The Mullingar Scratch Cup is changing dates next year with Banbridge’s Connor Doran expected to return to defend the title from August 28-29.

The prestigious 72 hole strokeplay event is moving from its traditional August Bank Holiday date to avoid a clash with the European Amateur Championship, which will be played at Vanajanlinna Golf Club in Finland from 4-7 August.

Since Joe Carr won the inaugural event in 1963, winners of the event have gone on to achieve great feats in the game.

Stellar winners include  three time major champion Padraig Harrington; Ryder Cup players Des Smyth, Philip Walton, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley; and tour players Gary Murphy and Colm Moriarty.

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, who won in 2006 and 2008 respectively, went on to win their maiden titles on the European Tour this year. 

Mullingar Scratch Cup - Past winners

2009 Connor Doran

2008 Shane Lowry

2007 Paul O’Hanlon

2006 Rory McIllroy

2005 Gareth Shaw

2004 Greg Bowden

2003 Colm Moriarty

2002 Eoin O’Sullivan

2001 Colm Moriarty

2000 Johnny Foster

1999 Tim Rice

1998 Pat Collier

1997 Sean Quinlivan

1996 Peter Lawrie

1994 Padraig Harrington

1993 Eddie Power

1992 Raymond Burns

1991 Paul McGinley

1990 Leslie Walker

1989 Darren Clarke

1988 Adrian Morrow

1987 F. Gannon

1986 John McHenry

1985 Garth McGimpsey

1984 P. Murphy

1983 Ian Elliot

1982 Philip Walton

1981 Mark Gannon

1980 Val Smyth

1979 Frank Gannon

1978 B. Wilson

1977 Eddie Dunne

1976 M.D. O’Brien

1975 Hugh Smyth

1974 B. P. Malone

1973 Mark Gannon

1972 Des Smyth

1971 Martin D. O’Brien

1970 Peter Benka

1969 N. Mason

1968 Martin D. O’Brien

1967 B. P. Malone

1966 Peter Townsend

1965 Peter Townsend

1964 Tom Craddock

1963 J.B. Carr