Irish Golf Desk

Ireland on course for back to back wins

Brian Keogh — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:20:24 -0500

Ireland's amateur golfers are on course to retain the European Team Championship title in Italy.

Mick Burns' side sensationally crushed Germany 5-2 in the semi-finals at Royal Park Golf Club near Turin today and will face England in Saturday's final.

Bidding to win the title for only the sixth time, Ireland captain Mick Burns hopes his charges show the kind of determination that helped them squeeze through the strokeplay qualifiers.

Burns said: "Our team really picked themselves up after the scare we had on day two. They realise the opportunity that lies in front of them and I have confidence in them to go on and do their best again on Saturday in what's going to be a tough encounter."

Shane Lowry and Gareth Shaw got Ireland up and running with a 5 and 4 win in the opening foursomes.

Then Jonathan Caldwell and Paul Cutler came back from one down after six to beat German duo Alexander Knappe and Maximillian Kiefer 2 and 1 and put Ireland 2-0 up going into the five afternoon singles.

West of Ireland champion Lowry lost 5 and 4 to Allen John in the bottom match but wins for Cutler and Caldwell and halves by Shaw and Paul O'Hanlon sent Ireland safely through to the decider.

England hammered favourites France 5-2 and will be looking for revenge for last year's semi-final defeat to Ireland at Western Gailes.

Germany 2, Ireland 5
Foursomes: Stephan Gross & Sean Einhaus lost to Shane Lowry and Gareth Shaw 5/4;
Alexander Knappe & Maximilian Kieffer lost to Jonathan Caldwell & Paul Cutler 2& 1.

Singles
Alexander Knappe halved with Gareth Shaw;
Stephan Gross lost to Paul Cutler 5/3;
Sean Einhaus lost to Jonathan Caldwell 3/2;
Maximilian Kieffer halved with Paul O'Hanlon;
Allen John bt Shane Lowry 5/4.

Irish PGA gets sponsor at last

Brian Keogh — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:18:10 -0500

By Brian Keogh

Padraig Harrington will be continue his Open countdown by chasing a fifth Irish PGA title worth just €12,000 next week.

And that's only because Irish PGA chiefs have saved their blushes by finding a last gasp sponsor for Harrington's title defence at The European Club.

Irish Region boss Michael McCumiskey revealed two weeks ago that blazers at PGA HQ might have to bail out the championship due to lack of backing.

But bookies Ladbrokes.com come have come up trumps for Harrington's title defence in Co Wicklow from July 9-12.

The lottery and gaming giants have slapped down €70,000 - a reduction of €10,000 on last season's total - which means that millionaire Harrington will be playing for a first prize of around €12,000.

And while that's a massive contrast to the €740,000 on offer for the winner of the clashing €3.8 million Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, it's a boost to Harrington's chances of winning another major.

Welcoming the sponsorship, McCumiskey said that it was a wonderful endorsement of a flagship championship that is amongst the longest running in Irish golf.

Back in action in this week's European Open in Kent, Harrington was always determined to prepare for the Open on a links course.

Sticking to the formula that brought him his first major title at Carnoustie last year, the world No 12 had no intention of playing Loch Lomond.

Harrington said: "I play two events before a major to get into the zone.

"I am comfortable with the way I do things with my schedule. I think it works for me. In fact, I know it does."

After beating Brendan McGovern in a play-off last year, Harrington will take on the best Irish talent available.

Tour winners such as Peter Lawrie, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Damien McGrane will all be at Loch Lomond.

But Harrington will face stiff competition in Co Wicklow from the likes of Waterville's David Higgins, recently crowned Irish Club Professional champion John Kelly, last year's Regional No 1 Mark Staunton and former Irish PGA champion Eamonn Darcy.

Loucks wins Irish Women's Open by three at Elm Park

Brian Keogh — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:29:56 -0500

Curtis Cup star Breanne Loucks (Wales) fired a final round 73 to beat Scotland’s Roseanne Niven by three strokes at the Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay at Elm Park Golf Club, 28 June 2008.

