NORTH OF IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP:CO SLIGO bragging rights were clinched at Royal Portrush yesterday evening as clubmates Barry Anderson and Gary McDermott clashed in the Magners North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship second round of matchplay.
Anderson came swiftly through the Rosses Point battle with a 4 and 3 victory to book a morning date today with short-priced Irish senior international Alan Dunbar from neighbouring Rathmore.
Anderson, who won the Connacht Youths Championship this season, lost no time in getting into his stride. He was six holes up after eight and again after 12, but lost the 13th and 14th to two “rakers” for McDermott birdies.
That was only a temporary setback for the winner and a dying kick by banker McDermott (26).
The North is famous for shock results and yesterday was no exception. Holder Wayne Telford was set packing in the first round by reserve Jonathan Feenan (Ardglass) with two holes the result, while Walker Cup panellist Paul Cutler (Portstewart), last year’s runner-up, was also dismissed.
Cutler’s afternoon elimination was a huge surprise as he lost by two holes to strong finisher Richard Donovan after just squeezing through the morning action by one hole against John Greene from Carlow.
But one of the best performances of the day was turned in by Connor Doran. The Banbridge man was two under par when, in the morning, he whitewashed Daniel Holland (Castle) 7 and 6, before reaching the third round with a 3 and 2 defeat of Ian Ross (Whitehead).
Results
FIRST ROUND– First quarter: C Martin (Kilkenny) bt F O'Donoghue (Belvoir Pk) 76; A Hogan (Newlands) bt B Cashman (Belvoir Pk) 31; B Best (Rathmore) bt A Morris (Belvoir Pk) 32; G Kelly (Co Louth/UCD) bt E Heywood (City of Derry) 21; S Boles (Bangor) bt I Brennan (Greenore) 42; D McElroy (Ballymena) bt M Judge (Stackstown) 65; R Donovan (Lucan) bt P McCrudden (Royal Portrush) 32; P Cutler (Portstewart) bt J Greene (Carlow) one hole. Second quarter: D Sutton (Lurgan) bt J Baker (Royal Norwich) 21; K McDonagh (Athlone/NUIM) bt D Crowe (Dunmurry) 21; I Ross (Whitehead) bt G Morrow (Lisburn) 32; C Doran (Banbridge) bt D Holland (Castle) 76; H Diamond (Belvoir Pk) bt D Mallon (Dungannon) 32; A Kearney (Castlerock) bt J Ward (Banbridge) 32; R Whitson (Mourne) bt M O'Donovan (Castlerock) 76; M Durcan (Co Sligo) bt M Sinclair (Knock) 2 holes. Third Quarter: D Coghlan (Royal Dublin) bt D Reilly (Westmanstown) 21; C Selbridge (Moyola Pk) bt D McKenna (Foyle) 53; N Murray (Dunmurry) bt D Vaughan (Ardglass) 43; J Feenan (Ardglass) bt W Telford (Rathmore) 2 holes; B Anderson (Co Sligo) bt D Downie (Sutton) 21; G McDermott (Co Sligo) bt R McNamara (Headfort) one hole; R McCarthy (The Island) bt R Gribben (Warrenpoint) one hole; A Dunbar (Rathmore) bt R McKinstry (Cairndhu) 75. Fourth quarter: J Fox (Portmarnock) bt J Turner (Royal Portrush) one Hole; P O'Leary (Lucan) bt N Grant (Knock) at 19th; C Campbell (Warrenpoint) bt S Miskelly (Knock) 32; G Lynas (Shandon Pk) bt R Cannon (L'town B'town) 21; G McGrane (Royal Dublin) bt D Beattie (Castlerock) one hole; J Monaghan (The Island) bt J Lyons (Galway) at 19th; S Ryan (Royal Dublin) bt K Lovelock (Hindhead) one hole; R Leonard (Banbridge) bt C McIlroy (Holywood) 43.
SECOND ROUND– First half: Hogan bt Martin 2 holes; Kelly bt Best one hole; McElroy bt Boles 31; Donovan bt Cutler 2 holes; Sutton bt McDonagh one hole; Doran bt Ross 32; Kearney bt Diamond one hole; Whiston bt Durcan one hole. Second half: Coghlan bt Selfridge 2 holes; Feenan bt Murray one hole; Anderson bt McDermott 43; Dunbar bt McCarthy 53; Fox bt O'Leary 43; Lynas bt Campbell 2 holes; Monaghan bt McGrane one hole; Ryan bt Leonard 31.
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