Irish Golf News

Graeme McDowell

Graeme McDowell might be struggling for motivation in the wake of his new-found fatherhood but he need only look at the world rankings and the looming US Open if he’s searching for a reason to play well in the FedEx St Jude Classic this week.

Now 43rd in the world, he was 15th in December and sixth at the end of 2010 when he won the US Open, the Ulsterman admits he’s hoping to get some “competitive sharpness” in Memphis so he can challenge for his second major at Chambers Bay.

“When it comes to preparing for major championships there are a few ways you can do it, you can try and simulate the conditions you’ll find the following week,” he said.

"The way that the US Open jumps around it's very difficult to have a solid warm-up venue the week before so you've got to take the rough with the smooth.

"Some years it's going to be a great preparation and some years maybe not.

"I think the comparison of the two golf courses is that they're at opposite ends of the spectrum but I love coming here and getting some competitive sharpness.

"I think, going into a major championship, preparing and playing the golf course and having your game plan together is key - but being competitively sharp and feeling confident that you are playing well, those are just important.

Graeme McDowell

“For me it’s been a slow year, I kind of feel that my game's turning a corner so I'll be teeing it up and trying to get some competitive sharpness."

He added: "I like the golf course a lot.  I think it sort of sets up for my style of game where a lot of accuracy required off the tee, and coming into these very tricky greens.  Like I say, a couple of top 25s here, probably should have done better in both, but I guess when it comes to preparing for major championships, there are various ways you can do it.”

McDowell is keeping an open mind on Chambers Bay, believing that staying positive about a course he hasn’t yet seen will be key to winning or losing.

"I'm not really kind of giving much weight to the things I've heard.  I’m really just going to try and go in there with my eyes open and try and dissect the golf course and find out how my game gets around there, I suppose. 

"It doesn't really matter what the golf course is like and how many guys like it or loathe it.  Someone is going to pick the U.S. Open trophy up next week, and a lot of it may come down to the attitude that you have towards the test. 

"Really trying to just give it a good shot this week.  You know, I'd love to win one of these next two weeks, and I'm not really fussy much to be honest with you.  I’m a guy who's searching for some confidence in his game, and I would love to be on the leaderboard here this weekend in Memphis, and if winning here this week meant that I wasn't going to perform next week, you know, I might take that right now. 

"I'm really looking at it as a two‑week journey trying to play as well as I can this week, and then go over there and dissect the course and try and win another U.S. Open trophy.  Looking forward to the couple weeks. 

Asked about his struggles with his game, he admitted that it was hard to pinpoint where they began - in the mind or in the body.

“You know, I think I’m not really sure which came first, but I’ve had some sort of issues regards motivation, and that’s led to some technical issues,” he said. 

“I think getting married and having babies and kind of enjoying the fun things in life off the golf course have distracted me a little bit on the course, and my game has suffered a little bit.  

"Some renewed desire the last three or four months and just kind of been grinding away, trying to get my golf swing back in shape.  It's just been general stuff.  There’s been nothing in particular.  

“It's just been a little lack of general sharpness, and I've just been chipping away at everything really.  

“I feel I've turned the corner. I’ve hit the ball much more solidly the last couple months on and off. 

"This is golfing season right now.  From this week through the FedEx Playoffs I'm going to play a lot of golf, and you know, you're never anything‑‑ a couple of great weeks can certainly get a season back on the rails again.  I’m focused and excited about the challenge coming up.”

Padraig Harrington is also looking for a positive week in Memphis but he must win to qualify for the US Open. 

Ranked 91st in the world, he needs to be in the Top 60 on Sunday night to secure a place at Chambers Bay and nothing but a win in Memphis will do.

“I’ll be there trying to put in a big performance," he said at Royal County Down. “It’s a big ask to go out and win on demand for sure but we will have to give it a go. I like the event and I have contended for it once before.”

Bernd Wiesberger. Picture © Getty Images

European Tour - Lyoness Open

Bernd Wiesberger is ready to carry the hopes of a nation into the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity as the Austrian seeks to reclaim his national Open Championship.

The 29 year old has already won the event (in 2012), being hosted for the sixth successive season at the Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg, but would love nothing more to go one better than last year when he lost out in a sudden-death play-off to Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg.

Ireland has six players in the field and several need big weeks as they battle for their playing rights for 2016.

Only Michel Hoey and Damien McGrane have full playing privileges though the Ulsterman is 122nd in the Race to Dubai and McGrane a lowly 179th.

Phelan is 82nd but he is reliant on invitations to boost a weak playing category while Lawrie (131st), Maybin (209th) and Thornton (227th) are also desperate for a good week.

Thomas Pieters. Picture © Getty Images

Challenge Tour — Seven Irish join Pieters in Belgium

Rising star Thomas Pieters would have been forgiven for wanting some time off this week, having played the last four events in a row.

But when he realised the Challenge Tour was playing in Belgium, his home country, there was only one option.

The 23 year old from Antwerp has not played competitively on home soil since 2008, and he arrives at Golf de Pierpont in a relaxed mood, relishing the opportunity to catch up with old friends.

“I just wanted to play at home because it’s been so long since I was able to do that,” said Pieters, who came through all three stages of the European Tour Qualifying School in 2013.

“I was at college in the States so I didn’t have the chance to play the Belgian Challenge Tour events. I wanted to take a week off this week, but then I saw this event was on and I added it to the schedule.

“This is five in a row for me now, but it’s more relaxing and I can go home and sleep in my own bed. I have a friend caddieing for me too, so it’ll be a lot of fun.

“I’m happy to be here and excited to play tomorrow. I last played this course when I was about 13 or 14 so it was a long time ago. I’ve heard it’s very firm and fast. I had a look around late yesterday afternoon and it looks in really good condition.”

The Irish challenge is headed by Rosapenna's Ruaidhri McGee, who is ninth in the Road to Oman standings with €27,996.

Gareth Shaw (109th) and Mick McGeady (127th) are joined by four players who have yet to make any cash on the Challenge Tour this year. 

Birr's Stephen Grant has missed three cuts while satellite tour regulars Richard Kilpatrick, Cian Curley and David Rawluk are making their first appearances of the season on the second tier circuit.

Tom Cleary

Cork's Tom Cleary added the Connacht Seniors Open to the Munster Seniors crown he claimed in last month with victory on a count back at Oughterard.

The Munster man closed with a level par 72 to finish on five over par 149 at the Galway venue and edge out Waterford's Denis Deasy, who also finished on 149 after a 74.

2015 Connacht Seniors Open, Oughterard Golf Club

Detailed scores

Sponsored by Gerry McDonnell Catering @ Oughterard Golf Club

CSS Rd 1 – 73 (R/O) and Rd 2 – 72.

149 Tom Cleary (Cork Golf Club) 77 72 Championship Winner

149 Denis Deasy (Waterford) 75 74

150 Michael F Galvin (Limerick Golf Club) 78 72, Richard McDowell (Royal Belfast Golf Club) 77 73, Neville Steedman (Balcarrick Golf Club) 75 75

151 Maurice Kelly (Naas Golf Club) 76 75, Garth McGimpsey (Bangor Golf Club) 75 76, Richard Brooker (Skerries Golf Club) 75 76

152 Hugh Smyth (Mourne) 79 73, Liam Halpin (Westport Golf Club) 77 75, Michael Coote (Tralee Golf Club) 76 76

153 Billy Donlon (Birr Golf Club) 78 75, Mick Gaynor (Co. Meath Golf Club) 77 76, John Mitchell (Tramore Golf Club) 74 79

154 Gerry O'Keeffe (Waterford) 78 76

155 Ian Smyth (Clandeboye) 82 73, Ray Smith (Galway Golf Club) 79 76, Declan Corcoran (Thurles) 76 79

157 Tony Hayes (Hermitage Golf Club) 79 78, Seamus Ward (Laytown & Bettystown) 77 80

159 Jim McVeigh (Carlow Golf Club) 83 76, Kevin Sheehy (Athlone Golf Club) 81 78, Rory Timlin (Galway Golf Club) 81 78, Bert Burke (Moate Golf Club) 77 82

160 Brian Whitaker (Elm Park Golf Club) 81 79, Paddy Harrington (Muskerry Golf Club) 81 79, Jerry Gore (Oughterard Golf Club) 81 79, David Sheedy (Lahinch Golf Club) 77 83

162 Dermot Morris (Limerick Golf Club) 83 79, Dan Murphy (Youghal Golf Club) 83 79, Patrick Griffin (Dooks Golf Club) 82 80, Brendan McDonnell (K Club) 80 82

163 Michael Darcy (Oughterard Golf Club) 83 80, Des Egan (Loughrea Golf Club) 83 80, Francis Jules () 83 80, Kieran O'Mahony (Galway Golf Club) 81 82, John Cuffe (Monkstown Golf Club) 79 84

164 Terry Lilly (Slade Valley Golf Club) 86 78, Frank Leonard (Knightsbrook) 83 81, Albert Hogg (Carrick-on-Shannon Golf Club) 83 81, Dave Roberts (Rathcore) 82 82

165 John Hynes (Oughterard Golf Club) 84 81, Paul Cooley (Portstewart Golf Club) 84 81, Eamon Connolly (Blainroe Golf Club) 81 84, Martin Higgins (Claremorris Golf Club) 79 86

166 Val Smyth (Co. Louth Golf Club) 88 78, John Houlihan (Dooks Golf Club) 83 83, John Carr (Oughterard Golf Club) 79 87

167 Larry Cushen (The Heath Golf Club) 86 81, Joe Crowley (Athy Golf Club) 79 88, Brendan O'Malley (The Royal Dublin) 78 89

168 Joseph Dowey (Lurgan Golf Club) 88 80, Rory Fitzgerald (Tramore Golf Club) 87 81, Pat Lynch (Slade Valley Golf Club) 86 82, Sean Moyna (Rossmore Golf Club) 85 83, Norman Farrell (Athenry Golf Club) 84 84, Greg Young (Lahinch Golf Club) 82 86

169 Alistair Campbell (Massereene Golf Club) 84 85

171 P.J Phelan (Cahir Park Golf Club) 88 83, Peter O'Flanagan (Woodbrook Golf Club) 87 84

172 William J O'Brien (Ballykisteen Golf Club) 88 84

173 Tadg Mannion (Athlone Golf Club) 89 84, Kevin Raftery (Forrest Little.) 88 85, Keith Lapsley (Dunfanaghy Golf Club) 88 85, Tom Campion (Athlone Golf Club) 87 86, Shane O'Mahony (Galway Golf Club) 85 88

174 Greg Murphy (K Club) 87 87

175 Michael Foley (Faithlegg Golf Club) 86 89

177 David Lindsay (Strandhill Golf Club) 91 86, Patrick O'Brien (Forrest Little.) 91 86, Pat McEvilly (Oughterard Golf Club) 90 87, Philip Fulham (Glenlo Abbey Golf Club) 87 90

179 Sean McNamara (Killorglin Golf Club) 90 89

180 Ken Newens (Castlerock Golf Club) 92 88, James Malone () 89 91

182 Pat Egan (Oughterard Golf Club) 90 92

185 John McCann (Co. Louth Golf Club) 89 96

189 Gar Golden (Westport Golf Club) 93 96

194 William Leggett (Island) 96 98

199 Joe Carney (Athlone Golf Club) 99 100

WD/NR Gerard O'Kennedy (Athlone Golf Club) NR NR, Arthur Bell (Greencastle Golf Club) 101 WD, Niall Finnegan (Gort Golf Club) WD , Adrian Wynne (Strandhill Golf Club) WD , Lorcan Cribbin (Ballaghaderreen Golf Club) WD 

Leona Maguire

World No 1 Leona Maguire birdied all four par-threes in an eight-birdie 68 to head the qualifiers for the matchplay by a massive six strokes in the Ladies’ British Amateur Open at Portstewart.

The 20 year old Slieve Russell and Duke University star finished on 11-under-par 135 on a misty, cool but windless morning as she followed her first-round 67 (35-32) with a 68 (34-34) over the par 72 (36-37) Strand course.

Her impressive round featured eight birdies including twos at all the par-three holes: the third, sixth, 12th and 15th where she put it close every time.  

“I nearly had a hole in one at the fifteenth, only 2 or 3 inches away from going in there,” said Leona, who will play 64th qualifier, Martina Edberg of Sweden on Thursday.

Click here for matchplay draw

Her other birdies came at the long seventh, where she was on in two, the ninth where she pitched to six feet and holed it, the par-five 14th where she had a two-putt four, and the long 17th where she was on the green at this 436-yard hole with a drive and a five-iron for another two-putt four.

Her bag of eight birdies topped the first-round “haul" of one eagle and 5 birdies, but she did have more more bogeys 

"I dropped shot at the fourth, eighth and eighteenth," said Leona. "I missed the green at each of these holes and landed in awkward spots.”

She topped the qualifiers by five strokes from Tiverton’s Jessica Bradley (71-70) and her Duke University team-mate and her predecessor as World No 1 female amateur, Celine Boutier of France (69-72).

Leona was one of seven Irish players to make the matchplay with Lisburn’s Paula Grant 18th (74 72), Royal County Down Ladies’ Olivia Mehaffey 20th (74 72), Donaghadee’s Jessica Ross (71-78) 46th, Jessica Carty 48th (78-72), Lisa Maguire 49th (78-72) and Skerries’ Maria Dunne 51st (77-73).

Jessica Carty faces Italy’s Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso, Lisa Maguire meets Aussie Joanna Charlton, Olivia Mehaffey takes on Lianna Bailey of England, Jessica Ross takes on American Doris Chen, Maria Dunne versus Scotland’s Connie Jaffrey and Paula Grant faces Israel’s Hadas Libman.

