Sport

McIlroy has Close defence in his sights

Irish Close Championship: Holywood's Rory McIlroy is just two matches away from defending his Irish Amateur Close title after…

Tue Jun 13 2006 - 01:00

Irish Close Championship: Holywood's Rory McIlroy is just two matches away from defending his Irish Amateur Close title after battling to a narrow one hole victory over fellow Irish International Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) at The European Club today.

Unlike his morning dual with leading qualifier Andrew Pitcher, where McIlroy blitzed his rival by 6 and 5, the afternoon game was tight throughout and the teenage star found himself one down through 14 holes. Sensational birdies secured wins for McIlroy on the 15th and 16th holes before the 17th was halved in pars.

McIlroy split the fairway with his tee shot on the 18th and looked to have the match sealed when Crowe was forced to play out sideways from the rough after an errant drive. With 160 yards to the pin the Holywood man played an eight-iron and seemed perplexed as the well struck shot landed in the water hazard short of the green.

Crowe played his third to eight feet and McIlroy, after dropping from the hazard under penalty, played his fourth to 10 feet and duly rolled in a left to right putt leaving Crowe with a putt to force the match to tie holes - a putt which he failed to convert.

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McIlroy will face Connor Doran tomorrow morning in a repeat of last year's semi-final after the Banbridge man defeated the in-form Jonathan Caldwell by 2 and 1, while Simon Ward will face Paul O'Kane in the second semi final.

Scoreboard

DRAW FOR SEMI-FINALS - Wednesday 14th June:
9.00am Doran v McIlroy
9.30am Ward v O'Kane
(Final will tee off at 2.15pm)

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.

THIRD ROUND - Tuesday, 13th June 2006
Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye) bt Damien Coyne (Tuam) 6/4; Connor Doran (Banbridge) bt Cian McNamara (Limerick) 6/5; Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) bt Robert Cannon (L'town & B'town) 3/2; Rory McIlroy (Holywood) bt Andrew Pitcher (The Island) 6/5; Simon Ward (Co. Louth) bt Nicky Grant (Knock) 1 hole; David Finn (Mallow) bt Michael Sinclair (Knock) 1 hole; Paul O'Kane (Moyola Park) bt Desmond Morgan (Mullingar) 3/2; Fergal Rafferty (Dungannon) bt Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) 2/1.