow. 

And another...

“The course was set up fair that you could do a score as Henrik and Dustin showed. It was definitely out there with not much breeze at all. 

“If you could hit the ball well and convert a few of your chances there was a score in the mid 60s out there.”

McIlroy still believes that Chambers Bay is a US Open course that you can attack. 

“If anything today just reiterated what I felt coming into this week, which is that you can be very, very aggressive,” he said. “You can be really aggressive with your tee shots and go at certain pins. It is not a typical US Open where you have to play a game of chess. You can stand up and be really aggressive.”

Graeme McDowell laments a good shot going to 35 feet at the 14th

Outside the cut mark for the Top 60, he knows can’t afford another poor day and feels confident he’s close to playing well. 

“I think more of the same from tee to green. If I can do that I will be very happy. I will just try to figure something out on the greens and try to get some sort of rhythm going in my stroke for the next three days.” 

If McIlroy was upset with his putting, McDowell was left to rue an even more disappointing day as he had 35 putts in a four over 74.

A double bogey six at his opening left him on the back foot and while he did well to birdie the 14th (he holed a 35 footer) and 16th to get back to level, he played his last 11 holes in four over par with bogeys at the 17th, second, sixth and ninth.

Graeme McDowell celebrates holing a long birdie putt at the 14th

Co-leader Terry Pilkadaris. Picture: Getty Images

Simon Thornton leads the Irish after carding a first round 69 in the €200,000 Najeti Open Presented by Neuflize OBC.

But the level par 71 that leaves rookie Chris Selfridge tied for 30th with the in-form Ruaidhri McGee, five shots behind co-leaders Terry Pilkadaris of Australia and Belgian Hugues Joannes, is a testament to how well he’s adapted to life on tour.

On a day when Gareth Shaw shot a one-over 72, Gareth Maybin a 74 and Alan Dunbar a 77, Moyola Park star Selfridge continues to look comfortable on the Challenge Tour.

He’s already 84th in the Road to Oman rankings after going T17 and T13 in his first two starts since turning professional and hopes to make hay for the next three weeks and give himself a chance of winning his European Tour card come the autumn.

Moyola Park Golf Club are running an open day this Saturday to raise money to help fund my professional golf career.

— Chris Selfridge (@selfridgec595) June 18, 2015

Lots of times still avaliable. £20 includes round of golf and great prizes. Call 02879468830 to book. Much appreciated.

— Chris Selfridge (@selfridgec595) June 18, 2015

As for the leaders both  Pilkadaris  and Belgian Joannes carded rounds of 66 at Aa Saint-Omer Golf Club, in northern France, to lead by one stroke from Australian Ryan Fox, Finland’s Roope Kakko and Italian Nicolo Ravano. 

Pilkadaris birdied the fifth and ninth holes on his front nine, before reeling off a hat-trick of birdies from the 12th.

The 41 year old made his only bogey of the day on the 15th hole, but regained a shot on the 17th to sign for his joint lowest round of the season. 

Pilkadaris is playing in the tournament for the sixth time, with a share of 19th place last year his best finish to date, and he feels his knowledge of the tricky at Aa Saint-Omer GC could prove beneficial this week. 

“On this golf course, it’s a real advantage to know the place,” he said. “Most of the players near the top of the leaderboard are experienced guys, they know how to draw the ball.

“I played a practice round with Ryan Fox, it’s his first visit here. I helped him to discover the course and to respect it, where to hit. And I know Roope likes this place very much, he likes the challenge. So it’s not a surprise to see him in with a good score.”

At the other end of the experience spectrum, Joannes is making only his second appearance in the tournament, but after missing the cut on his debut last year, the 26 year old is getting to grips with the quirks and contours of the Lumbres layout.  

He said: “It’s a very nice feeling to lead. I played here last year, but the course is in very different condition this time. The fairways are much drier, and although the greens are soft the course is playing much faster. It’s so important to know this golf course. All day long it’s a battle, and if you drop a shot it’s important to stay calm and be patient. 

“The greens are really difficult to read as well, but I hit quite it close to the flags today which makes life much easier and takes the pressure off your putting. 

“The wind is supposed to pick up tomorrow, but we had good practice with that in Belgium last week! The wind doesn’t really bother me anyway, as my trajectory is quite low.”

Round One Scores

66 T Pilkadaris (Aus), H Joannes  (Bel) ,

67 P Whiteford (Sco), N Ravano (Ita), R Kakko (Fin), R Fox (Nzl), 

68 S Gros (Fra), J Fahrbring (Swe), T Remkes (Ned), W Booth  (Sco), F Andersson Hed (Swe), S Henry (Sco) ,

69 S Hodgson (Eng), B Chapellan (Fra), M Schneider (Ger), T Linard (Fra), J Doherty  (Sco), Simon Thornton (Irl), S Kim (USA), E Dubois (Fra), 

70 R Gouveia (Por), C Brazillier (Fra), J Hansen  (Den), J Rask (Swe), P Meesawat  (Tha), A Snobeck  (Fra), M Fenasse (Fra), C Gloet  (Den), J Rutherford (Eng), 