Ladies' British Amateur Open, Portstewart (Strand, Par 72)Qualifiers

1    135    -11    Leona Maguire    Slieve Russell    67    68
2    141    -5    Jessica Bradley    Tiverton    71    70
3    141    -5    Celine Boutier    France    69    72
4    142    -4    Madelene Sagstrom    Sweden    70    72
5    143    -3    Katerina Vlasinova    Czech R    75    68
6    143    -3    Luna Sobron    Spain    72    71
7    143    -3    Kristen Gillman    USA    72    71
8    143    -3    Heather Munro    Monifieth    71    72
9    143    -3    Linnea Strom    Sweden    70    73
10    143    -3    Sophie Keech    Parkstone    69    74
11    143    -3    Olivia Cowan    Germany    69    74
12    144    -2    Leslie Cloots    Belgium    72    72
13    144    -2    India Clyburn    Woodhall Spa    69    75
14    145    -1    Connie Jaffrey    Troon Ladies'    75    70
15    145    -1    Katie Mitchell    USA    72    73
16    145    -1    Joanna Charlton    Australia    70    75
17    146    Par    Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso    Italy    75    71
18    146    Par    Paula Grant    Lisburn    74    72
19    146    Par    Doris Chen    USA    74    72
20    146    Par    Olivia Mehaffey    Royal County Down Ladies'    74    72
21    146    Par    Harang Lee    Spain    73    73
22    146    Par    Aditi Ashok    India    73    73
23    146    Par    Natalia Escuriola    Spain    72    74
24    146    Par    Bethan Popel    Long Ashton    72    74
25    147    +1    Brittany Marchand    Canada    78    69
26    147    +1    Agathe Sauzon    France    77    70
27    147    +1    Gioia Carpinelli    Switzerland    75    72
28    147    +1    Maddie Szeryk    Canada    75    72
29    147    +1    Ines Lescudier    France    74    73
30    147    +1    Rachel Rossel    Switzerland    74    73
31    147    +1    Carlotta Ricolfi    Italy    74    73
32    147    +1    Camille Chevalier    France    73    74
33    147    +1    Linnea Johansson    Sweden    70    77
34    147    +1    Elin Esborn    Sweden    66    81
35    148    +2    Camilla Hedberg    Spain    76    72
36    148    +2    Inci Mehmet    Royal Mid Surrey    75    73
37    149    +3    Meghan MacLaren    Wellingborough    78    71
38    149    +3    Mathilda Cappeliez    France    77    72
39    149    +3    Elizabeth Tong    Canada    76    73
40    149    +3    Leonie Harm    Germany    76    73
41    149    +3    Jennifer Ha    Canada    76    73
42    149    +3    Charlotte De Corte    Belgium    76    73
43    149    +3    Emily Penttilä    Finland    75    74
44    149    +3    Jenny Haglund    Sweden    75    74
45    149    +3    Lianna Bailey    Kirby Muxloe    74    75
46    149    +3    Jessica Ross    Donaghadee    71    78
47    150    +4    Hadas Libman    Israel    79    71
48    150    +4    Jessica Carty    Holywood    78    72
49    150    +4    Lisa Maguire    Slieve Russell    78    72
50    150    +4    Kim Metraux    Switzerland    78    72
51    150    +4    Maria Dunne    Skerries    77    73
52    150    +4    Elizabeth Prior    Burhill    77    73
53    150    +4    Ludovica Farina    Italy    77    73
54    150    +4    Hannele Mikkola    Finland    77    73
55    150    +4    Nastja Banovec    Slovenia    76    74
56    150    +4    Alexandra Bonetti    France    76    74
57    150    +4    Fatima Fernandez    Spain    76    74
58    150    +4    Nuria Iturrios    Spain    76    74
59    150    +4    Samantha Fuller    Roehampton    75    75
60    150    +4    Frida Kinhult    Sweden    74    76
61    150    +4    Dulcie Sverdloff    Garons Park    73    77
62    150    +4    Ellinor Haag    Sweden    72    78
63    150    +4    Linn Andersson    Sweden    72    78
64    151    +5    Martina Edberg    Sweden    78    73

Non-qualifiers

65    151    +5    Roberta Liti    Italy    77    74
66    151    +5    Gabrielle Macdonald    Craigielaw    77    74
67    151    +5    Fiona Liddell    Germany    76    75
68    151    +5    Anna Appert Lund    Sweden    74    77
69    151    +5    Hannah McCook    Grantown on Spey    73    78
70    151    +5    Sarah Nilsson    Sweden    73    78
71    152    +6    Bianca Maria Fabrizio    Italy    78    74
72    152    +6    Manon Gidali    France    78    74
73    152    +6    Ileen Domela Nieuwenhuis    Netherlands    77    75
74    152    +6    Julienne Soo    Australia    77    75
75    152    +6    Eva Gilly    France    76    76
76    152    +6    Ellie Goodall    Selby    76    76
77    152    +6    Dewi Weber    Netherlands    73    79
78    153    +7    Sarah Schober    Austria    79    74
79    153    +7    Julie McCarthy    Forrest Little    77    76
80    153    +7    Chloe Ryan    Castletroy    74    79
81    153    +7    Marion Veysseyre    France    73    80
82    153    +7    Puk Thomsen    Denmark    72    81
83    154    +8    Olivia Winning    Rotherham    82    72
84    154    +8    Morgane Metraux    Switzerland    78    76
85    154    +8    Cylia Damerau    Switzerland    77    77
86    154    +8    Chloe Goadby    St Regulus    77    77
87    154    +8    Silvia Bañon    Spain    77    77
88    154    +8    Laura Fuenfstueck    Germany    76    78
89    154    +8    Vanessa Knecht    Switzerland    75    79
90    154    +8    Antonia-leonie Eberhard    Germany    75    79
91    154    +8    Gemma Clews    Delamere Forest    74    80
92    155    +9    Susana Vik    Norway    80    75
93    155    +9    Yu Eun Eunice Kim    Australia    80    75
94    155    +9    Clara Young    North Berwick    78    77
95    155    +9    Sinead Sexton    Lahinch    77    78
96    155    +9    Celia Barquin    Spain    77    78
97    155    +9    Samantha Giles    St. Mellion    76    79
98    155    +9    Lea Zeitler    Austria    75    80
99    155    +9    Marta Martin    Spain    74    81
100    155    +9    Jiwon Jeon    Korea    73    82
101    156    +10    Marit Harryvan    Netherlands    84    72
102    156    +10    Alice Barnes    West Sussex    78    78
103    156    +10    Marthe Wold    Norway    77    79
104    157    +11    Nadine Dreher    Austria    81    76
105    157    +11    Emma Broze    France    80    77
106    157    +11    Emma Henrikson    Sweden    79    78
107    157    +11    Jessica Meek    Carnoustie Ladies'    74    83
108    158    +12    Bronwyn Davies    Wolstanton    76    82
109    158    +12    Annabel Bailey    Kirby Muxloe    75    83
110    159    +13    Malene Krølbøll    Denmark    81    78
111    159    +13    Rachael Taylor    Scotland    80    79
112    159    +13    Cloe Frankish    Charthills    80    79
113    159    +13    Emily Slater    Woodhall Spa    78    81
114    160    +14    Franziska Friedrich    Germany    83    77
115    161    +15    Ines Fendt    Austria    85    76
116    161    +15    Azelia Meichtry    Switzerland    84    77
117    161    +15    Zara Woodbridge    Australia    80    81
118    161    +15    Mariell Bruun    Norway    79    82
119    161    +15    Lauren Horsford    Wimbledon Park    79    82
120    161    +15    Iona Stephen    Wentworth    78    83
121    162    +16    Julia Engstrom    Sweden    85    77
122    162    +16    Soo Jin Lee    Australia    82    80
123    162    +16    Lena Schaffner    Germany    82    80
124    162    +16    Stina Resen    Norway    80    82
125    163    +17    Laure Castelain    France    85    78
126    163    +17    Cajsa Persson    Sweden    79    84
127    164    +18    Marlies Krenn    Austria    85    79
128    164    +18    Alexandria Celli    USA    83    81
129    164    +18    Marie Lunackova    Czech Republic    81    83
130    164    +18    Antonia Scherer    Germany    80    84
131    164    +18    Jennifer Sepers    Netherlands    77    87
132    165    +19    Andrea Vilarasau    Spain    84    81
133    165    +19    Sophie Lamb    Clitheroe    82    83
134    165    +19    Amira Alexander    Virgin Islands, U.S.    76    89
135    166    +20    Jae Bowers    Prestbury    85    81
136    167    +21    Ann-Kathrin Wandrey    Germany    81    86
137    168    +22    Antonia von Wnuck    Germany    87    81
138    168    +22    Ashley McCourt    Australia    86    82
139    170    +24    Charlotte Austwick    Fulford    82    88
140    WDN    -    Lauren Whyte    St Regulus    82    WDN

Alex Gleeson (Castle) and John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) lining up their putts on the 9th green in the CityNorth Hotel sponsored East of Ireland Championship at County Louth Golf Club (01/06/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

John-Ross Galbraith, Alex Gleeson, Stuart Grehan and Dermot McElroy all made big moves in the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking while Leona Maguire remained No 1 in the women's standings.

Whitehead star Galbraith moved up 164 places to 575th thanks to his third place finish in the St Andrews Links Trophy where Cormac Sharvin failed to build on a brilliant start but still rose two spots to be Ireland's top ranked player at 28th in the world. 

Leona Maguire

Sharvin's fellow Walker Cup hopefuls Jack Hume, Gary Hurley, Gavin Moynihan and Paul Dunne also moved up.

Men's ranking | Women's ranking

The top 50 in the world on June 24 qualify for the US Amateur at Olympia Fields near Chicago from August 17-23 (see entry form) which means that No 26 Sharvin and No 38 Hurley are set to play with Hume (62nd), Dunne (65th) and Moynihan (84th) all close to the mark heading into next week's British Amateur Championship at Carnoustie and Panmure.

Hurley is missing that event to play in the Palmer Cup in the US  but the West Waterford man looks comfortably set to make the US Amateur in any case..

In the women's game, world No 1 Leona Maguire is comfortably out in front of the rest of the world and keen to extend the gap with victory in this week's Ladies' British Amateur at Portstewart where 114th ranked Olivia Mehaffey is looking to break into the world's Top 100.

Top Irish men This week Last week Change Player Country Divisor Points average 26 28 +2 Cormac Sharvin 50 1132.00 38 45 +7 Gary Hurley 62 1082.39 62 71 +9 Jack Hume 51 1027.82 65 87 +22 Paul Dunne 50 1018.50 84 95 +11 Gavin Moynihan 48 997.57 165 213 +48 Dermot McElroy 51 919.93 281 224 -57 Robin Dawson 51 856.37 323 326 +3 Richard Bridges 48 839.06 334 470 +136 Stuart Grehan 43 834.50 478 520 +42 Kevin Leblanc 29 787.93 553 369 -184 Colm Campbell 41 770.73 575 739 +164 John-Ross Galbraith 47 766.76 589 553 -36 Paul McBride 43 764.24 649 734 +85 Conor O'Rourke 28 749.11 744 882 +138 Alex Gleeson 48 727.78 747 772 +25 Alexander Wilson 40 727.50 821 857 +36 Gareth Lappin 46 710.87 870 658 -212 Geoff Lenehan 27 701.79 926 960 +34 Daniel Holland 36 691.09 938 920 -18 Sean Flanagan 31 688.71 1095 1042 -53 Eanna Griffin 29 655.17 1260 1297 +37 Stephen Watts 38 624.12 1294 1675 +381 Jonathan Yates 23 618.45 1304 1316 +12 Alan Lowry 34 617.65 1342 1522 +180 Tiarnan McLarnon 29 610.34 1388 1603 +215 Matthew McClean 26 602.68 1597 1629 +32 Tommy O'Driscoll 37 560.14 1635 1658 +23 Ronan Mullarney 34 552.94 1665 1186 -479 Gary O'Flaherty 18 549.11 1708 2072 +364 Colin Fairweather 18 541.96 1708 1893 +185 Joseph Lyons 23 541.96 1753 1455 -298 Gary Collins 19 531.25 1760 1610 -150 Rowan Lester 17 530.36 1845 2321 +476 Kyle McCarron 24 510.71 1864 2174 +310 Shaun Carter 20 507.14 1864 2321 +457 Stuart Bleakley 23 507.14 1874 1779 -95 Eddie McCormack 19 505.36 1878 1740 -138 Aaron Grant 22 503.57 1884 1893 +9 Declan Loftus 25 502.68 2065 2070 +5 Stuart Winsby 39 466.67 2077 2089 +12 Eoin Leonard 32 462.50 2163 1874 -289 Eugene Smith 21 446.43 2239 2004 -235 Pat Murray 15 432.14 2285 2341 +56 Jeffrey Hopkins 15 422.02 2334 2495 +161 Stephen Healy 16 413.39 2379 2196 -183 William Hanna 19 403.57 2450 2864 +414 Jordan Hood 19 389.29 2450 2174 -276 Shane McGlynn 23 389.29 2499 2983 +484 Jack Pierse 15 378.57 2522 2456 -66 Robert Cannon 17 374.11 Top Irish women This week Last week Change Player Country Divisor Points average 1 1 - Leona Maguire 34 1577.94 114 109 -5 Olivia Mehaffey 34 993.38 278 272 -6 Jessica Carty 32 845.31 321 319 -2 Maria Dunne 25 820.54 387 381 -6 Mary Doyle 31 783.87 389 383 -6 Chloe Ryan 37 783.11 460 457 -3 Paula Grant 25 747.32 572 574 +2 Sarah Helly 36 691.67 605 607 +2 Niamh McSherry 24 675.89 658 658 - Annabel Wilson 24 657.14 730 726 -4 Sinead Sexton 26 632.14 793 792 -1 Jean O'Driscoll 32 603.91 873 872 -1 Jessica Ross 23 569.64 943 944 +1 Lisa Maguire 34 535.29 999 998 -1 Louise Coffey 17 510.71 1227 1226 -1 Megan Thompson 21 410.71 1268 1267 -1 Holly Robinson 26 396.43 1379 1384 +5 Julie McCarthy 18 355.36 1389 1393 +4 Mairead Martin 14 352.68 1459 1464 +5 Emma O'Driscoll 15 328.57 1476 1479 +3 Amy Farrell 15 323.21 1621 1625 +4 Ariana Coyle Diez 11 273.21 1622 1626 +4 Aedin Murphy 14 271.43 1719 1726 +7 Niamh Ward 13 244.64 1723 1729 +6 Sarah Cunningham 13 242.86 1723 1729 +6 Shannon Burke 23 242.86 1757 1762 +5 Victoria Craig 21 232.14 1837 1839 +2 Shannen Brown 13 208.93 1839 1842 +3 Karen Delaney 12 207.14 1846 1850 +4 Caitriona Griffin 10 206.25 2045 2053 +8 Rachel Taylor 8 158.93 2074 2078 +4 Tara Gribben 7 150.00 2278 2277 -1 Carla Reynolds 14 110.71 2278 2277 -1 Meadhbh Doyle 13 110.71 2375 2368 -7 Amy Chambers 7 96.43 2400 2393 -7 Ciara Casey 3 94.20 2499 2489 -10 Hannah Henderson 5 78.57 2533 2521 -12 Aoife Lowry 9 71.43 2614 2604 -10 Mary Dowling 5 57.14 2652 2639 -13 Lucy Simpson 4 50.00 2666 2653 -13 Gillian O'Leary 4 46.43 2677 2665 -12 Carol Wickham 4 44.64 2722 2712 -10 Laura Grant 6 32.14 2789 2782 -7 Pat Doran 3 16.07 2808 2801 -7 Louise Mernagh 2 10.71 2838 2831 -7 Laura Webb 0 5.36 2847 2839 -8 Lisa O'Shea 2 0.00