In blustery but dry conditions, Loucks registered two birdies early on and got to three under par before the turn. She encountered tree trouble on the inward nine but steadied the ship to finish just one over par and claim her first Irish Open title.  Scotland’s Roseanne Niven birdied 16 and 18 to post a two under par 70 to finish one ahead of Lisa Magure (Slieve Russell) and Charlotte Wild who posted a best of the day 69.

Lisa’s twin sister Leona was four shots further back alongside Tara Delaney (Carlow) and Audrey Goumard (France). Aedin Murphy (Carlow) celebrated a magnificent weekend’s work to finish in eighth place, earning her an invitation to play in the AIB Ladies Irish Open at The Portmarnock Links in mid July.
In the International team event, Wales beat Ireland by one shot with England four shots further back, six ahead of Germany.
 IRISH WOMEN’S OPEN STROKEPLAY – ELM PARK GOLF CLUB 214 Breanne Loucks (WAL) 69 72 73
217 Roseanne Niven (SCO) 73 74 70
218 Charlotte Wild (ENG) 76 73 69 218 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 72 74 72
222 Tara Delaney (Carlow) 72 75 75 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 72 75 75 Audrey Goumard (FRA) 70 76 76
223 Aedin Murphy (Carlow) 74 73 76
225 Nina Holleder (GER) 77 76 72 Leigh Whittaker (GER) 77 74 74
226 Emilie Alonso (FRA) 76 76 74 Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) 76 75 75 Charlotte Ellis (ENG) 75 75 76
227 Rhian Wyn Thomas (WAL) 78 74 75 Danielle McVeigh (RCDL) 78 71 78 Louise Kenney (SCO) 73 77 77
228 Jo Nicolson (WAL) 78 75 75
229 Pamela Pretswell (SCO) 77 78 74 Nejla Gercek (TUR) 74 72 83
230 Alexandra Bonetti (FRA) 79 73 78 Tara Davies (WAL) 77 79 74
231 Elcin Ulu (TUR) 82 75 74 Gillian O'Leary (Cork) 78 76 77 Tara Watters (ENG) 76 75 80 Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) 73 81 77
232 Jane Turner (SCO) 80 72 80 Ragna Bjork Olafsdottir (ISL) 77 80 75 Rosanna Crepiat (FRA) 76 78 78
234 Karen Delaney (Carlow) 80 78 76
235 Megan Briggs (SCO) 79 79 77
236 Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) 81 77 78 Rebecca Watson (SCO) 77 80 79 Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) 75 78 83
239 Claire Marie Carlton (SCO) 76 83 80
240 Shirley Harvey (Ballyclare) 80 74 86 Anne McCormack (Roscommon) 76 80 84
241 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 75 84 82
242 Sarah Faller (Galway) 78 80 84
244 Claire MacDonald (SCO) 83 76 85 Tinna Johannsdottir (ISL) 77 81 86
 INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT 439 WALES Tara Davies 77 (79) 74 Breanne Loucks 69 72 73 Rhian Wyn Thomas (78) 74 (75)
440 IRELAND Niamh Kitching (73) (81) (77) Leona Maguire 72 75 75 Lisa Maguire 72 74 72
444 ENGLAND Charlotte Ellis 75 75 76 Tara Watters 76 (75) (80) Charlotte Wild (76) 73 69
449 FRANCE Alexandra Bonetti (79) 73 (78) Rosanna Crepiat 76 (78) 78 Audrey Goumard 70 76 76
450 GERMANY Nina Holleder 77 76 72 Leigh Whittaker 77 74 74 459 SCOTLAND Jocelyn Carthew (81) (83) Louise Kenney 73 77 77 Jane Turner 80 72 80
460 TURKEY Nejla Gercek 74 72 83 Elcin Ulu 82 75 74 474 ICELAND Tinna Johannsdottir 77 (81) 86 Valdis Thora Jonsdottir (84) 79 Ragna Bjork Olafsdottir 77 80 85

Five-shot lead for Loucks at Elm Park

Brian Keogh — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:32:04 -0500

Curtis Cup star Breanne Loucks (Wales) leads the field by five strokes going into the final round of the Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay at Elm Park Golf Club, 28 June 2008.

