Harry Diamond
McIlroy struts his stuff: "I can't play defensive. Defensive isn't my style"
The Rory bounce is back — and with good reason.
After firing a bogey free 68 — the second best score of the day — to take a three stroke lead into the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral, 26 year old McIlroy can take a big step forward on the road to Masters glory.
Breakfast of champions - Selfridge v Hurley in North final
Gary Hurley. Picture: Pat CashmanDouble major winner Chris Selfridge will bid to put his early summer struggles behind him when he takes on West Waterford and NUI Maynooth star Gary Hurley in dawn duel for the North of Ireland Amateur Open at Royal Portrush.Dunne hangs on for thrilling East win
Paul Dunne (Greystones) winner of the East of Ireland Championship at County Louth Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman He might have had just five hours sleep and suffered a nervy speed wobble coming down the stretch, but no-one could deny that Greystones’ Paul Dunne deserved his one-shot victory in the East of Ireland Amateur Open at sun-splashed County Louth.
Impressive Hume denied in Lytham playoff
Rathsallagh’s Jack Hume came up just short despite a brilliant final day in the Lytham Trophy. Picture Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieRathsallagh’s Jack Hume fell to Finland’s Albert Eckhardt at the final hole of a three-hole aggregate play-off for the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
McNamara shows killer instinct in wild West win
Rory McNamara rolls in the winning putt on the 14th in the final of the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieThe killer instinct is crucial in matchplay and Headfort’s Rory McNamara showed that he has it in spades when he put Muskerry’s Niall Gorey to the sword en route to an emphatic 5 and 4 victory in the final of the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open at Rosses Point.Gorey refuses to surrender
Niall Gorey drives on the eighth in the quarterfinal win over Gary McDermott. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieYou know you’re doing something right when you impress such an august triumvirate as former West of Ireland champions Des Smyth, Barry Reddan and Declan Branigan with your play in freezing, 30mph gales.McDermott remains on course at Rosses Point
Gary McDermott hits his tee shot to the 16th in the third round of the West of Ireland Championship. Picture Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieGary McDermott remained on course to end County Sligo’s 63-year wait for a home-grown winner when he beat Knock’s Nicky Grant 3 and 2 to reach the quarter-finals of the West of Ireland Amateur Open at a bitterly cold Rosses Point.McDermott in his element in icy West
Gary McDermott made just one bogey in the second round, here at the 14th, in an otherwise faultless display. Picture courtesy www.countysligogolfclub.ieYouth had its fling on the opening day of matchplay combat in the West of Ireland Championship. But while there were plaudits for the likes of teenagers Gareth Lappin, Paul McBride and former boy wonder Jack Hume, it was local hero Gary McDermott who made the biggest impression in Artic-like conditions at Rosses Point.Carnage on the links as scores soar at Rosses Point
The 17th at Rosses Point took its toll in the first round of the West of Ireland Championship.Rosses Point bared its teeth in no uncertain terms as a tough course set up, exacerbated by an Arctic-like east wind and a sub-zero windchill factor, allowed just 42 players in the 123-strong to break 80 in the opening qualifying round of the West of Ireland Amateur Open.Just four scratch men scrape into "West" draw
Plus five handicapper Richard O’Donovan from Lucan is the low man in the West of Ireland field. Picture by Pat CashmanHarry Diamond faces the high quality field and some serious opposition from international team mates Richard O’Donovan, Dermot McElroy and Reeve Whitson when he begins his defence of the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland Championship at County Sligo on March 29.