Leona Maguire

World No 1 Leona Maguire showed her class when she fired a a six under 67 to lie just a stroke behind Sweden’s Elin Esborn after the first qualifying round in the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship at Portstewart.

Leona Maguire

The 20-year old Duke University and Slieve Russell star fed off her college team mate and playing partner Celine Boutier of France (69) as she made an eagle, five birdies and just one bogey on the tough Strand Course.

The round left Maguire in the clubhouse lead until 18-year old Esborn stormed to the turn in 32 with birdies at the first, second, fourth and seventh and then came home in 34 iwth an eagle three at the 14h and a birdie at the 17th for an immaculate 66.

"I think I've had a six-under par round at Portstewart before, in the Irish Close Championship, but the course which the LGU have us playing is not quite the same as we played then" said Leona. “I could have been even lower today because I had chances I didn't take. But I'll take a 67 at Portstewart any day!

"I always think of this course as being two different halves. Get it round the first nine in around par and you have a chance of getting a low score, because the second nine does not have as much potential trouble as before the turn."
 
The Cavan star was actually one-over par after seven holes, having gone through the green at the second, which cost her a bogey.

It was at the eighth that the Ballyconnell player’s round took off as she holed a 12 footer for birdie there and then picked up shots at four fo the next six holes.

She holed from eight feet at the ninth to turn in one under and then made the first of three in a row with a pitch and putt birdie four at the long 13th.

Leona then two-putted the long 14th for another birdie four and hit a nine-iron to three feet at the par-three 15th to go four under for the day.

She then capped off an impressive performance by reducing the 436-yard, par-five 17th to a drive and a nine-iron. 

“That hole was downwind and I was 50ft from the flagstick in two but managed to roll in the putt for an eagle three"
 
Leona’s clubhouse lead didn’t last ling as Esborn,18, knocked her off top spot near the close of play, hitting a career low, seven-under  66 in only her second tournament over a links course. 

Elisa Esborn

“I played in the Duke of York Young Champions tournament at Royal Aberdeen last year,” Esborn said. “That was a links course but I had never played links before and did not have much practice.

"So I didn't play well. Shot up in the 80s. But that was my fault not the links course, I really like links golf and with more preparation this time I have been able to score better."

Esborn’s bogey-free round was highlighted by an eagle three at the 447-yard 14th where she got home with a drive and a five-wood and sank a 20 foot putt.

She had got off to the best possible start thanks to birdies at the first two holes, sinking putts of around 15 feet at each. 

“That was good for my confidence and I pitched and putted for a birdie four at the long fourth and again at the seventh to get to four under par on the outward half,” she said.

Meet Team Italy at the #LGUAmateurChamps, @robiliti @lucrycr @biancafabrizio & @ludofari http://t.co/h9UUA4OVQu pic.twitter.com/ks09LJrkz9

— Ladies' Golf Union (@LadiesGolfUnion) June 9, 2015

In fact 32 was the lowest outward half and she continued her error-free golf after the turn.

After parring the four holes, she got her eagle at the 14th and her final birdie at the par-5 17th with a two-putt from just off the green.

"I am ranked No. 6 in Sweden at Under-21 and No. 2 at Under-18, and the No. 1 is not playing here! I’m delighted to have got my best ever score - and on a links course,” Elin added. "That makes it special! But there is a long way to go in this tournament.

 “The championship does not really start until the match-play but if I can keep playing like this …"

The scoring average was 76.47 on a mixed day for the Irish and with just 64 qualifying for the matchplay stages on Thursday, some have work to do.

Donaghadee’s Jessica Ross (71) is well place in joint 11th after her two under effort while Castletroy’s Chloe Ryan and Royal County Down Ladies’ Olivia Mehaffey are tied 32nd after one over 74s.

But the rest of the home brigade are outside the top 64 with Forrest Little’s Julie McCarthy, Sinead Sexton and Maria Dunne tied 74th after their 77s.

Lisa Maguire and Jessica Carty also need good round after 78s on day one.

Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, Portstewart GC (Par 73)

Hole-by-hole scores

66 Elin Esborn Sweden

67 Leona Maguire Slieve Russell

69 Olivia Cowan Germany, Sophie Keech Parkstone, Celine Boutier France, India Clyburn Woodhall Spa,

70 Joanna Charlton Australia, Linnea Johansson Sweden, Linnea Strom Sweden, Madelene Sagstrom Sweden

71 Heather Munro Monifieth, Jessica Ross Donaghadee, Jessica Bradley Tiverton

72 Leslie Cloots Belgium, Puk Thomsen Denmark, Luna Sobron Spain, Ellinor Haag Sweden, Linn Andersson Sweden, Natalia Escuriola Spain, Katie Mitchell USA, Kristen Gillman USA, Bethan Popel Long Ashton

73 Dewi Weber Netherlands, Jiwon Jeon Korea, Hannah McCook Grantown on Spey, Marion Veysseyre France, Sarah Nilsson Sweden, Camille Chevalier France, Harang Lee Spain, Dulcie Sverdloff Garons Park, Aditi Ashok India

74 Rachel Rossel Switzerland. Ines Lescudier France, Anna Appert Lund Sweden, Jessica Meek Carnoustie Ladies’, Gemma Clews Delamere Forest, Marta Martin Spain, Lianna Bailey Kirby Muxloe, Paula Grant Lisburn, Carlotta Ricolfi Italy, Doris Chen USA, Frida Kinhult Sweden, Chloe Ryan Castletroy, Olivia Mehaffey Royal County Down Ladies’

75 Katerina Vlasinova Czech Republic, Annabel Bailey Kirby Muxloe, Connie Jaffrey Troon Ladies’, Lea Zeitler Austria, Samantha Fuller Roehampton. Antonia-leonie Eberhard Germany, Inci Mehmet Royal Mid Surrey. Vanessa Knecht Switzerland, Emily Penttilä Finland. Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso Italy, Maddie Szeryk Canada. Jenny Haglund Sweden, Gioia Carpinelli Switzerland

76 Fatima Fernandez Spain, Samantha Giles St. Mellion, Nastja Banovec Slovenia, Alexandra Bonetti France, Amira Alexander Virgin Islands, U.S., Leonie Harm Germany, Camilla Hedberg Spain, Fiona Liddell Germany, Bronwyn Davies Wolstanton, Laura Fuenfstueck Germany, Elizabeth Tong Canada, Charlotte De Corte Belgium, Eva Gilly France, Nuria Iturrios Spain, Jennifer Ha Canada, Ellie Goodall Selby

77 Julienne Soo Australia, Julie McCarthy Forrest Little, Elizabeth Prior Burhill, Hannele Mikkola Finland, Cylia Damerau Switzerland, Marthe Wold Norway, Ludovica Farina Italy, Silvia Bañon Spain, Jennifer Sepers Netherlands, Gabrielle Macdonald Craigielaw, Agathe Sauzon France, Maria Dunne Skerries, Ileen Domela Nieuwenhuis Netherlands, Sinead Sexton Lahinch, Roberta Liti Italy, Chloe Goadby St Regulus, Celia Barquin Spain, Mathilda Cappeliez France

78 Alice Barnes West Sussex, Iona Stephen Wentworth, Clara Young North Berwick, Morgane Metraux Switzerland, Bianca Maria Fabrizio Italy, Lisa Maguire Slieve Russell, Emily Slater Woodhall Spa, Jessica Carty Holywood, Meghan MacLaren Wellingborough, Martina Edberg Sweden, Manon Gidali France, Brittany Marchand Canada, Kim Metraux Switzerland

79 Emma Henrikson Sweden, Mariell Bruun Norway, Cajsa Persson Sweden, Hadas Libman Israel, Sarah Schober Austria, Lauren Horsford Wimbledon Park

80 Emma Broze France, Zara Woodbridge Australia, Stina Resen Norway, Susana Vik Norway, Antonia Scherer Germany, Yu Eun Eunice Kim Australia, Cloe Frankish Charthills, Rachael Taylor Scotland 

81 Nadine Dreher Austria, Malene Krølbøll Denmark, Marie Lunackova Czech Republic, Ann-Kathrin Wandrey Germany

82 Soo Jin Lee Australia, Charlotte Austwick Fulford, Lauren Whyte St Regulus, Sophie Lamb Clitheroe, Lena Schaffner Germany, Olivia Winning Rotherham

83 Alexandria Celli USA, Franziska Friedrich Germany

84 Marit Harryvan Netherlands, Andrea Vilarasau Spain, Azelia Meichtry Switzerland

85 Laure Castelain France, Marlies Krenn Austria, Julia Engstrom Sweden, Jae Bowers Prestbury, Ines Fendt Austria

86 Ashley McCourt Australia

87 Antonia von Wnuck Germany.

Oughterard Golf Club

Tramore's John Mitchell has a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Connacht Seniors Open at Oughterard Golf Club.

Three over after three following a six at the second an da bogey at the third, he battled back to be two over with two to play but bogeyed the last two holes for a 74.

His four over par was still good enough for a the slimmest of leads over Richard Brooker (Skerries), Denis Deasy (Waterford), Neville Steedman (Balcarrick) and Garth McGimpsey (Bangor).

Connacht Seniors Open, Oughterard GC (Par 70)

SSS 70 and CSS 73 (R/O) Hole-by-holes scores

74 John Mitchell (Tramore)

75 Richard Brooker (Skerries), Denis Deasy (Waterford), Neville Steedman (Balcarrick), Garth McGimpsey (Bangor)

76 Michael Coote (Tralee), Maurice Kelly (Naas), Declan Corcoran (Thurles)

77 Bert Burke (Moate), Seamus Ward (Laytown & Bettystown), Mick Gaynor (Co. Meath), Richard McDowell (Royal Belfast), Liam Halpin (Westport), Tom Cleary (Cork), David Sheedy (Lahinch)
78 Billy Donlon (Birr), Brendan O'Malley (The Royal Dublin), Gerry O'Keeffe (Waterford), Michael F Galvin (Limerick)

79 John Cuffe (Monkstown), Ray Smith (Galway), Joe Crowley (Athy), Hugh Smyth (Mourne), Juan Fitzgerald (Limerick), Tony Hayes (Hermitage), John Carr (Oughterard), Martin Higgins (Claremorris)

80 Brendan McDonnell (K Club)

81 Kevin Sheehy (Athlone), Brian Whitaker (Elm Park), Jerry Gore (Oughterard), Rory Timlin (Galway), Paddy Harrington (Muskerry), Eamon Connolly (Blainroe), Kieran O'Mahony (Galway)

82 Patrick Griffin (Dooks), Ian Smyth (Clandeboye), Greg Young (Lahinch), Dave Roberts (Rathcore)

83 Francis Jules (), Jim McVeigh (Carlow), Des Egan (Loughrea), Dan Murphy (Youghal), Frank Leonard (Knightsbrook), Albert Hogg (Carrick-on-Shannon), John Houlihan (Dooks), Dermot Morris (Limerick), Michael Darcy (Oughterard)

84 Alistair Campbell (Massereene), Norman Farrell (Athenry), John Hynes (Oughterard), Paul Cooley (Portstewart)

85 Shane O'Mahony (Galway), Sean Moyna (Rossmore)

86 Pat Lynch (Slade Valley), Michael Foley (Faithlegg), Larry Cushen (The Heath), Terry Lilly (Slade Valley)

87 Greg Murphy (K Club), Rory Fitzgerald (Tramore), Tom Campion (Athlone), Nigel Woods (Bangor), Philip Fulham (Glenlo Abbey), Peter O'Flanagan (Woodbrook)

88 Val Smyth (Co. Louth), Kevin Raftery (Forrest Little), William J O’Brien (Ballykisteen), Michael Heaney (Oughterard), Keith Lapsley (Dunfanaghy), PJ Phelan (Cahir Park), Joseph Dowey (Lurgan)

89 Tadg Mannion (Athlone), John McCann (Co. Louth), James Malone ()

90 Sean McNamara (Killorglin), Pat Egan (Oughterard), Pat McEvilly (Oughterard)

91 Patrick O'Brien (Forrest Little), David Lindsay (Strandhill)

92 Ken Newens (Castlerock)

93 Gar Golden (Westport)

96 William Leggett (Island)

99 Joe Carney (Athlone)

101 Arthur Bell (Greencastle)

RTD Gerard O'Kennedy (Athlone), Niall Finnegan (Gort), Adrian Wynne (Strandhill), Lorcan Cribbin (Ballaghaderreen)

Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene GC), winner off the 2015 North of Ireland Amateur Strokeplay  with Valerie Penney (Specsavers Ballymena) and Galgorm Castle Golf Club Captain Keith Dinsmore.

