Teenage sensation Rory McIlroy has successfully retained his Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close title by defeating Baltray's Simon Ward 3 and 2 in this afternoon's final at the European Club.
The golf was scrappy in parts on the front nine and both players had their woes to tell as they stood on the ninth tee. When Ward missed his par effort from eight feet at the ninth McIlroy would reach the turn one up.
Ever one to seize the initiative, the 17-year-old doubled his advantage with a birdie at the 10th before the next three holes were halved. McIlroy forged further ahead at the short par three14th when Ward failed to make par.
Ward, 19, showed character by redcuing the deficit to two holes by winning the 15th but when McIlroy holed from 40 feet for birdie at the next the game was up as McIlroy claimed a 3 and 2 victory.
Earlier in the day in the semi-finals McIlroy sealed a 2 and 1 win over Connor Doran (Banbridge) while Ward beat Paul O'Kane from Moyola Park, also by 2 and 1.
FINAL
McIlroy beat Ward 3 and 2
SEMI-FINAL - Wednesday 14th June:
9.00am Doran lost to McIlroy 2 and 1
9.30am Ward beat O'Kane 2 and 1
QUARTER-FINALS - Tuesday, 13th June 2006:
Connor Doran (Banbridge) bt Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye) 2/1; Rory McIlroy (Holywood) bt Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) 1 hole; Simon Ward (Co. Louth) bt David Finn (Mallow) 6/5; Paul O'Kane (Moyola Park) bt Fergal Rafferty (Dungannon) 19th.