Ireland edged out by England in bid for first Stroyan Cup win
GOLF DIGEST: Girls – Home InternationalsIreland were pipped at the post in their bid to win the Stroyan Cup in the Girls’ Home Internationals for the first time at Radyr in South Wales yesterday.
In their final match the Irish edged to a 5-4 victory over Scotland, meaning they were unbeaten over the three days. In the end England squeezed home 5-4 against Wales, and that meant they won the crown.
Ireland, without Leona and Lisa Maguire, did remarkably well to finish runners-up to England and take the Swansea Spoon.
Olivia Mehaffey and Ariana Coyle Diez recorded their third foursomes success of the week when they defeated Clara Young and Eilidh Watson 3 and 1.
Playing at the top of the singles order, Chloe Ryan overwhelmed Lauren Whyte 5 and 4, while Jean O’Driscoll and Jessica Ross completed the victory.
Pierse remains in the hunt after 74
British Senior Amateur OpenArthur Pierse stayed in the hunt for a second Seniors British Open Amateur title at Machynys Peninsula in South Wales.
The 61-year-old Irish international from Tipperary who has been battling a serious shoulder injury which has restricted his competitive appearances, returned a two over par 74 for a 36-hole aggregate of 144.
Pierse goes into the third and final round today just two strokes behind leader Paul Simpson, the American who is bidding to become only the second player to win this crown four times.
Simpson fired a 69 for an aggregate of 142 – he leads by one from four fellow countrymen Chip Lutz, Patrick Tallent, Rick Woulfe and Steve Rogers.
Maurice Kelly slipped a little after sharing the overnight lead. Garth McGimpsey had a 77 for a 150 total while Fota Island’s George Mellerick posted a 76 for a 150 total but had a hole-in-one on the 190-yard second.
Portmarnock’s Adrian Morrow slipped down the leaderboard with a 76 for a 149 total while Limerick’s Dermot Morris and Tom Cleary of Cork are both on 150.
Dunbar equals record with 64 to move back into contention
Men's European Individual Amateur ChampionshipAmateur champion Alan Dunbar made a remarkable recovery from his opening 76 when he fired eight birdies in a course record-equalling 64 to bounce back into contention for a unique double in the Chartis-sponsored European Individual Amateur Championship at Carton House.
The 22-year old from Portrush is just six shots behind overnight leader Daniel Jennevret of Sweden, who added a 70 to his opening 64 to lead by two strokes from Denmark’s Thomas Soren (67) and Portugal’s Goncalo Pinto (68) on 10 under par.
Despite missing a six-foot eagle putt at the last, Dunbar improved by 12 shots on his opening round to keep alive his chances of becoming the first player to win the British and European Amateur titles in the same season.
“I knew I was putting well and that if I could keep bogeys off my card I’d have enough chances to make birdies, and I did that,” said Dunbar, who holed his longest birdie putt of the day from 20 feet at the first and never looked back as he moved to four under.
Waterford’s Castle’s Kevin Phelan also putted brilliantly to card eight birdies in a six under 66 that left him heading the home challenge in joint eighth, just five strokes off the pace.
The Florida-based 21-year old played in the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach but has his eye on a win worth a place in next year’s Irish Open at Carton House and the Open Championship at Muirfield.
“I’ve played in a major but I wouldn’t complain about another one,” said Phelan. The cut for the top 60 and ties will be made after today’s third round.
- BRIAN KEOGH
Ireland leave the best until last
Boys - Home InternationalsIreland comfortably avoided the wooden spoon in the Boys’ four-cornered Home International Championship at County Louth yesterday. They left their best until last and overwhelmed struggling Wales 10-5, with three of their singles successes being achieved out in the country.
The Irish laid the foundations for their win by taking the foursomes 3½-1½ and then captured six and halved one of the singles for a comprehensive triumph.
The in-form Gavin Moynihan was impressive throughout the series – and he signed off with two magnificent results. He and Paul McBride disposed of Gareth Roberts and Daniel King by 3 and 2 and then he was much too powerful for Roberts romping home 7 and 5.
Robin Dawson and McBride also won on the 12th and 13th respectively to make the outcome virtually inevitable and Wales bottom of the pile in the European Championships.
England retained the R&A Trophy when they demolished Scotland after whitewashing them 5-0 in the foursomes.