Massereene's Tiarnan McLarnon claimed a three-shot win in the Specsavers sponsored North of Ireland Amateur Open Strokeplay and a place in the field for the Challenge Tour's Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle in August.

The plus two handicapper opened with a four under 68 around the pristine Ballymena venue in the morning to take a one-shot lead over Northwest's Kealan Quigg, Moyola Park's Damien McCusker and Galgorm Castle's Michael Reid. 

He followed up with three under 69 after lunch to win by three on seven under par from Quigg and Reid who added 71s to their first rounds 69s to finish on 140.

Looking forward to making his European Challenge Tour debut from August 6-9, McLarnon said: “I played really solid today and enjoyed the course. It was in superb condition as always and I putted great on the greens.

"I’m delighted to get the victory and can’t wait to play in the NI Open here at Galgorm in front of the big crowds in August”.

McLarnon bogeyed the par-5 third in round two but steadied the ship with birdies on the seventh and ninth to turn in one-under.

A birdie four on the 10th was cancelled out by a three-putt bogey on the 12th, but birdies on the 13th and 15th, followed by three solid pars to finish, secured a three-shot victory.

The NI Open has captured the imagination in recent years with record crowds attending Galgorm Castle to see the likes of Michael Hoey, Tournament Ambassador and five-time European Tour winner, and other household names in action. 

“We are fortunate the NI Open holds a key date on the international schedule and will be looking to attract the game’s top players to Ballymena at the start of August for what promises to be another festival of tournament golf right here in Northern Ireland”, explained Gary Henry, Managing Director Galgorm Castle Estates and NI Open Tournament Director.   

The Northern Ireland Open, in association with SPHERE Global and Ulster Bank takes place at Galgorm Castle Golf Club from August 6-9.

Entry is free but the general public must register online at www.niopen.co.uk to get their free tickets. 

Further information on the NI Open can be found at: www.niopen.co.uk

Mount Juliet (above) and Mount Wolseley, the venue for the Irish Challenge, are owned by Tetrarch Capital

Like the 46A bus to Dun Laoghaire, which would take an age to come and then arrive with another stuck to its exhaust pipe, there are signs that things are about to start moving apace in Irish golf.

At least, that’s what we sense from yesterday’s official confirmation that Tetrarch Capital’s Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort in Carlow will host first European Challenge Tour event in the Republic of Ireland six years from October 8–11.

Thanks to the owners of Mount Wolseley, and more importantly Mount Juliet in Co Kilkenny, the efforts of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland and the Irish Sports Council have borne fruit and the “Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort” will be staged at the Christy O’Connor Jnr designed venue for the next three years.

As Michael McElligott, Chief Executive of Tetrarch Capital, said: “We also look forward to working closely with the Challenge Tour through our hosting of this very exciting tournament again in 2016 and 2017.”

Mount Wolseley

Hosting Challenge Tour events is a precursor to bigger things and it’s no secret that Tetrarch Capital is investing well in excess of €10 million in bringing Mount Juliet back up to scratch with a new members’ clubhouse, new maintenance equipment and buggies.

The presence of Paul McGinley’s right hand man David Brookes on the board of the club is a clear message of intent. And the investment there is also a clear sign that after the economic collapse of 2008—9, Ireland is slowly recovering.

Nobody bankrolls a Challenge Tour event without one eye on a bigger picture and With The K Club in the driving seat when it comes to hosting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open next year and with the event going to Lough Erne in Fermanagh in 2017, Tetrarch Captial’s support for an annual €180,000 event at Mount Wolseley puts it at the top of the queue to host an Irish Open sooner rather than later.

For now, Mount Juliet are playing their cards close to their chest but when asked about potential Irish Open interest, the reply smacked of classic Jim Hacker in "Yes, Minister."

“We are investing heavily in upgrading the Hunters Yard complex and golf facilities to support the superb Jack Nicklaus designed course at Mount Juliet," a Tetrarch spokesman said in a statement."We have no plans for hosting a flagship golf event at Mount Juliet as our focus is entirely on the redevelopment, but if such an opportunity presented itself in the medium to long term, we may consider it.”

Another view of magnificent Mount Juliet

The 2018 Irish Open appears an obvious objective and the push to revitalise the Challenge Tour south of border is certainly hugely important for the future of Irish professional golf when it comes to nurturing young talent.

Thanks to the impetus of the club and local business, The Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle near Ballymena has become one of the highlights of the Challenge Tour schedule.

But in order for our young players to receive a useful number of tournament invitations, it was crucial that the Republic of Ireland based Challenge Tour event was revived following the demise of the Challenge of Ireland after the 2009 staging at Moyvalley in Co Kildare.

Hosting a Challenge Tour events guarantees players from that country reciprocal invitations in Challenge Tour events around the country and with the likes of Paul Dunne and Gavin Moynihan certain to turn professional in time for the Mount Wolseley tournament, the timing is perfect.

The Challenge Tour mention several other top amateurs in the press release, which is an indication that potential Walker Cup players Jack Hume, Gary Hurley and Cormac Sharvin are also contemplating a move into the pro ranks to join up and coming talent like Derry’s Ruaidhri McGee and Lurgan’s Gareth Shaw as well as Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge, who has finished in the top 20 in his first two starts since turning professional at the end of May.

The position of the Irish Challenge on the Challenge Tour schedule — it’s four events before the season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Oman — guarantees a top field at Mount Wolseley, which hosted a PGA Europro tournament last August, The Walk in My Shoes Open, which had a prize fund of just €54,000.

Redmond O’Donoghue, Chairman of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI), put the importance of the event to our young players into perspective explaining that it "will provide Team Ireland players with vital tournament exposure and opportunities to gain full playing rights on the Challenge and European Tours.

“Securing Tour starts for up and coming professional golfers is a crucial cog in the CGI’s High Performance Programme, which aims to build on the excellent High Performance Programmes for amateur players administered by the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union.”

It’s also good if you want to get into bed with the European Tour.

Paul Dunne and Gary Hurley on the winning St Andrews Trophy team last year

Ireland could have six on Walker Cup team says Dunne

Greystones’ Paul Dunne believes Ireland can realistically hope to get six players on the 10-man Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup side to face the Americans at Royal Lytham and St Annes in September.

Dunne is a leading candidate having finished an impressive fifth in the individual strokeplay event in the NCAA Division 1 Championship in Florida last week.

But he sees no reason why a handful of his Irish team mates can’t make the side too and given their form in recent months, captain Nigel Edwards could have the biggest Irish contingent in the history of the matches with Gavin Moynihan and Gary Hurley looking certain, Cormac Sharvin contending every week and Jack Hume and Dermot McElroy high up in the Welshman’s estimation.

“I think it is is a pretty realistic goal for all of us,” Dunne said before jetting home from the US for the last time after graduating from the University of Alabama Birmingham. “Obviously I think we all want to make it and we are all focussing on playing well to make the team. 

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

Dunne says he’s turning pro and heading for Q-School, whatever the Walker Cup selectors decide. 

Given that the current Irish team is the most talented since Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry’s 2007 outfit, the future looks bright for all of them.

World Amateur No 1 Leona Maguire will be in Portstewart

Best of British

Stephanie Meadow ended a 27-year wait for an Irish win she captured the Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship at Carnoustie  in 2012.

She was the first Irish winner since Lilian Behan won at Ganton in 1985 but given the talent in Ireland these days, we’re due another win when the championship takes place at Portstewart this week.

While May Hezlet, three times and Rhona Adair, twice, capture five titles between 1899 and 1907, Ireland had to wait 44 years for another win when Catherine (Kitty) MacCann (nee Smye) beat Frances Stephens 4 and 3 at Broadstone in the 1951 final.

While the great Philomena Garvey won at Gleneagles in 1957 and reached the 1960 and 1963 finals, an Irish golfer would not win again until Maureen Madill won at Nairn in 1979 and was succeeded in 1985 by the great Behan.

Now, Irish hopes are high again with the championship taking place over the 6,262 yard Strand Course at Portstewart and an 11-strong entry headed by world No 1 and 2015 ANNIKA Award winner Leona Maguire from Slieve Russell and Royal County Down Ladies’ Olivia Mehaffey.

Leona was instrumental in Duke University’s run to the semi-finals of the NCAA Championship last month while Mehaffey won three individual titles in a row — the Irish Girls, Scottish Ladies and the Welsh Ladies titles in successive weeks

Both were named in the GB&I Vagliano Team to face the continent of Europe at Malone Golf Club later this month and they will be keen to show why they are feared competitors.

Huge Irish contingent for British Amateur

When Padraig Harrington won The Open at Carnoustie in 2007 and became the first Irishman to win lift the Claret Jug in triumph for 60 years, he was watched by an 18-year old Rory McIlroy clutching the silver medal.

Fast forward eight years and a host of young Irish players who were in short trousers that summer will be hoping to achieve Ireland’s 10th success in next week’s British Amateur Championship at Carnoustie and Panmure.

Just seven Irish golfers have won the title that gives the champion a place in the Masters, the Open and the US Open — Joe Carr (three times, 1953-58-60), Jimmy Bruen (1946), Sam McCready (1949), Garth McGimpsey (1985), Michael Hoey (2001), Brian McElhinney (2005) and Alan Dunbar (2012).

But this year we will have no fewer than 19 men in the field and several of them have a serious chance of success: 

Sean Flanagan (Co Sligo), Daniel Holland (Castle), Paul Dunne (Greystones), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore), Gavin Moynihan (The Island), Robin Dawson (Faithlegg), Alex Gleeson (Castle), Jack Hume (Naas), Paul McBride (The Island), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park), Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock), Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Kevin LeBlanc (The Island), Conor O’Rourke (Naas), Alexander Wilson (Portmarnock), Dermot McElroy (Ballymena), Richard Bridges (Stackstown) and John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead).

Everyone will have their favourites but Galbraith, the reigning Irish Amateur Close champion who finished a fine third in the St Andrews Links Trophy on Sunday, could be a dark horse to watch. 

Strangely, there will be no challenge from West Waterford’s Gary Hurley, who accepted the invitation to represent Europe in the clashing Palmer Cup match with the US at Rich Harvest Farms, west of Chicago.

Chambers Bay

There were no fairytales for the Irish in last night’s US Open Sectional Qualifiers as both Longford teenager John Igoe and Ballymena’s Chris Devlin withdrew without completing 36 holes and failed to make it to Chambers Bay.

Igoe, a 19-year old two handicap amateur from Killoe, opened with an 82 at the Bears Club in Florida but opted not to return a card in round two after playing his front nine in six over at a venue where Andrew Pope, Luke Donald and amateurs Jack Maguire and Sam Horsfield took the four qualifying places.

Devlin, who qualified for Torrey Pines in 2008, was tied for 100th place on 12 over par at Brookside Golf and Country Club and Lakes Golf and Country Club in Ohio when play was suspended due to dangerous weather conditions.

In the end, 17 progressed there but Devlin was already out of the running after an opening 81 on the Brookside Course and he also withdrew.

The qualifiers were:

T1 Putnam, Michael University Place, Wash. -8 F -12 68 B 64 L 132
T1 Saunders, Samuel Fort Collins, Colo. -6 F -12 66 B 66 L 132
T3 Hearn, David Canada -7 F -11 68 B 65 L 133
T3 Dechambeau, Bryson (a) Clovis, Calif. -5 F -11 66 L 67 B 133
T5 Cappelen, Sebastian Denmark -8 F -9 71 B 64 L 135
T5 Summerhays, Daniel Fruit Heights, Utah -4 F -9 67 B 68 L 135
T7 McNeill, George Fort Myers, Fla. -6 F -8 70 L 66 B 136
T7 Ishikawa, Ryo Japan -5 F -8 69 B 67 L 136
T7 Fritsch, Brad Holly Springs, N.C. -5 F -8 69 L 67 B 136
T7 Smith, Cameron Australia -5 F -8 69 L 67 B 136
T7 Van Pelt, Bo Jenks, Okla. -1 F -8 65 L 71 B 136
T7 Villegas, Camilo Colombia Even F -8 64 L 72 B 136
T13 Points, D.A. Windermere, Fla. -5 F -7 70 B 67 L 137
T13 Streb, Robert Shawnee, Kan. -4 F -7 69 L 68 B 137
T13 Cejka, Alex Las Vegas, Nev. -3 F -7 68 L 69 B 137
T13 Chappell, Kevin Scottsdale, Ariz. -3 F -7 68 B 69 L 137
T13 Lee, Danny Irving, Texas -2 F -7 67 L 70 B 137

Players battled at 10 Sectional Qualifying sites across the US for the chance to join defending champion Martin Kaymer and Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke at Chambers Bay in Washington on Thursday week.

