Luca Cianchetti wins European Amateur Championship
Italian Luca Cianchetti won the European Amateur Championship after a play-off as Paul McBride and Stuart Grehan made ground on the final day in Estonia.
Cianchetti took the title at the seventh hole of a playoff with Norway’s Viktor Hovland. McBride and Grehan finished 11 shots behind the winner on five under although both players climbed 17 places in the last round.
McBride’s closing 69 featured three birdies in the last 11 holes while Grehan was three under through seven and needed a birdie at the last for a share of 26th place.
Eisenhower Trophy teams named
Meanwhile, Jack Hume (Naas), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore/MU) and Paul McBride (The Island) have been selected for this year’s Eisenhower Trophy.
Cancun, Mexico, is the venue for the 2016 World Amateur Team Championships, which run from September21st-24th. The Eisenhower Trophy awaits the leading team after four rounds of strokeplay competition, with the two best cards to count each day over the Mayakoba El Camaleón and Iberostar Playa Paraiso courses.
Team captain Tony Goode will travel with the squad to Mexico along with GUI National Coach Neil Manchip as Ireland. In 2018 the GUI will host the Eisenhower Trophy at Carton House.
Korea’s Eun Jeoung Seong cards another first
She’s only 16, but South Korea’s Eun Jeong Seong isn’t too young to have developed a knack for tinkering with USGA records. Two weeks from becoming just the third golfer to win the US Girls’ Junior champion for a second year, the South Korean native is now the first to win the US Women’s Amateur and Junior titles in the same year.
Seong defeated Italy’s Virginia Elena Carta, 1 up, in the 36-hole final at Rolling Green GC outside Philadelphia, making a 40-foot birdie putt on the last hole to close out the week in dramatic style.
Clean sweep for Armagh ladies
Local knowledge proved a big advantage as the Armagh ladies made a clean sweep of the prizes at the Ulster Veterans Championship on their home course last week. The winner on countback was Geraldine Rafferty with 38 points from Sheila Stinson with Fionnuala Quinn taking third place on 36. The gross was won by June Humphries with 23 points.
Joe Duffy mixed foursomes
The annual Joe Duffy Mixed Foursomes competition will take place at Sutton Golf Club next Sunday. The time sheet is available with Conor Russell at 01-8321703.
Jim Carvill wins Leinster Over 30’s Amateur Open
Banbridge’s Jim Carvill came from five shots off the lead, finishing with a birdie to win the Leinster Over 30’s Amateur Open by a shot at Carlow.
Carvill carded rounds of 72, 72 and 69 for 213 as overnight leaders Pat Murray (79) and Alan Dowling (75) struggled in the final round.
Carvill’s one under 69 was enough for a one-shot win over Dowling (68, 71, 75) and Eoin Arthurs (77, 71, 66), who signed off with a 66. Portmarnock and Carlow’s John Green, who was just two shots off the lead starting the day, had to withdraw with a painful recurrence of a back injury on the sixth tee.
Joe Crangle from Fortwilliam with 73 71 73 for 217 was fourth with Pat Murray (Limerick) on 218 after rounds of 73, 66 and 79. Rory Leonard from (Banbridge) 73 73 73 and Patrick Bevins (Carlow) 72 72 75 tied for sith place.
Templemore capture Munster Country Clubs Cup
In a weekend of dramatic finishes, Templemore saved the best for last. Late on Sunday evening they captured the Munster Country Clubs Cup for the first time in five years at Lisselan. The competition, limited to nine hole golf clubs, is always competitive and despite the fact that there are seven singles matches, the final went all the way to the 18th green before the Tipperary side captured the title. Joe O’Connor was the hero of the hour, sending a 60 yard wedge to just four feet and slotting the birdie putt. With Lismore’s Paul Keneally in for a par, the birdie won the hole. That was the fourth and crucial point as it captured the title after Seamus Bourke, Tim Tuohy and Tony McGrath had all won points for Templemore.
Brendan Walton makes strong qualifying start
Brendan Walton fired a six under par 66 to top the leader board at the opening qualifying event for the Irish PGA Championship at Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort.
Walton (Island GC) carded four birdies and an eagle in a mistake-free round at the Co Kildare venue which will host the 106th Irish PGA Championship (September22nd-25th).
Tara Delaney (Eddie Doyle Golf Academy) finished in second place with a 71 to secure one of the 11 qualifying spots on offer.
A second qualifying event will be held at Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort on August 30th.
Simon Thornton wins St Anne’s Pro-Am
Simon Thornton carded a bogey free five under par round of 66 to win the St Anne’s Pro-Am sponsored by Workday on Friday. The Newcastle, Co Down man plotted his way around the Bull Island course in impressive style picking up birdies at the second, sixth, 11th, 13th and 16th.
“I got up and down for a par at the first from 80 yards and that settled me down a bit and got me into the round,” said the 39-year-old who won last time out at Ballyliffin and was playing St Anne’s for the first time.
