Rory top dog at Lough Erne
Holywood's Rory Williamson

Holywood's Rory Williamson

Rory McIlroy won the Faldo Series at under 15, under 17 and under 18 level. Now another Rory from Holywood is on the scene and capturing silverware — Rory Williamson.

The talented County Down man won the 2016 Faldo Series Ireland Championship by a single shot over the Faldo Course at Lough Erne last week, firing rounds of 71 and 69 to hold off Cavan’s Shane McDermott and Warrenpoint’s Jamie Fletcher.

No fewer than 96 golfers played at Lough Erne Golf Resort with the five category winners qualifying for the 20th Faldo Series Grand Final. 

Williamson showed true grit at then, coming home in 32 thanks to birdies at the 17th and 18th to win the Boys’ Under-21 title by a single stroke. 

The Boys’ Under-18 event saw Kurgan’s Peter Cummins shoot rounds of 75 and 70 to win by four strokes while Dundalk’s Eoin Murphy was the victor in the Boys’ Under-16 division from Glasson’s Conor Gleeson.

In the Girls’ Under-21 category, The Heath’s Mary Doyle won by five shots in wire-to-wire fashion from Maeve Cummins thanks to rounds of 74 and 77. 

The Girls’ Under 16 division was a closer affair as Elm Park’s Anna Foster edged out Rossmore’s Kate Dwyer by a single shot. Both Doyle and Foster qualified for the Grand Final later this year.

Recognised as the only global amateur series for boys and girls, the Faldo Series was established in 1996, expanding to Asia in 2006. Past winners include Major champions McIlroy and Tseng Ya-ni.

Leading final scores: Boys’ Under-21: 140 – Rory Williamson (Holywood) 71-69; 141 – Shane Mcdermott (Cavan Golf Club) 72-69, Jamie Richard Fletcher (Warrenpoint) 70-71.  Boys’ Under 18: 145 – Peter Cummins (Lurgan) 75-70; 149 – Paddy Culhane (Galway G.c) 74-75, Robert Moran (Castle) 75-74.  Boys’ Under 16: 144 – Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) 74-70; 148 – Conor Glennon (Glasson) 72-76.  Girls’ Under 21: 151 - Mary Doyle (The Heath) 74-77; 156 – Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) 79-77.  Girls’ Under 16: 169 – Anna Foster (Elm Park) 93-76; 170 - Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) 85-85.

For full scores and results from the Faldo Series Ireland Championship visit http://www.faldoseries.info/tic/tmtic.cgi.