Click here for the results and stories from each venue.

Pádraig Harrington must win this week’s FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis to be sure of joining the other Irish in Washington next week.

Harrington is 91st in the world and said at the Irish Open that he'd likely need 25 world ranking points to make it into the top 60 on Sunday and secure a place at Chambers Bay. 

“I’ll be there trying to put in a big performance," he said at Royal County Down. “It’s a big ask to go out and win on demand for sure but we will have to give it a go. I like the event and I have contended for it once before.”

Harrington is joined in Memphis by 2010 US Open champ McDowell as McIlroy and Lowry make early trips to Chambers Bay.

On the European Tour, the action has moved to Austria for the Lyoness Open at the Diamond Country Club where Michael Hoey, Damien McGrane, Gareth Maybin, Kevin Phelan, Simon Thornton and Peter Lawrie tee it up.

Meanwhile the European Challenge Tour will return to the Republic of Ireland for the first time in six years with theIrish Challenge at Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort from October 8-11.

Tetrarch Capital, the new owners of Mount Wolseley (and Mount Juliet) have committed to hosting the event in 2016 and 2017 after signing a three-year deal.

The Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) and the Irish Sports Council have also come on board as partners for the event.

The Irish Challenge will be the fourth last event of the season on the Challenge Tour, as the race for the top 15 in the Challenge Tour’s Road to Oman Rankings nears its climax.

The last time a Challenge Tour event took place in the Republic of Ireland was in 2009 at Moyvalley GC, a tournament won by England’s, Robert Coles. Derryman Ruaidhri McGee is currently inside the top 10 in the Road to Oman.

Colm Moriarty

Colm Moriarty carded a four under par round of 68 to win the Dr William Flynn Memorial Pro-Am at Shannon on Monday.

The winner of last year's PGA Ulster Championship, produced a bogey free round of golf to beat David Ryan, Damien McGrane and Liam Bowler by two shots.

The 35-year-old went to the turn in three under 35 with birdies at the third, fifth and eighth.

He continued his smooth progess after the turn, carding eight pars and a birdie at the par four 15th.

Damien McGrane and his team of amateurs claimed the pro-am prize with a fine score of 92 points.

Dr William Flynn Memorial Pro-Am

Sponsored by Taylor Made

at Shannon Golf Club (Par 72)

Detailed scores

1 C Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance Ltd) 68

T 2 D Ryan (Cahir Park GC); D McGrane; L Bowler (Wexford GC) 70

T 5 E Brady (Clontarf GC); N Murray (Massereene GC); C Molloy (Blackwood GC); M McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown) 71

T 9 J Bolger (Kilkenny GC); D Higgins (Waterville GC); N O'Briain (Old Conna GC); D Sugrue (Killarney Golf & Fishing Club) 72

Be careful where you park in St Pölten

Who says tour life is glamorous? Not Newlands' Cian Curley, that's for sure. And certainly nobody who's ever played on a satellite circuit like the EPD Tour.

As Lucan's Richard O'Donovan closed with a three under 68 to finish tied 14th and head the Irish challenge in the EPD Tour's St Pölten Pro Golf Tour event in Austria, Curley shot a 70 to share 28th and earn €352. So far so good, even if that didn't come close to covering his costs.

Scores

He's playing on the Challenge Tour in Belgium this week and should have been heading there in good form. However, his hire car was towed in St Pölten and it cost him €250 to get it released.

72 70 70 for T28th. Could of been right up there with a little sharpness but progress made. Onto Belgium tonight for CT. Miss @caitikeegan

Chris Devlin

The first and only time Chris Devlin played in the US Open was the last time Tiger Woods won a major — at Torrey Pines in 2008.

The Ballymena man, 40, was a frustrated alternate at the Olympic Club in 2013 but he's now on the cusp of glory again as he is one of 120 players teeing it up in the 36-hole US Open Sectional Qualifier at Brookside Golf & Country Club & Lakes Golf & Country Club in Ohio today.

It's one of 10 Sectional Qualifying sites offering a varied number of spots in the US Open at Chambers Bay in a fortnight.

Devlin's venue is likely to have a large number of spots as it's the nearest to last week's PGA Tour stop at Muirfield Village, the venue for the Memorial Tournament.

But the competition will also be fierce with Robert Allenby, Ricky Barnes, Alex Cejka, K.J. Choi, Stewart Cink, Tim Clark, Ben Curtis, NCAA winner Bryson DeChambeau, Davis Love III, Billy Mayfair, Patrick Rodgers, Rory Sabbatini, Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker, Justin Thomas, Nicholas Thompson, Camilo Villegas, Nick Watney and Mike Weir also chasing a spot.

Longford teenager John Igoe, 19, is also going for his US Open dream having secured a place in the Sectional Qualifier at the Bears Club in Florida.

Luke Donald, Chris DiMarco and former Ryder Cup player Brett Wetterich are the big names in the 70 man field and as he told the Longford Leader, it's a dream come true for two-handicapper Igoe, who could not get a spot in the West of Ireland Championship at Easter.

"This time last year John was preparing to sit his Leaving Certificate at Moyne Community School and when the exams finished he jetted off to Bethpage State Park golf courses in New York, where his cousin Colin is head caddy.John explained, “I spent the Summer caddying on the Black Course at Bethpage where the US Open was held in 2002 and 2009. Colin and I played a lot of golf during my days off on the Red Course and I happened to do well and I enjoyed it.“As it turned out last week’s event was on the Red Course.”John shot a two-under-par 65 - on a course that was reduced to 17 holes - securing the sixth qualifying slot of the seven available from the field of 112 competitors.“I’ve got to do ten times more practising than I’d normally do ahead of Florida and I’m going to give it everything. I’m not going to put any extra pressure on myself by tempting fate and saying ‘what if I make to the US Open?’”John returned from the US on Monday (he flew out on Friday, May 8), and determined to achieve his goal and to improve his game, he went for some practice at Longford Golf Club.He admitted to being “annoyed” he could not gain automatic entry into the West of Ireland Championship as his handicap fell outside the cut-off limit of 0.2.He has played for Connacht in the Boys Inter-provincial series.US Open qualifying attracts 10,000 golfers and John revealed that he sat down with his Mam and Dad to discuss it before “deciding to give it a go” and going online to complete his $175 entry form.He stayed with his uncle David Farrell, who lives 20 minutes from Bethpage, and while in the US he met with his former coach Davy Byrne, who is friendly with his current coach Mel Flanagan.“There was a lot of travelling. It has been a crazy 10 days but well worth it,” enthused John.He isn’t altogether sure whether the next stage of qualification on June 8 will be in Florida, as there are also events at New York and Ohio. “Fingers crossed it will be Florida. That’s what I’m hoping for anyway because I’ve already got the flights booked!”The US Open, whose roll of honour features Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, takes place at Chambers Bay near Seattle, Washington from June 18-21.John began playing golf in 2009. He revealed, “I played a bit of underage hurling and I had good hand eye coordination, so I gave golf a go.” He also played gaelic football with Killoe Emmet Og and credits his parents for their support. “Mam looks after the booking of my flights and Dad drives me around. They are great.”John says he has been inundated with messages of congratulations.“It is a great feeling. I have never experienced anything like it before.”John’s coach, Mel Flanagan, has described him as a great ball-striker with a very good temperament.“It’s a fantastic achievement to get this far, and there’s more to come,” while Longford Club Professional Pete Duignan said John was “a nice, quiet and unassuming character,” and wished him every success in his bid to reach the US Open.

Seamus Power

Web.com Tour — West Waterford's Seamus Power closed with a four under 68 to share 14th in the Greater Dallas Open.

Power finish on 15 under par at The Lakes at Castle Hills in Lewisville, Texas, eight behind Tyler Aldridge (68).

Power was 87th in the money list starting the week but earned $8,250 to move 13 places to 74th in "The 25" who will win PGA Tour cards for 2015-6.

EPD Tour - O'Donovan shines

Reeve Whitson (73) slipped back but Lucan's Richard O'Donovan fired a six under 65 to join the Co Down man in a share of 15th in the St Pölten Pro Golf Tour 2015 in Austria.

The former amateur internationals are tied 15th on three under, nine shots behind Dutchman Rainer Saxton who shot a second successive 65 to lead by two strokes on 12 under. 

Dubliner Cian Curley (70) and Headfort's Rory McNamara (67) made the cut with a shot to spare on one under. 

• T15 WHITSON, Reeve -3 F +2 66 73 139
• T15 O’DONOVAN, Richard -3 F -6 74 65 139    
• T35 CURLEY, Cian Par F -1 72 70 142
• T35 MCNAMARA, Rory Par F -4 75 67 142

PGA Tour — Lingmerth outlasts Rose in playoff

Sweden's David Lingmerth outlasted Justin Rose in a three-hole playoff to win his maiden PGA Tour title at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide.

The 27 year old didn't make worse that par over his last 11 holes, closed with a 69 to finish in 15 under par at Muirfield Village.

He was matched by overnight leader Justin Rose, who overcame a socket from a bunker on the 18th hole in regulation before hitting a 55-yard pitch out of deep rough to three feet to save par for an even-par 72 to force the playoff.

On the 18th in the playoff, Rose holed a 20-footer for par but Lingmerth calmly sank a 10-foot putt to stay alive and got ip and down from a bunker on the 18th at the second extra hole to keep things going.

It all ended on the 10th hole where Rose drove into deep rough, hit an attempted cut with a fairway metal into the gallery, chipped 18 feet by the hole and missed his par putt as Lingmerth two-putted from 45 feet for the win.

"I can't believe it," the 27-year-old Swede told TV reporter Peter Kostis. "I'm so happy right now I don't know where to go."

As AP's Dough Ferguson wrote:

"He'll be going to the Masters next year for the first time -- but not the U.S. Open in two weeks. Lingmerth moves to No. 71 in the world and still has to qualify Monday. It was the longest playoff in 40 years of the Memorial, and it could have ended much earlier -- or been avoided -- if not for so many clutch moments."

Tiger Woods played as a single in the first match out and shot a 74 to finish 71st and last on 14 over par, eight shots worse that the players in second last.

Daniel Im. Picture: Emanuel Stotzer

With two Challenge Tour events to come on Irish soil — August’s Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle and the re-establish “Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Golf Club” in October — Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge believes he will have chances to win his way on to the European Tour.

The 23-year old from Castledawson has played just two Challenge Tour events as a professional but after finishing tied 17th on his debut in the Czech Republic last week and tied 13th in Switzerland on Sunday, he’s confident he can make the leap into the big time.

Tied third overnight, Selfridge’s hopes of victory in the Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf evaporated when he triple bogeyed the par-three third and bogeyed the fifth.

But he came back to post a one over 72 as birdies at the 12th, 17th and 18th that left him five shots out of a playoff in a share of 13th. 

Initially disappointed, he soon saw the silver lining.

“It was good day,” Selfridge said, who earned €2,720 to jump to 74th in the Challenge Tour’s “Road to Oman” rankings. “It was another great learning experience in front of big crowds.”

Not the round of golf I wanted but happy with my finish. #nevergiveup

— Chris Selfridge (@selfridgec595) June 7, 2015

Needing a Top-15 Order of Merit finish to earn his European Tour card though the Challenge Tour rankings, Selfridge feels good about his decision to turn professional straight out of college.

“I hit a bad shot on the Par-3… then a bad chip and made a bad three-putt,” he added with humour. “I wouldn’t have turned professional, if I didn’t believe I was read. And I believe I can win out here and get my European Tour card for 2016.”

A six-time winner as an amateur — he won two Norths, the Irish Close and the East in Ireland and twice at college in Toledo, Ohio — Selfridge is a player who thrives on confidence.

He has next week off but will then play the next three events in France, Scotland and Germany and head into July hoping to build up steam for the Northern Ireland Challenge.

He will also have a chance to excel on home soil in the €180,000 “Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Golf Club” from October 8-11, an event that has been revived after much hard work behind the scenes to bring the second tier circuit back to the Republic of Ireland for the first time since 2009.

The GUI, the CGI and third parties have all been involved in securing an event that will result in more tournament invitations elsewhere for bidding Irish players.

With several of our Walker Cup prospects planning to turn professional — Paul Dunne and Gavin Moynihan spring to mind — it’s an ideal event for them to get started.

As for Swiss Challenge, American Daniel Im claimed his maiden European Challenge Tour title in swashbuckling style when he birdied the first play-off hole to beat England’s Gary Boyd.

In a dramatic final day at a sun-drenched Golf Sempachersee, the lead exchanged hands numerous times throughout the afternoon but in the end it came down to two.

Both Im and Boyd came agonisingly close to sealing outright victory in regular play with makeable birdie chances at the last hole, but the former’s six under 65 and the latter’s three under 68 meant they were deadlocked on 11 under par.

Michael McGeady (73) finished tied 37th on two under with Gareth Shaw (76) tied 53rd on one over.

Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf, Golf Sempachersee (Par 71), Lucerne

273 D Im (USA) 74 66 68 65, G Boyd (Eng) 66 70 69 68, 

274 D Foos (Ger) 70 71 67 66, 

275 S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 72 69 70 64, S Tiley (Eng) 69 68 70 68, O Stark (Swe) 67 70 70 68, J Heath (Eng) 69 70 67 69, 

276 A Ahokas (Fin) 67 71 69 69, R Enoch (Wal) 71 67 68 70, 

277 O Bekker (RSA) 67 66 70 74, R Gouveia (Por) 68 70 70 69, D Frittelli (RSA) 74 67 67 69, 

278 D Palm (Swe) 68 71 68 71, Chris Selfridge (Nir) 71 70 65 72, N Geyger (Chi) 71 68 70 69, J Harrison (Eng) 71 71 69 67, J Doherty (Sco) 67 67 72 72, 

279 S Hodgson (Eng) 69 71 71 68, H Porteous (RSA) 67 69 71 72, J Hansen (Den) 72 67 67 73, T Tree (Eng) 71 67 75 66, N Quintarelli (Ita) 68 73 71 67, A Bruschi (Ita) 69 69 72 69, 

280 J McLeary (Sco) 71 72 69 68, B Rusch (Sui) 75 68 69 68, J Girrbach (Sui) 69 69 73 69, G Drakeford (Aus) 70 72 69 69, S Heisele (Ger) 72 71 70 67, T Remkes (Ned) 72 69 68 71, S Arnold (Aus) 71 68 72 69, 

281 L Claverie (Esp) 70 72 68 71, C Arendell (USA) 71 69 71 70, A Saddier (Fra) 70 71 68 72, M Delpodio (Ita) 71 70 69 71, B Parker (Eng) 68 72 67 74, B Paolini (USA) 70 71 68 72, 

282 S Brown (Eng) 67 73 69 73, F Praegant (Aut) 73 70 68 71, Michael McGeady (Irl) 72 70 67 73, J Senior (Eng) 66 70 72 74, G Murray (Sco) 71 70 72 69, 

283 T Gornik (Slo) 69 72 71 71, B Hemstock (Eng) 68 70 75 70, M Orrin (Eng) 73 68 72 70, A Gee (Eng) 70 69 75 69, J Kunzenbacher (Ger) 67 74 74 68, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 72 69 70 72, 

284 R De Sousa (Sui) 68 75 70 71, F Calmels (Fra) 70 70 73 71, C Mivis (Bel) 72 69 74 69, E Di Nitto (Ita) 72 69 69 74, J Blaauw (RSA) 72 71 66 75, 

285 V Riu (Fra) 69 73 72 71, Gareth Shaw (Nir) 71 70 68 76, M Wiegele (Aut) 69 73 71 72, L Gagli (Ita) 69 72 72 72, S Manley (Wal) 70 70 75 70, 

286 R Kellett (Sco) 71 68 73 74, M Trappel (Aut) 73 69 72 72, 

287 J Guerrier (Fra) 72 70 67 78, 

288 R Russell (Sco) 70 71 71 76, 

289 K Benz (Sui) 70 71 74 74, M Pospisil (am) (Cze) 71 71 73 74, 

291 D Ulrich (Sui) 73 70 74 74, 

293 L Corfield (Eng) 71 72 73 77, 

297 P Figueiredo (Por) 71 72 83 71, 

298 L Nemecz (Aut) 72 71 81 74

Alexander Noren. Picture © Getty Images

Peter Lawrie added a meagre €4,050 to his tally as he bids to regain his card as Sweden’s Alex Noren ended his four-year victory drought in the Nordea Masters.

As Lawrie closed with a  75 left him tied 131st in the Race to Dubai and some €35,000 outside the top 110 who will get their cards, Noren thrilled the huge home crowds by cruising to victory with a one over 71 that earned him €250,000

The 32-year old, who won this event by eight shots in 2011 and it was a fitting venue for his comeback victory on a day when Michael Hoey (75) and Gareth Maybin (73), shared 70th on five over to pick up €2,617 each.

Noren began the day with a two stroke lead and steadily plotted his way to his fourth European Tour title, starting birdie-bogey and then reeling off 15 consecutive pars before birdieing the last for a 12 under par total.

That was four shots ahead of Dubai Duty Free Irish Open winner Søren Kjeldsen (71), who completed a superb fortnight having won last week at Royal County Down, and six clear of Germany’s Max Kieffer (75), Swedes Jens Dantorp and Sebastian Soderberg (both 74) and Frenchman Alex Levy (71).

In testing conditions on the final day at PGA Sweden National in Malmö, the expected charge of Henrik Stenson never materialised, the World No 4 signing off with a 74 for a share of 13th place.

“I’m so pleased,” Noren said. "Now I can relax a bit because it was probably the toughest weekend in terms of wind I’ve ever felt. When you’re in the lead you can think a lot, and it was very tough. 

"I’ve had a few good tournaments but I haven’t played well on the last day. When I’ve had a chance – like at Wentworth, I had a small chance – I’ve had a slow round. I kept my poise and my caddie really helped calm me down.

“The win in 2011 Nordea Masters was very thrilling; this one is very pleasing. I wasn’t too confident coming into this week because I’ve had a tough time in the wind lately and here you really have to hit the right shots to get around. I got better as the week went on. You have to enjoy the good days in this game because you have plenty of bad ones.”

Kjeldsen was unsure how much he had in the tank after last week but he was determined to play well at home.

“My caddie Alistair helped a lot and on Tuesday lunchtime we said it’s time to get back to work,” Kjeldsen said. “I’ve done that and mentally I felt very good. 

"Today was especially pleasing because I learned a lesson last week about looking at leaderboards. I never looked at one today and it helped me a lot. 

"I felt very calm all day, even on the last few holes. It was by far the toughest day today. Alex is an incredible player and I’m very pleased for him winning in his home country.”

Max Kieffer came up short again with a 75 but said: “It has been a great week. 

"Obviously I’m a bit disappointed because when you’re in contention on the final day, you want to win it. But it’s another experience I can learn from. It was very tough again.

"I felt very good this morning and I hit some really nice shots on the first couple of holes. Then on the fourth I hit a spectator on the head and I struggled to handle that to be honest. 

"I three-putted the next hole and made double bogey which was one of the easiest holes today. It was tough to come back from that but I hung in there. And I heard the guy is okay so that’s the main thing.”

Nordea Masters, Final

276 A Noren (Swe) 70 68 67 71, 

280 S Kjeldsen (Den) 72 69 68 71, 

282 J Dantorp (Swe) 67 68 73 74, M Kieffer (Ger) 68 69 70 75, S Soderberg (Swe) 68 69 71 74, A Levy (Fra) 69 70 72 71, 

283 F Zanotti (Par) 70 74 73 66, T Murray (Eng) 74 68 70 71, B Ritthammer (Ger) 69 75 69 70, N Colsaerts (Bel) 73 71 68 71, L Slattery (Eng) 68 73 72 70, J Blixt (Swe) 74 68 71 70, 

284 C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 73 69 73, H Stenson (Swe) 70 72 68 74, D Fichardt (RSA) 70 70 73 71, P Hanson (Swe) 71 71 70 72, C Paisley (Eng) 67 73 71 73, K Broberg (Swe) 70 70 70 74, A Cañizares (Esp) 70 71 71 72, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 72 69 70 73, 

285 T Bjørn (Den) 71 72 74 68, B Dredge (Wal) 72 72 72 69, E Grillo (Arg) 72 70 71 72, 

286 D Gaunt (Eng) 74 69 72 71, J Morrison (Eng) 71 71 72 72, B Hebert (Fra) 68 72 73 73, S Gallacher (Sco) 71 71 71 73, T Pieters (Bel) 68 74 72 72, A Quiros (Esp) 75 66 72 73, G Havret (Fra) 72 71 69 74, M Nixon (Eng) 73 70 70 73, J Hahn (USA) 69 73 71 73, 

287 S Hend (Aus) 74 69 71 73, M Carlsson (Swe) 68 71 75 73, T Lewis (Eng) 68 70 75 74, R Gonzalez (Arg) 74 68 74 71, S Benson (Eng) 73 71 71 72, H Otto (RSA) 69 70 76 72, J Campillo (Esp) 74 70 70 73, L Bjerregaard (Den) 71 70 72 74, S Forsstrom (Swe) 70 72 70 75, M Kinhult (am) (Swe) 67 68 77 75, 

288 J Rask (Swe) 74 69 75 70, R Karlberg (Swe) 71 73 72 72, P Larrazábal (Esp) 71 72 72 73, S Hansen (Den) 71 72 72 73, E Pepperell (Eng) 70 68 75 75, A McArthur (Sco) 71 69 73 75, O Farr (Wal) 70 70 75 73, 

289 B Hellgren (Swe) 70 70 77 72, S Jeppesen (Swe) 72 68 70 79, O Fisher (Eng) 69 75 70 75, S Henry (Sco) 69 71 71 78, J Parry (Eng) 71 72 69 77, 

290 F Fritsch (Ger) 70 74 71 75, A Tadini (Ita) 69 72 73 76, A Otaegui (Esp) 68 72 72 78, N Fasth (Swe) 72 71 73 74, J Edfors (Swe) 71 73 72 74, 

291 Peter Lawrie (Irl) 69 71 76 75, S Wakefield (Eng) 69 75 71 76, P Oriol (Esp) 68 73 78 72, R Kakko (Fin) 72 70 72 77, D Woltman (USA) 70 69 75 77, O Bergqvist (am) (Swe) 74 69 75 73, 

292 T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 73 69 74 76, M Lundberg (Swe) 73 71 74 74, N Lemke (Swe) 74 68 76 74, J Roos (RSA) 71 70 74 77, 

293 A Velasco (Esp) 70 69 80 74, R Dinwiddie (Eng) 73 69 74 77, Gareth Maybin (Nir) 72 71 77 73, Michael Hoey (Nir) 74 68 76 75, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 72 69 78 74, 

294 J Barnes (Eng) 75 69 77 73, 

295 J Singh (Ind) 71 73 74 77, L Gillgren (Swe) 72 72 72 79, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 71 72 77 75, 

297 M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 73 69 77 78.

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OHN ROSS GALBRAITH (WHITEHEAD) DRIVING AT THE 16TH HOLE IN THE CITYNORTH HOTEL SPONSORED EAST OF IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP AT COUNTY LOUTH GOLF CLUB. PICTURE BY PAT CASHMAN

A triple bogey eight at the treacherous 14th cost John-Ross Galbraith his chance of victory but it was still an encouraging week for the Irish in the weather-reduced St Andrews Links Trophy.

The Whitehead man took over from Cormac Sharvin at the head of affairs at the Home of Golf when he shot a morning 73 to lead on four under going into the final round as his fellow Ulsterman followed Friday's 65 with an 80 to slip to one over par.

Just 61 players got to play the last two rounds on the Old Course with only those on level par or better progressing after Saturday's second round on the Jubilee Course was abandoned due to high winds.

Galbraith had said following his share of seventh in the East of Ireland last Monday that he was turning the corner after an up and down spell. A quadruple nine at the 18th in what turned out to be the final hole at Baltray last week eventually cost him second place as the final round was abandoned. 

And he was proved right as he went to the turn in level par 36 as eventual winner Federico Zucchetti of Italy posted the clubhouse target at two under 214 after 72.

Sadly for Galbraith, he came home in 40 with that eight at the 14th and a bogey at the 17th leaving him needing an eagle two at the last to force a playoff with Zucchetti, whose compatriot Filippo Campigli was second on one under 215.

A long wait on the 14th tee did little for Galbraith's chances there and while he needed to play the last four in one under to force a playoff, he bogeyed the 17th and only made par at the last when a two was required for extra holes.

Galbraith had to settle for a share of third with Scotland's Craig Howie (70 76 70) and Connor Syme (66 77 73) while Naas Jack Hume did his Walker Cup chances no harm by claiming a share of sixth on one over after rounds of 70 76 and 71.

Sharvin (65 80 76) had to settle for a share of 21st on five over after following his 65 with a nightmare 80 on Sunday morning as 30 mph winds coupled with little feel on the greens made life tough for the Ardglass man.

Warrenpoint's Colm Campbell (72 76 75) tied 30th and Richard Bridges (71 76 78) and Dermot McElroy (70 76 79) tied 37th as Castle's Alex Gleeson finished on 226 and Faithlegg's Robin Dawson struggled to 233 after a tough final day.

