O'Flaherty claims Munster Mid-Am with closing birdie
Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) tees off in the third round of the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch on 28 July, 2018. Picture © Niall O'Shea
Cork’s Gary O’Flaherty birded the 18th to claim the Munster Mid-Amateur title for the second time in eight years at Lee Valley Golf & Country Club.
The Munster Interprovincial began the final round three strokes behind Douglas’ Kieran O’Donoghue on three-over-par but followed an early bogey with two birdies to go to the last needing a birdie to overcome Dungarvan’s Alan Thomas, who shot a 69 to set the clubhouse target at two-over 218.
O’Flaherty, who won the title at Limerick in 2011, hit a 160-yard approach to five feet and made the putt to add a two-under-par 70 to previous rounds of 73 and 74 and claim the title for the second time on one-over 216.
Muskerry’s David O’Donovan shot a 70 to finish third, two shots behind the winner, on three-over-par 219.
He edged out overnight leader O’Donoghue, who shot 75, for fourth place after a countback.
Munster Mid-Amateur Open Championship, Lee Valley Golf Club (Par 72)
- Winner — Gary O’Flaherty (Cork) 217
- Runner — Up Alan Thomas (Dungarvan) 218
- Third — David O’Donovan (Muskerry) (Back 36) 219
- Fourth — Kieran O’Donoghue (Douglas) 219
- Fifth — Eoghan Long (Monkstown) (Back36) 220
- Best Gross — R3 Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock)(Back 6) 71
- Best Nett — Karl Bornemann (Douglas) 222
- Second Nett — John O’Brien (Castlemartyr) 224
217 G O'Flaherty (Cork) 73 74 70
218 A Thomas (Dungarvan) 76 73 69
219 D O'Donovan (Muskerry) 73 76 70; K O'Donoghue (Douglas ) 72 72 75
220 E Long (Monkstown) 75 76 69; G Lenehan (Portmarnock) 72 77 71
222 K Bornemann (Douglas) 75 76 71
224 G Dunne (Co. Louth) 76 75 73; J O'Brien (Castlemartyr) 71 77 76
225 J O'Neill (Lee Valley) 75 74 76
226 P Murray (Clontarf) 79 75 72; M Ford (Cork) 75 72 79; A Condren (Greystones) 73 75 78
227 P Connolly (Killeen Castle) 70 76 81
228 J Waldron (Muskerry) 78 75 75; P Flynn (Tramore) 78 74 76; R Connolly (Grange) 73 81 74
229 C Ryan (Killeen Castle) 80 76 73; S Miskelly (Knock) 75 80 74
230 D O'Donoghue (Bandon) 77 75 78
231 J Kehoe (Limerick) 72 83 76
233 B Timlin (Galway) 73 82 78
234 P Power (Lee Valley) 79 79 76
237 C O'Donnell (Fota Island) 82 79 76
239 J O'Sullivan (Fota Island) 78 81 80
240 D Coughlan (Castleknock) 81 79 80
242 A Considine (Lahinch) 80 81 81
244 R Kennedy (Monkstown) 77 86 81
RTD K Collins (Fermoy) 81 81; N Duggan (Dromoland) 80 83
158 P Fitzpatrick (Kanturk) 77 81 (Did not play final round)
CUT
164 R Hurley (Fermoy) 83 81; B Loftus (Lahinch) 80 84
165 B Lenihan (Newcastle West) 86 79; K O'Connell (Cork) 85 80
167 D Smith (Malahide) 81 86
169 B Dore (Newcastle West) 86 83; D O'Sullivan (Dooks) 85 84; D Ryan (Lee Valley) 83 86; B Power (Goldcoast) 82 87
175 R Williams (Naas) 87 88; C Sheehy (Glasson) 86 89
NR L Halpin Jnr (Shannon)
RTD P Roche (Palmerstown Hse Est)
NR P O'Connor (Malahide); M Collins (Killeen Castle); J Kiely (Slievenamon)
RTD I O'Flynn (Cork )
NR C O'Donoghue (Castletroy); D McCarthy (Bandon)
RTD I Spillane (Killarney)
NR S Kenneally (Kinsale); B Attridge (Mallow); L Connolly (Wexford)
RTD K Crowley (Fota Island)
NR L Power (Palmerstown Hse Est); S Kelly (Ballinasloe); D O'Driscoll (Ballybunion)
RTD K Hurley (Bandon); S O'Brien (Fota Island)
NR S Morris (Limerick); M Coleman (Limerick)
RTD G Kelly (Mallow).
