Welshman Bowen four clear at The Island thanks to course record 62
Wales’ Tomi Bowen will take a four-shot lead into the final round of the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship after carding a record-breaking 10-under 62 at The Island Golf Club on a day which saw the amateur course record broken on three occasions.
O'Driscoll and Knightly take Carlow and Kerry scratch cups
Muskerry's Jean O'Driscoll captured the Carlow Ladies Senior Scratch Cup on Saturday, edging out Lucan's Molly Dowling and Ballinrobe's Shannon Burke by a stroke on 152 with international Lisa Maguire, back in action again after her Leaving Certificate, taking fifth spot on 155.
Munster Strokeplay looks wide open
Three-time winner Niall Gorey might be the bookies' favourite but any one of a dozen played could win this weekend's Munster Stroke Play Championship at magnificent Cork Golf Club.
Baltray prepares some rough justice
This was the rough last year. It’s even thicker for the 2013 East of Ireland. Des Morgan will be as concerned about the six-inch course between his ears as the savage rough when he begins his bid to finally break his championship drought in the East of Ireland Amateur Open at County Louth today.Selfridge defeats Grant in play-off for East crown
Winner winner. Chris Selfridge roars with delight after sinking his putt for a winning par four at the ninth. Picture by Pat Cashman.Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge captured his second amateur major in the space of eight days when he beat Knock’s Nicky Grant by a stroke in a three-hole aggregate play-off for the East of Ireland Amateur Open at Co Louth. In winning, he became the first man since Garth McGimpey in 1988 to claim the ‘Close’ and the ‘East’ in the same season.Fox in command in the East
James Fox extended his three shot overnight lead to four in the East of Ireland Amateur Open in Baltray. Picture by Pat CashmanJames Fox can follow in the footsteps of his brother Noel if he takes advantage of a four-stroke overnight lead and wins the East of Ireland Amateur Open at Baltray tomorrow.Fantastic Mr Fox leads at Baltray
F is for Fox. James Fox during the Close last week. Picture by Pat CashmanPortmarnock’s James Fox bounced back from two early bogeys when he fired two eagles in a six under 66 to take a three-stroke clubhouse lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Open at County Louth.Selfridge comes of age at Portrush
Chris Selfridge in full flow at Royal Portrush. Picture: Pat CashmanWhile some took the “never hurry” part of Walter Hagen’s famous phrase far too literally, Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge was faithful to the rest as he cruised to a seemingly effortless six under 66 to claim the first round lead in the Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at a sun-kissed Royal Portrush.
Q-School cull continues
And then there were four.
Stephen Grant, Barrie Trainor, Brian McElhinney,Michael Lavelle were the only Irishmen to survive the 54-hole cut as the axe fell at the First Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School (Section A).
Dreams of winning a European Tour are over for another year for Noel Fox and his brother James, Alan Murray, Ulstermen Byron Campbell and Adam Savage, Neil O Briain, Ger Hall and Danny Sugrue.
Irish behind 8-ball at Q-School
Talk about a bad day at the office.
Stephen GrantAs PQ1 (Section A) reached the halfway stage at four venues in England, Scotland, Portugal and Denmark, all 12 Irish hopefuls are outside the qualifying places.
Barrie Trainor is the best of the bunch but a second round 78 at Dundonald Links relegated the Warrenpoint man from fifth to tied 23rd, one stroke outside the top 20 who will progress to stage two from that venue after four rounds.
37 Irish heading to Q-School
Walker Cup player Niall Kearney is one of 37 Irishmen who have entered the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School later this month.
The 21-year old Royal Dublin amateur will tee it up in a 115-man field at Fleesensee Golf and Country Club near Berlin from September 22-25 alongside Justin Brink and fellow South of Ireland champions Mark Campbell and Mervyn Owens.
Kearney is one of six Irish amateurs amongst the 749 hopefuls who will begin their bids of European Tour cards at stage one. The others are Ulstermen Byron Campbell and Ruairi McGee, Newlands’ Irish international Cian Curley, Royal Dublin’s Neil O Briain and Portmarnock’s James Fox.
Portstewart’s Paul Cutler, who was disappointed not to make the Walker Cup side this year, has not entered.