St Andrews Links Trophy 2015Rd 1 Jubilee Course; Rd 2 abandoned due to weather; Rd 3-4, Old Course

214 Federico Zucchetti (Italy) 71 71 72

215 Filippo Campigli (Italy) 71 76 68

216 Craig Howie (Peebles Golf Club) 70 76 70, Connor Syme (Drumoig Golf Club) 66 77 73, John-Ross Galbraith (Ireland) 67 73 76

217 Greig Marchbank (Thornhill Golf Club) 69 79 69, Jack Hume (Ireland) 70 76 71, Thomas Perrot (France) 71 74 72, Romain Langasque (France) 72 72 73

218 Michele Cea (Italy) 69 78 71

219 Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten Golf Club) 72 74 73, Antonio Murdaca (Australia) 70 73 76, Peter Launer Baek (Denmark) 70 73 76

220 Lucas Herbert (Australia) 71 77 72, Gianmaria Rean Trinchero (Italy) 70 77 73, Alfie Plant (Sundridge Park Golf Club) 71 74 75, Robbie van West (Netherlands) 72 73 75, Ben Eccles (Australia) 71 73 76, Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club) 66 77 77, Ivan Cantero (Spain) 71 71 78

221 Jimmy Mullen (Royal North Devon Golf Club) 72 78 71, Liam Johnston (Dumfries & County Golf Club) 70 78 73, Mathias Eggenberger (Switzerland) 71 76 74, Jamie Bower (Meltham Golf Club) 72 75 74, Cedric Van Wassenhove (Belgium) 69 78 74, Cormac Sharvin (Ireland) 65 80 76

222 Adriá Arnaus (Spain) 72 77 73, Nick Marsh (Huddersfield Golf Club) 70 78 74, Grant Forrest (Craigielaw Golf Club) 72 75 75

223 Mans Berglund (Sweden) 72 78 73, Colm Campbell (Ireland) 72 76 75, Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park Golf Club) 72 74 77, Markus Maukner (Austria) 70 75 78

224 Richard James (Aberystwyth Golf Club) 70 81 73, Mario Galiano (Spain) 68 77 79, Edgar Catherine (France) 70 74 80

225 Daniel Wasteney (Lindrick Golf Club) 70 78 77, Kiran Day (Australia) 71 77 77, Daniel Young (Craigie Hill Golf Club) 71 77 77, Richard Bridges (Ireland) 71 76 78, Dermot McElroy (Ireland) 70 76 79

226 Richard Mansell (Beau Desert Golf Club) 69 85 72, Alex Gleeson (Ireland) 72 81 73, Sean Towndrow (Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club) 72 80 74, Euan Walker (Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club) 71 81 74, Paul Kinnear (Formby Golf Club) 69 76 81

227 Ben Wall (Hayling Golf Club) 71 79 77, Luke Johnson (Kings Lynn Golf Club) 72 77 78, Ashton Turner (Kenwick Park Golf Club) 72 76 79, Tom Gandy (Rowany Golf Club) 72 75 80

228 Tomasz Anderson (Brocket Hall Golf Club) 72 77 79

229 Linus Vaisanen (Finland) 71 83 75, Ryan Chisnall (New Zealand) 72 76 81

231 Craig Ross (Kirkhill Golf Club) 72 82 77, Zach Galliford (Borth & Ynyslas Golf Club) 72 81 78, Xabier Gorospe (Spain) 72 80 79, Emil Sogaard (Denmark) 72 80 79

233 Robin Dawson (Ireland) 72 81 80

234 Zach Murray (Australia) 72 79 83

242 Maxence De Craecker (Belgium) 72 86 84

Missed the cut

73 DJ Loypur (Australia) 73, Jade Buitendag (South Africa) 73, Jeremy Gandon (France) 73, Ben Amor (Marlborough Golf Club) 73, Vitor Lopes (Portugal) 73, Taylor MacDonald (Australia) 73, Antoine Rozner (France) 73 , James Allan (Chelmsford Golf Club) 73 , Eugene Smith (Ireland) 73 , Joe Dean (Lindrick Golf Club) 73 , Ben Kinsley (St Andrews Golf Club) 73 , Adam Chapman, (Windermere Golf Club) 73, Daniel Brown (Bedale Golf Club) 73, Owen Edwards (Llanwern Golf Club) 73, Luca Cianchetti (Italy) 73, Ryan Ruffels (Australia) 73, Jacopo Vecchi Fossa (Italy) 73, Michael Saunders (Dartford Golf Club) 73 , Gary Hurley (Ireland) 73 , Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie Golf Club) 73, ,  

74 Bryce McCabe (South Africa) 74, Jason Smith (South Africa) 74, Andrew Wilson (Darlington Golf Club) 74, Gavin Moynihan (Ireland) 74, Jamie Savage (Cawder Golf Club) 74, Teodoro Soldati (Italy) 74, Ryan Cornfield (Enville Golf Club) 74, Brett Coletta (Australia) 74, Edoardo Raffaele Lipparelli (Italy) 74, Lawrence Allan (Alva Golf Club) 74, Paolo Ferraris (Italy) 74, Marco Penge (Golf at Goodwood Golf Club) 74, Harrison Endycott (Australia) 74, Joey Savoie (Canada) 74, Daniel Gale (Australia) 74, Alexander Wilson (Ireland) 74 

75 Adam Dunton (McDonald Golf Club) 75, Scott Gregory (Corhampton Golf Club) 75, Calum Fyfe (Cawder Golf Club) 75, Jamie Dick (Sherdons Golf Centre) 75, Hendrikus Stoop (South Africa) 75, Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden Golf Club) 75 , Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie Golf Club) 75, James Hart Du Preez (South Africa) 75, Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm Golf Club) 75, Matthew Spacey (South Africa) 75, Richard Jouven (France) 75 

76 Tomas Bessa (Portugal) 76, Gisli Sveinbergsson (Iceland) 76, Ashley Mason (Glen Gorse Golf Club) 76, Nicolas Platret (France) 76, Martin Eriksson (Sweden) 76, Federico Zuckermann (Italy) 76, Ugo Coussaud (France) 76 , Juuso Kahlos (Finland) 76 , Scott Gibson (Southerness Golf Club) 76 , Teaghan Gauche (South Africa) 76 , Evan Griffith (Conwy(Caernarvonshire) Golf Club) 76 , Lorenzo, Scalise (Italy) 76 

77 Marco Iten (Switzerland) 77, Sam Whitaker (Blankney Golf Club) 77, Jaime Lopez Rivarola (Argentina) 77, Martin Rohwer (South Africa) 77, Stuart Grehan (Ireland) 77, Simon Zach (Czech Republic) 77, Paul McBride (Ireland) 77 

78 Joshua Davies (Celtic Manor Resort) 78, Jack Bush (Morlais Castle Golf Club) 78, Calum Hill (Tantallon Golf Club) 78, Tom Watson (South Africa) 78 

79 Seb Crookall-Nixon (Silloth on Solway Golf Club) 79, Leonard Bem (France) 79, Jeroen Krietemeijer (Netherlands) 79, Alejandro Tosti (Argentina) 79, Riccardo Michelini (Italy) 79, Andrew Schonewille (Australia) 79 

80 Ben Wheeler (Purley Downs Golf Club) 80 

81 Robin Roussel (France) 81, Maximilian Boegel (Germany) 81, Hamish Ireland (New Golf Club St Andrews) 81 

82 Jonathan Thomson (Lindrick Golf Club) 82 

83 Oliver Gillberg (Sweden) 83 

84 Cameron Davis (Australia) 84 

DQ Alexandre Daydou (France) 71 75 DQ

 

Clontarf Golf Club

There's no stopping Eamonn Brady at the moment.

The 41-year-old maintained a remarkably consistent run of form by sharing top spot with Glen Robinson at the Clontarf Low Fuel Card PGA Pro Am on Saturday (May 6th).

With barely a quarter of the season completed, Brady has now racked up five wins and leads the Order of Merit.

Playing at his home club, Eamonn was naturally one of the pre-event favourite and he made a steady start in windy conditions, reeling off eight pars and a birdie at the par four third on the front nine.

His only dropped shot of the day came at the 11th but birdies followed at the 15th and 16th as he came home in one under 34 to sign for a two under 67.

Wexford's Glen Robinson began his round at the 10th and compiled a blemish free outward half of level par 35 with nine straight pars.

Four more pars followed before his first birdie of the day at the par four fifth. He immediately gave the shot back at the sixth but bounced back with birdies at the seventh and eighth, finishing with a par at the ninth as he came home in two under 32.

Brendan McGovern (Headfort) finished a stroke behind after a 68, with Damien Mooney (Ballyliffin) a shot further back on level par.

In the team event Brady guided his amateur partners to victory with 89 points ahead of Keith Shannon and Graeme Dunlea (Adare Manor Resort) with 86.

Clontarf Low Fuel Card PGA Pro-Am

at Clontarf GC (Par 69)

Leading scores

T1 G Robinson (Wexford); E Brady (Clontarf) 67

3 B McGovern (Headfort) 68

4 D Mooney (Ballyliffin) 69

5 N Howley (Balbriggan) 70

T6 N Murray (Massereene); I Kerr (Carlow); W O'Callaghan (Fernhill Golf &CC) 71

T9 J Bolger (Kilkenny); B Kerley (Dundalk); J Kelly (St Margaret's); M McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown) 72

T. Woods

Tiger Woods shot the highest round in his professional career — an 85 — in the third round of The Memorial Tournament in Ohio on Saturday.

As AP's Doug Ferguson reported: 

"The broader question is where this leaves him with a full summer of majors ahead. Woods showed remarkable improvement when he returned from his break at the Masters with a tie for 17th, though he was never seriously in contention. And while he had to make putts on his final hole just to survive the cut in his last two tournaments, it still was the first time in more than a year that he made the cut in three straight starts. And now this."

PGATour.com's Sean Martin summarised Woods' woes:

"Woods declined to speak to the media after his round. It’s the second time this year that he’s shot the worst round of his PGA TOUR career. His 82 at this year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open was his previous worst."He made bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5, then made consecutive doubles at Nos. 8 and 9 to make the turn in 42. He found two bunkers on the par-3 eighth hole and hit his approach into the water at the next hole."He made bogeys at Nos. 11, 12 and 14 before making his lone birdie of the day, at the par-5 15th. He reached the green in two shots and two-putted from 28 feet."He made bogey at No. 17, then had his struggles at the 18th. He drove into the creek left of the fairway, took a drop and hit his third shot short of the green. He hit his chip shot fat; his ball rolled down the hill fronting the green and came to rest farther from the hole than where it started. He chunked his next chip into a greenside bunker, then two-putted.”

Karen Crouse wrote in the New York Times of Woods' playing partner Zac Blair, a 24-year old rookie who idolised Woods as a child and even got his autograph during the 2000 US PGA:

Blair’s father, James, a PGA pro, competed in the event but Woods was the player Blair, then 9, idolized. Fifteen years later, Zac Blair realized a dream when he was paired with Woods on Saturday in the third round of the Memorial Tournament, hosted by Jack Nicklaus.Blair had no idea when he teed off at No. 1 at Muirfield Golf Club that his fantasy pairing would make him a witness to a nightmarish piece of history. With a two-under 70, Blair beat Woods by 15 strokes. Woods’s 85 was his worst score since he turned professional in 1996, eclipsing the 82 he carded in January in the second round of the Phoenix Open....Blair, a 24-year-old rookie, added: “He obviously had a tough day. But he was super nice, super friendly, was always willing to talk, and I thought we got along great. It was fun.”Blair’s father took a red-eye flight from Las Vegas and landed in Cincinnati before dawn on Saturday. He said he would not have missed watching his son play alongside Woods for anything.“The only thing that could have been better is if Tiger had beaten him by one to keep it going,” said Blair’s father, a club pro in St. George, Utah.“Every time I see Tiger, I thank him for the wonderful life he’s made for me as a PGA golf professional,” Blair’s father said. “Look at what he did for my son. Just to see the excitement in my son’s eyes with the fist pumps, how many people Tiger energized — I pray every day he gets it back. I’m really pulling for him.”As for the Memorial Tournament leaders, England's Justin Rose shot a 66 to head the field by three strokes on 15 under par from Francesco Molinari (69) and Sweden's David Lingmerth (72). Web.com Tour - Power move

West Waterford's Seamus Power has given himself another chance to inch nearer The 25 who win PGA Tour status via the second tier circuit after firing a five under par 67 in the third round of the Greater Dallas Open.

Power is tied 29th on 11 under par, eight shots behind Tyler Aldridge and 87th in The 25 with $25,666 having made five of 10 cuts.

Scores

Alex Noren. Picture © Getty Images

Ireland’s trio of hopefuls made just two birdies between them to kiss Nordea Masters success goodbye in Malmo.

Peter Lawrie made just one, at the first, in a 76 that relegated him 42 spots to 55th on level par, 11 strokes behind leader Alex Noren of Sweden, who shot a 67 to lead by two from the in-form Maximilian Kieffer.

Michael Hoey had four bogeys in a 76 that saw him slip 33 places to 67th on two ovcer whole Gareth Maybin made just one birdie in a 77 that left him tied 77th on five over at PGA Sweden National.

It was Sweden’s National Day on Saturday and the home players duly delivered performances worthy of celebration in round three with Noren leading the way.

Six of the top eight are Swedish, including World No 4 Henrik Stenson, whose eagle at the first sent him on his way to a 68, but they are all chasing Noren.

Behind him are Jens Dantorp (73) and Sebastian Soderberg (71) sharing third place on eight under, with Kristoffer Broberg (70), Steven Jeppesen (70) and Stenson tied sixth.

Kieffer is poised to spoil the Swedish party, a two under par 70 lifting him into second spot on nine under, while Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen (68) is in contention again in fifth place a week after winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation.

It was a tougher day for young amateur star Marcus Kinhult, who dropped to tied 14th after a 77, having led the first two rounds.

Noren said: “It’s very nice and I’m very happy to play the way I did today, especially my putting. My whole game, in fact, was pretty good. It was a great start. 

"I hit some good shots on one and two and holed a couple of good putts on four and five. The year has been fantastic – I’ve had a few good finishes and steadier play.

"I’m working hard on hitting the right shots at the right times, and on days like today you get a good test of it. Before I was maybe a bit one-dimensional in my game and always hit a fade; now I’m trying to hit a draw too. It’s working a bit better.”

Kieffer played well at Royal County Down, finishing tied eighth, and he’s looking forward to a better final day on Sunday, having closed with a 77 to fade from the picture in the Irish Open.