In blustery but dry conditions, Loucks fired an impressive 69 over the testing par 73 layout where all but one of the tees was played off the men’s blue medal sticks.

Thirteen year old twin Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), runner-up to Leona at the Women’s Close in Westport, was next best on 146 with a fine 74 added to her opening one under 72. French U18 International Audrey Goumard with an opening 70 matched Maguire’s tally as did Turkish International Nejla Gercek after a fine 72 in the afternoon.
Irish Women’s Close Champion Leona Maguire added a 75 to her opening 72 to lie just one shot further back alongside Carlow’s Aedin Murphy who punched well above her weight to return a one over par 74 following an opening 73. Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co. Down Ladies) was best in the afternoon with a 71 to leave her eight shots off the pace.  The in-form Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) signed for a disappointing 81 in the afternoon following a level par 73 in the morning while just six shots off the pace Tara Delaney (Carlow) is well placed to attack on the home stretch.
The top forty who survived today’s cut, at 13 over par, commence their final round at 8am on Sunday with the leaders teeing off at 10.20am.
 IRISH WOMEN’S OPEN STROKEPLAY – leaders after 36 holes 141 Breanne Loucks (WAL) 69 72
146 Nejla Gercek (TUR) 74 72 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 72 74 Audrey Goumard (FRA) 70 76
147 Aedin Murphy (Carlow) 74 73 Roseanne Niven (SCO) 73 74 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 72 75 Tara Delaney (Carlow) 72 75
149 Danielle McVeigh (RCDL) 78 71 Charlotte Wild (ENG) 76 73
150 Charlotte Ellis (ENG) 75 75 Louise Kenney (SCO) 73 77
151 Leigh Whittaker (GER) 77 74 Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) 76 75 Tara Watters (ENG) 76 75
152 Jane Turner (SCO) 80 72 Alexandra Bonetti (FRA) 79 73 Rhian Wyn Thomas (WAL) 78 74 Emilie Alonso (FRA) 76 76
153 Jo Nicolson (WAL) 78 75 Nina Holleder (GER) 77 76 Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) 75 78
154 Shirley Harvey (Ballyclare) 80 74 Gillian O'Leary (Cork) 78 76 Rosanna Crepiat (FRA) 76 78 Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) 73 81
155 Pamela Pretswell (SCO) 77 78
156 Tara Davies (WAL) 77 79 Anne McCormack (Roscommon) 76 80
157 Elcin Ulu (TUR) 82 75 Ragna Bjork Olafsdottir (ISL) 77 80 Rebecca Watson (SCO) 77 80
158 Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) 81 77 Karen Delaney (Carlow) 80 78 Megan Briggs (SCO) 79 79 Sarah Faller (Galway) 78 80 Tinna Johannsdottir (ISL) 77 81
159 Claire MacDonald (SCO) 83 76 Claire Marie Carlton (SCO) 76 83 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 75 84
 NON-QUALIFIERS 160 Maura Morrin (The Curragh) 75 85
161 Lauren Mackin (ESP) 83 78 Veronika Holisova (CZE) 80 81 Monique Smit (RSA) 79 82 Mary McKenna (Donabate) 76 85 Deirdre Walsh (Milltown) 75 86
162 Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) 84 78 Rachel Cassidy (Stirling Univ) 81 81 Elle Sandak (AUS) 80 82 Nano Brennan (Elm Park) 79 83 Ciara Butler (Newlands) 78 84
163 Matia Maffiuletti (ITA) 84 79 Valdis Thora Jonsdottir (ISL) 84 79 Aoife Lowry (Tipperary) 81 82 Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) 80 83
164 Fiona Howard (ENG) 82 82 Jocelyn Carthew (SCO) 81 83
166 Hermione Fitzgerald (ENG) 84 82
167 Pat Doran (Donabate) 83 84
168 Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) 88 80 Emma Fairnie (SCO) 81 87
169 Eilidh Briggs (SCO) 82 87
170 Naoimh McMahon (Shannon) 81 89
171 Catherine Tucker (Limerick) 84 87 Agnes Doherty (Ballyliffin) 82 89
172 Mairead MacNamara (Woodbrook) 88 84
175 Laurence Herman (BEL) 84 91
177 Christine Armanasco (Claremorris) 85 92
184 Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) 92 92
RTD Gertie McMullen (The Island) 85 RTD Maria Dunne (Skerries) 88 RTD Vicki Power (Dundalk) 94 RTD
 Timesheet – Sunday 29 June:
08:00 Claire MacDonald (SCO) Audrey Goumard (FRA) 08:10 Rosanna Crepiat (FRA) Rhian Wyn Thomas (WAL) 08:20 Claire Marie Carlton (SCO) Alexandra Bonetti (FRA) Emilie Alonso (FRA) 08:30 Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) Sarah Faller (Galway) Tinna Johannsdottir (ISL) 08:40 Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) Karen Delaney (Carlow) Megan Briggs (SCO) 08:50 Ragna Bjork Olafsdottir (ISL) Rebecca Watson (SCO) Elcin Ulu (TUR) 09:00 Pamela Pretswell (SCO) Tara Davies (WAL) Anne McCormack (Roscommon) 09:20 Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) Gillian O'Leary (Cork) Shirley Harvey (Ballyclare) 09:30 Jo Nicolson (WAL) Nina Holleder (GER) Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) 09:40 Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) Tara Watters (ENG) Jane Turner (SCO) 09:50 Charlotte Ellis (ENG) Louise Kenney (SCO) Leigh Whittaker (GER) 10:00 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) Danielle McVeigh (RCDL) Charlotte Wild (ENG) 10:10 Aedin Murphy (Carlow) Roseanne Niven (SCO) Tara Delaney (Carlow) 10:20 Breanne Loucks (WAL) Nejla Gercek (TUR) Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell)

