A round-up of other gold news in brief
Kearney adds to amateur successes
BRABAZON TROPHY: Dubliner Niall Kearney completed a magnificent weekend for Irish golf when he stormed to the English Open Strokeplay title for the imposing Brabazon Trophy at Moortown, Leeds, yesterday.
Kearney, a 20-year-old former Irish Boys Champion from Royal Dublin posted a 54-hole aggregate of 208 to stroll to a five-stroke victory over England’s Liam Burns from Sundridge Park with Welsh international Joe Vickery a further stroke back in third spot.
The prestigious tournament was reduced to 54 holes after Friday’s play was washed out.
It was Ireland’s Cian Curley from Newlands who led after round one with a three-under-par 68, but Kearney, after a fine 68 in the second round, was two strokes clear of the pack going into the final round and he increased that to seven by the turn, but he had two bogeys on the homeward stretch yesterday afternoon.
He kept his head well to win comfortably with rounds of 70, 68, 70, steadiness being his key to success. The Irish pair of Alan Dunbar and Andrew Hogan finished joint fourth and Curley finished in a share of 20th place.
First win in seven years for James
CHALLENGE TOUR: England's Lee S James captured his first Challenge Tour title for seven years after a play-off victory over German rookie Florian Fritsch in the Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne.
Fritsch’s chances of securing a maiden Challenge Tour title on his first professional appearance appeared to have evaporated after he ran up successive double bogeys on the back nine.
But the 23-year-old from Munich birdied the final hole in regulation play to join playing partner James on six under par, meaning the pair returned to the 18th tee for the first play-off of the season.
Despite strong winds, both men hit their approach shots to within six feet of the hole. But while Fritsch’s putt slid agonisingly past, James found the centre of the cup to take the € 24,000 first prize.
Alan Murray shot a final round 77 for 290, while Richard Kilpatrick, in contention after three rounds, slumped to an 81 for 292.
Maiden victory for Skarpnord
LET TOUR: Norway's Marianne Skarpnord claimed her first career victory in the Ladies Swiss Open with a final round of 70 at Golf Gerre Losone yesterday.
The 23-year-old collected a €78,750 winner’s cheque when her 16-under-par total of 276 left her one-stroke clear of England’s Melissa Reid, who also shot 70.
Australian Karen Lunn (69) finished in third place on 278, 14 under par, after she chipped in for eagle at the 18th hole.
A third round of 66 on Saturday had given Skarpnord a one-stroke lead entering the final round. However, it was a day of fluctuating fortunes which came down to the last putt on the final hole.
Hazel Kavanagh, with rounds of 74, 71, 71 and 71, finished on 287 with Rebecca Coakley on 293 after a 76, Martina Gillen on 295 and Tara Delaney on 295 after a disappointing final round of 80.
Oh so good
LPGA: Ji Young Oh fired a final round 70 for a total of 14-under-par 274 to win the the Sybase Classic LPGA at Upper Montclair Country Club.
Ji Young Oh had four shots to spare over Sweden’s Suzann Pettersen, who carded a final round 74 for 278.
Michelle Wie showed a welcome return to form to take third place on 28, after rounds of 70, 69, 68 and 73.
Paula Creamer shared third place with Wie after a 73 with In-Kyung Kim fourth on seven-under-par 281.
Johnson two clear in Texas Open
TEXAS OPEN: Zach Johnson held a two-shot lead going into the final round of the Texas Open after 14 players completed their third rounds early yesterday morning after weather caused a near five-hour delay on Saturday.
Johnson, the 2008 champion, vaulted into the lead on Saturday with a sizzling 10-under-par 60 that gave him a 15-under-par total of 195 at LaCantera Golf Club’s Resort Course in San Antonio.
Paul Goydos was three shots back with six holes to play when he returned to the course yesterday and gained a stroke with a birdie at the 14th. His round of 69 put him on 13-under, two off the lead.
Three-time winner Justin Leonard also birdied 14, but a bogey at the 18th dropped him to 12 under as he completed a 67
Maguire twins dominate
ILGU CLOSE: The phenomenal Maguire twins look set to continue their dominance of Irish ladies golf following the qualifying rounds of the Lancome Irish Women's Close Championship at Fota Island Golf Resort yesterday.
Lisa won the Leitrim Cup as the leading qualifier for the second year in a row after rounds of 74 and 72 for 146 gave her a one-shot margin over sister Leona who carded 74 and 73.
Mary Dowling took third place in the qualifiers on 148 after a 72 while Gillian O’Leary (Cork) and Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) improved by a shot on their first round performances, to add scores of 76 to opening 77s and qualify in fourth and fifth places respectively.
Other impressive scores on day two included a 76 by Vicki Power from Corrstown and a 77 by Maria Dunne from Skerries, who played the back nine in three under par.
Emma O’Driscoll from Ballybunion also bounced back well on day two with a 77 to her disappointing opening 87.