71 J Dantorp (Swe), S Fernoux (Fra), J Walters (RSA), Chris Selfridge  (Nir), C Hanson (Eng), M Radureau (Fra), Ruaidhri McGee (Irl), K Le Sager (Fra), S Heisele (Ger), O Bekker (RSA), A Grenier  (Fra), J Grillon  (Fra), M Orrin (Eng), V Riu  (Fra), S Walker (Eng), B Stone (RSA), R Coles (Eng), S Einhaus (Ger), D Im (USA), M Wiegele  (Aut) 

72 B Stow (Eng), M Delpodio  (Ita), M Bremner (RSA), B Paolini (USA), E Saltman  (Sco), S Manley (Wal), C Shinkwin (Eng), C Berardo (Fra), Y El Hassani (Mar), E Cuartero Blanco  (Esp), T Nemecz (Aut), J Stalter (Fra), A McArthur  (Sco), G Murray  (Sco), T Sluiter  (Ned), Gareth Shaw (Nir), W Harrold (Eng), J Watts (Eng), C Aguilar  (Esp), B Hafthorsson (Isl), P Dwyer (Eng), 

73 S Jeppesen  (Swe), G Woolgar (Eng), D Stewart (Sco), J Gallegos  (Esp), A Marshall (Eng), P Figueiredo  (Por), A Kaleka  (Fra), D Gaunt (Eng), J Glennemo (Swe), R Santos  (Por), S Wakefield (Eng), L Gagli  (Ita), J Gonnet  (Fra), J Makitalo  (Fin), D Vancsik (Arg), G Porteous (Eng), 

74 S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp), J Scrivener (Aus), T Sinnott (Aus), E Bertheussen (Nor), S Soderberg (Swe), J Senior (Eng), J Billing (Swe), P Widegren  (Swe), D Antonelli (Fra), Z Lombard  (RSA), O Rozner  (Fra), K Subregis  (Fra), J Ballesteros (Esp), A Joudar (Mar), D Huizing (Ned), D Law (Sco), J Lima  (Por), G Maybin (Nir), J Guerrier  (Fra), F Calmels  (Fra), N Quintarelli (Ita), S Akarsu (am) (Tur), 

75 D Woltman (USA), N Elvira  (Esp), R Kellett (Sco), S Griffiths (Eng), J Lopez Lazaro (Fra), G Lockerbie  (Eng), A Knappe (Ger), A Anghert (Fra), X Ruiz Fonhof  (Ned), R Davies (Wal), J Verselin (Fra), N Roche (Fra), J Lucquin (Fra), D Dixon (Eng), F Bergamaschi (Ita), M Decottignies-Lafon (Fra), 

76 J Heath  (Eng), A Saddier (Fra), D Coupland (Eng), M Rocchi  (Fra), P Archer (Eng), D Bobrowski (Fra), R McGowan  (Eng), 

77 N Geyger (Chi), A Gee  (Eng), J Garcia Pinto (Esp), Alan Dunbar (Nir), M Kramer  (Ger), J McLeary  (Sco), C Russo (Fra), A Altuntas (am) (Tur), 

78 G Boyd  (Eng), M Montgaillard (Fra), D Burmester (RSA), N Bertasio (Ita), T Elissalde  (Fra), 

79 E Goya (Arg), S Debiais (Fra), D Palm (Swe), J Robinson (Eng), T Tree (Eng), A Bernadet  (Fra), M Lafeber (Ned), 

80 P Maddy (Eng), 

81 S Fallon (Eng), A Hartø  (Den), 

82 C Rameaux (Fra), 

WD A Rota (Ita).

Jonny Caldwell

Europro Tour — Rory McIlroy's former Walker Cup partner Jonny Caldwell showed signs late last year that he's still got plenty of talent. And he proved it in England on Thursday when he fired a five under 66 to move up the leaderboard in the GRENKE Championship at Cumberwell Park.

After opening with a 74, the BetMcClean player is only tied 17th on two under, five shots behind leader Steve Surry while Co Monaghan's Simon Ward shot a second 71 to lie 36th on even par.

The rest of the Irish missed the cut with back to back bogeys at the 17th and 18th causing Headfort's Brian Casey to shoot a two over 73 and miss the cut by one.

Scores

T17 Jonathan Caldwell BetMcLean -5 74 66 140 
T36 Simon Ward Unattached E 71 71 142 
Cut 143
MC Brian Casey Headfort Golf Club +2 71 73 144
MC Richard Weldon Killeen Castle Golf Club +7 76 73 150
MC Mark Whelan Allied Pension Trustees +21 78 87 

Alps Tour — Carton House's David Carey missed the cut by a shot in the Open de la Pinetina near Milan. He made three bogeys in a birdie in his first four and ended up carding a one over 71 to miss the cut by a stroke on level par. ScoresItalian Andrea Bolognesi shot a 62 to lead by two shots on 10 under alongside his compatriot 
Andrea Perrino (66) and Dutchman Jurrian Van der Vaart.