McIlroy runs to the putting doctor

Brian Keogh — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:39:54 -0500

Fed up Rory McIlroy has sent and SOS to golf’s putting doctor.

The Holywood hotshot, 19, is so frustrated with his poor form on the greens that he has followed the example of Open champion Padraig Harrington and headed to Dr Paul Hurrion’s putting laboratory.

Explaining the move, McIlroy said: "I said to myself 'I'm not putting well and I need to do something about it'.

"I'd met Paul when I was at Padraig's house in January and Padraig's probably the best putter on Tour and that's why I thought I would go and see him.

"So I decided to go and see Paul a couple of days after the US Open qualifier at Walton Heath because I did not want my poor putting to linger on.

"Putting has been the only aspect of my game letting me down over the last few weeks so I have done something about sorting it out and that's making the decision to work with Paul Hurrion.

"I spent a whole day at his lab and it was my own decision and not on anyone's advice.”

Less than a year after grabbing his tour card in double quick time, the Ulster ace has missed seven cuts this season and languishes 61st on the tour putting charts.

He’s more than two shots worse than Indian putting genius SSP Chowrasia with 29.7 putts per round.

But he’s hoping that some strong medicine from Hurrion will cure his ills and catapult him to the top of the game.

Harrington, Lee Westwood, Paul McGinley and David Howell have all used Hurrion’s laboratory techniques to improve on the greens.

And McIlroy believes he can take a giant leap up the Order of Merit by holing just two more putts per round.

He said: “If in the next five to 10 years I can take two shots a round off my scoring it's going to make a huge difference.

"Putting is just so much different to every other shot in golf and it's very much like a game within a game.

"Sometimes I have more feel when I have a 6-iron in my hand than my putter because I just hit the 6-iron to where I want to but with putting, you are very rigid and just trying to roll the ball into the hole.

"The decision has worked well and I am practicing hard and working on drills Paul has given me."