“I hope I’ve learned something from last week,” the German said. "It’s very pleasing and I’m very happy with the finish. There was a point after the bogey on the 13th when I was upset and it could’ve gone the other way, but I made the putt at the next hole for birdie. 

"It’s crazy in golf – one good shot or good break can give you momentum and that’s what I needed at that point.”

Dantorp was proud of how he played in tricky conditions and confessed that he is now a more accomplished player than 12 months ago.

He said: “I’ve improved a lot since this time last year – not so much with the golf swing or anything technical, but mentally.

"I feel a lot more comfortable being in this position. I’m enjoying being on the leaderboard, whereas a year ago I was a bit stressed about it.”

Nordea Masters, PGA Sweden National (Par 72)

205 A Noren  (Swe) 70 68 67,

207 M Kieffer (Ger) 68 69 70, 

208 J Dantorp (Swe) 67 68 73, S Soderberg (Swe) 68 69 71,

209 S Kjeldsen (Den) 72 69 68,

210 K Broberg (Swe) 70 70 70, S Jeppesen  (Swe) 72 68 70, H Stenson (Swe) 70 72 68,

211 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 72 69 70, C Shinkwin (Eng) 69 73 69, A Levy (Fra) 69 70 72, S Henry  (Sco) 69 71 71, C Paisley  (Eng) 67 73 71,

212 A Cañizares  (Esp) 70 71 71, G Havret  (Fra) 72 71 69, A Otaegui  (Esp) 68 72 72, J Parry (Eng) 71 72 69, T Murray (Eng) 74 68 70, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 73 71 68, P Hanson (Swe) 71 71 70, S Forsstrom (Swe) 70 72 70, M Kinhult (am) (Swe) 67 68 77,

213 B Ritthammer (Ger) 69 75 69, E Pepperell (Eng) 70 68 75, L Slattery (Eng) 68 73 72, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 71 70 72, J Blixt  (Swe) 74 68 71, E Grillo (Arg) 72 70 71, M Nixon (Eng) 73 70 70, A Quiros  (Esp) 75 66 72, S Gallacher (Sco) 71 71 71, B Hebert  (Fra) 68 72 73, J Hahn (USA) 69 73 71, D Fichardt (RSA) 70 70 73, T Lewis (Eng) 68 70 75, A McArthur  (Sco) 71 69 73,

214 S Hend (Aus) 74 69 71, M Carlsson  (Swe) 68 71 75, J Campillo (Esp) 74 70 70, J Morrison  (Eng) 71 71 72, R Kakko  (Fin) 72 70 72, T Pieters  (Bel) 68 74 72, A Tadini (Ita) 69 72 73, O Fisher  (Eng) 69 75 70, D Woltman (USA) 70 69 75,

215 O Farr (Wal) 70 70 75, H Otto (RSA) 69 70 76, P Larrazábal (Esp) 71 72 72, J Roos (RSA) 71 70 74, D Gaunt (Eng) 74 69 72, S Benson (Eng) 73 71 71, S Hansen (Den) 71 72 72, S Wakefield (Eng) 69 75 71, F Fritsch  (Ger) 70 74 71,

216 P Lawrie (Irl) 69 71 76, R Gonzalez (Arg) 74 68 74, R Karlberg  (Swe) 71 73 72, L Gillgren (Swe) 72 72 72, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 73 69 74, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 73 69 74, N Fasth (Swe) 72 71 73, J Edfors (Swe) 71 73 72, B Dredge (Wal) 72 72 72,

217 B Hellgren  (Swe) 70 70 77, F Zanotti (Par) 70 74 73, T Bjørn (Den) 71 72 74,

218 M Lundberg (Swe) 73 71 74, N Lemke (Swe) 74 68 76, J Singh (Ind) 71 73 74, J Rask (Swe) 74 69 75, M Hoey  (Nir) 74 68 76, O Bergqvist (am) (Swe) 74 69 75,

219 M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 73 69 77, P Oriol (Esp) 68 73 78, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 72 69 78, A Velasco (Esp) 70 69 80,

220 B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 71 72 77, G Maybin (Nir) 72 71 77,

221 J Barnes (Eng) 75 69 77.

Chris Selfridge. Picture © Emanuel Stotzer

"I believe I am ready." That was Chris Selfridge and his feelings about winning in one of his first few starts playing on Challenge Tour invitations.  

Fast forward just over six weeks and he has a chance to win on Sunday for the second week running in his his second start as a professional.

After a six under 65 left him tied for third in the Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf, just three strokes off the pace, he was answering texts.

Feeling good? Confident for tomorrow?

"Today was good," he replied. "Effortless. Excited for tomorrow."

No wonder. 

As the Challenge Tour reported:

Chris Selfridge graduated from University in the USA just two weeks ago, and the Northern Irishman feels like he is living the dream after a rip-roaring start to his professional career which has already culminated in his chasing a first title at the Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf.The former amateur star, who won four major Irish titles in the non-paid ranks as well as two on the American collegiate circuit, carded the best round of the week thus far at Golf Sempachersee to move from just two inside Friday’s cut to within three shots of Oliver Bekker's lead heading into the final day.Having made his professional debut at the D+D Real Czech Challenge, where he finished in a share of 17th place, it is has been a stunning start to life in the paid ranks for the University of Toledo graduate.“I was just happy to be playing the weekend and I just went out today and tried to relax and just play,” said Selfridge, who studies marketing in the USA. “I struggled a bit on Friday so I just kind of went out today with a lot less pressure because I wasn’t playing too well. “I did a bit of work on the range and then just played well, got off to a good start and hit some good shots. I made some putts and I just got it going, made nine birdies.“I was really proud of how I did on Friday at the same time, shooting a one under 70, because I did not play well and things didn’t go my way but I fought to the end so I was happy to be here.“I was also playing with my good friend Gareth Shaw today, we’re both rooming together this week, so that was fun too, being out there with him in a two ball. It was just relaxing and when I got four birdies in a row I was then thinking, wow I’m not far away. I bogeyed the last after a terrible lie off the tee but these things happen.The 22 year old has just been riding on the crest of a wave of positivity since starting life on the Challenge Tour and he admits that, unlike many others making the transition from the amateur game, he has take to it like a duck to water.“I turned pro last week in Czech Republic and I only just graduated from college two weeks ago,” said the Maghera player, who reached 80th in the World Amateur Rankings. “I came 17th last week, although I had a bad final round when I had a good chance of a good top five. I was still happy with it and I’m happy with how my game is progressing.“I was very excited to play professional golf. This is a dream come true and I just wanted to try and enjoy it. Obviously I’ve been working very hard and I’ve got a good team around me.“It hasn’t been tough to adapt at all. I love it. It’s great playing only 18 holes a day when in college you play 36 a day, which is miserable. So it’s great out here.“I just need to do exactly as before, pick good targets, commit to the shots and see what happens. Things might go your way and you have a 65, they might not go your way. I understand it’s a process and it’s a marathon, not a sprint. “I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and if it doesn’t happen tomorrow it will happen some day.”The former amateur star, who won four major Irish titles in the non-paid ranks as well as two on the American collegiate circuit, carded the best round of the week thus far at Golf Sempachersee to move from just two inside Friday’s cut to within three shots of Oliver Bekker's lead heading into the final day.Having made his professional debut at the D+D Real Czech Challenge, where he finished in a share of 17th place, it is has been a stunning start to life in the paid ranks for the University of Toledo graduate.“I was just happy to be playing the weekend and I just went out today and tried to relax and just play,” said Selfridge, who studies marketing in the USA. “I struggled a bit on Friday so I just kind of went out today with a lot less pressure because I wasn’t playing too well. “I did a bit of work on the range and then just played well, got off to a good start and hit some good shots. I made some putts and I just got it going, made nine birdies.“I was really proud of how I did on Friday at the same time, shooting a one under 70, because I did not play well and things didn’t go my way but I fought to the end so I was happy to be here.“I was also playing with my good friend Gareth Shaw today, we’re both rooming together this week, so that was fun too, being out there with him in a two ball. It was just relaxing and when I got four birdies in a row I was then thinking, wow I’m not far away. I bogeyed the last after a terrible lie off the tee but these things happen.The 22 year old has just been riding on the crest of a wave of positivity since starting life on the Challenge Tour and he admits that, unlike many others making the transition from the amateur game, he has take to it like a duck to water.“I turned pro last week in Czech Republic and I only just graduated from college two weeks ago,” said the Maghera player, who reached 80th in the World Amateur Rankings. “I came 17th last week, although I had a bad final round when I had a good chance of a good top five. I was still happy with it and I’m happy with how my game is progressing.“I was very excited to play professional golf. This is a dream come true and I just wanted to try and enjoy it. Obviously I’ve been working very hard and I’ve got a good team around me.“It hasn’t been tough to adapt at all. I love it. It’s great playing only 18 holes a day when in college you play 36 a day, which is miserable. So it’s great out here.“I just need to do exactly as before, pick good targets, commit to the shots and see what happens. Things might go your way and you have a 65, they might not go your way. I understand it’s a process and it’s a marathon, not a sprint. “I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and if it doesn’t happen tomorrow it will happen some day.”

Pleasure to play with @selfridgec595 today and watch a pretty easy looking 65. I kept up for 12 holes but then he took off on me!!

— Gareth Shaw (@gshawgolf) June 6, 2015

Mick McGeady double bogeyed the 18th but still shot a 67 that left him tied 19th with Selfridge's room mate and playing partner Gareth Shaw, who shot a three under 68 to leave them six behind South African Oliver Bekker, who recovered from an early collapse by playing his last six holes in six under.

It all added up to a 70 and two-shot lead over England's Gary Boyd at Golf Sempachersee near Lucerne.

Bekker started strongly and moved three shots clear at one point early on, but he proceeded to suffer a remarkable collapse with six dropped shots leaving him three shots off the pace on four under par for the tournament.

But the 30 year old staged a truly stunning finish and four birdies and an eagle in the final third of his round.

“I don’t think I have ever finished like that in my life,” said the three-time Sunshine Tour winner. “It was like two different people playing today, the first 12 holes were horrendous. I couldn’t do anything right and I actually got lucky on a couple of holes.

“I holed out from a fairway bunker from 46 yards at the fourth for birdie, I made a couple of 30-footers and then I missed four really easy putts. To shoot six under in the last six, it was a completely different golf game I was playing.

“I just found a bit of rhythm and started hitting good tee shots, which gave me a chance to hit my irons close, and then holed some good putts coming in.

“I got to a state where I was so far over par that I thought, just go for it, you’ve got nothing to lose now. Then I hit a good tee shot at 13, hit it close and made the putt. Then I did the same at the next and all of a sudden I was back in the mix. I just said, lets finish strong, and I managed to do that.”

203 O Bekker (RSA) 67 66 70, 

205 G Boyd (Eng) 66 70 69, 

206 J Hansen (Den) 72 67 67, R Enoch (Wal) 71 67 68, J Doherty (Sco) 67 67 72, C Selfridge (Nir) 71 70 65, J Heath (Eng) 69 70 67, 

207 B Parker (Eng) 68 72 67, S Tiley (Eng) 69 68 70, O Stark (Swe) 67 70 70, D Palm (Swe) 68 71 68, A Ahokas (Fin) 67 71 69, H Porteous (RSA) 67 69 71, 

208 J Senior (Eng) 66 70 72, D Foos (Ger) 70 71 67, R Gouveia (Por) 68 70 70, D Frittelli (RSA) 74 67 67, D Im (USA) 74 66 68, 

209 J Guerrier (Fra) 72 70 67, J Blaauw (RSA) 72 71 66, B Paolini (USA) 70 71 68, N Geyger (Chi) 71 68 70, S Brown (Eng) 67 73 69, G Shaw (Nir) 71 70 68, A Saddier (Fra) 70 71 68, T Remkes (Ned) 72 69 68, M McGeady (Irl) 72 70 67, 

210 A Bruschi (Ita) 69 69 72, M Delpodio (Ita) 71 70 69, L Claverie (Esp) 70 72 68, E Di Nitto (Ita) 72 69 69, 

211 G Drakeford (Aus) 70 72 69, F Praegant (Aut) 73 70 68, J Girrbach (Sui) 69 69 73, S Hodgson (Eng) 69 71 71, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 72 69 70, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 72 69 70, S Arnold (Aus) 71 68 72, J Harrison (Eng) 71 71 69, C Arendell (USA) 71 69 71, 

212 N Quintarelli (Ita) 68 73 71, R Russell (Sco) 70 71 71, T Gornik (Slo) 69 72 71, B Rusch (Sui) 75 68 69, R Kellett (Sco) 71 68 73, J McLeary (Sco) 71 72 69, 

213 T Tree (Eng) 71 67 75, S Heisele (Ger) 72 71 70, L Gagli (Ita) 69 72 72, M Wiegele (Aut) 69 73 71, G Murray (Sco) 71 70 72, M Orrin (Eng) 73 68 72, B Hemstock (Eng) 68 70 75, F Calmels (Fra) 70 70 73, R De Sousa (Sui) 68 75 70, 

214 M Trappel (Aut) 73 69 72, V Riu (Fra) 69 73 72, A Gee (Eng) 70 69 75, 

215 K Benz (Sui) 70 71 74, S Manley (Wal) 70 70 75, C Mivis (Bel) 72 69 74, J Kunzenbacher (Ger) 67 74 74, M Pospisil (am) (Cze) 71 71 73, 

216 L Corfield (Eng) 71 72 73, 

217 D Ulrich (Sui) 73 70 74, 

224 L Nemecz (Aut) 72 71 81, 

226 P Figueiredo (Por) 71 72 83