After missing the cut in last week’s BMW International in Germany, McIlroy will be hoping for better in this week’s French Open in Paris and Monday’s Open Championship qualifier at Sunningdale.

And if he succeeds in sorting out his bad form on the greens, he knows he has the all round game to go right to the top.

He added: "What Paul has done is picked me apart and put me back together again. I still have I still have a long way to go but hopefully I can soon start seeing the results."

It's Juan for the road at Ballyliffin

Brian Keogh — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:35:47 -0500

By Brian Keogh

It was a case of Juan for the road in the Irish Seniors Open at friendly Ballyliffin.

Champion Juan Quiros was left stranded by his tour pals after they hit the road for Dublin airport without him follow Sunday’s dramatic win over Des Smyth at the Donegal links.

But the local members came to the rescue with Ballyliffin one-handicapper Sean óg Doherty whisking the Spaniard nearly 200 miles to Dublin, where he works as a plaster.

Quiros loaded his clubs and the Waterford Crystal trophy into the back of Doherty’s white van alongside the trowels and buckets for the three and a half hour trek to the captial

And the beaming champion arrived at the airport in time in time to see Spain beat Italy on penalties in the quarterfinals of Euro 2008.

He then spent there, the night joking with his tour colleagues before jetting home with the trophy early yesterday morning.

Recalling his unforgettable Irish odyssey, Quiros hopes Ballyliffin secures the tournament again next year so he can pay back his hosts with a solid title defence

Speaking from Spain, Quiros said: “I would love to go back there again and defend in Donegal where we were treated so well by everyone.

“I am so happy after what was a very big win for me because I was a little low on morale going into the tournament. It's fantastic for me.

“I was really lucky to get a lift from a boy from the club. I wanted to give him a tip for his trouble but he wouldn't accept anything. They were lovely people in Ballyliffin.

“We arrived at the airport at 10.30 in time to see the extra time and penalites in the football.

“I was supposed to go with Emilio Rodriguez and Guiseppe Cali because we were flying out of Dublin the next morning. But they went before me because their hire car was too small to take the three of us.

“As it turned out, I had a great driver and Guiseppe and Emilio arrived at the airport later that I did.

“We watched the football and just stayed in the airport all night celebrating. We would have had to get up at 4 am for a 7.30 flight to Malaga but it wasn't worth checking into a hotel for a few hours so we just stayed in the airport having a laugh.”

The Spanish players had a whip round for the waiters at the popular Donegal club after a memorable week that was only marred by horrific final day weather.

The most northerly links in the Republic has high hopes of staging the Irish Open in two or three years in a joint venture with near neighbours Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

But the club’s future as a tour stop will depend on sponsorship and the political decisions taken at Wentworth and Government Buildings.

Club captain Dr Ken Devlin said: “We will take a week off to digest all of this and see what the tour is interested in.

“We would love a major golf event to come up here and we really could put something special together.”

Informal talks a possible crossborder Irish Open staging were held at Ballyliffin with European Tour chief Richard Hills sitting down with Failte Ireland boss Sean Quinn, AIB General Manager Billy Andrews and Con Hough, a senior official at the Department of Art, Sport and Tourism.

Crushing defeat for Smyth

Brian Keogh — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:34:02 -0500

Des Smyth suffered a crushing 18th hole defeat as Spaniard Juan Quiros snatched the weather-lashed Irish Seniors Open by a shot thanks to a spectacular birdie four at the death.

Blasted by driving rain and 25 mph winds, the 52-year old was level with Smyth playing the 580-yard 18th, but pipped him at the post when he fired a 132-yard wedge to just two feet for a closing birdie four.

Bidding to end Ireland's 10-year win for a home winner, Smyth had to get up and down from 30-yards to force a play-off but came up 20 feet short and failed with his birdie putt.

Gutted at the finish, Smyth said: “The back nine was horrendous, it was lashing rain and it was blowing a gale. It was very difficult to play golf but, in fairness to him, he hit a wonderful shot at the last.

“I was about 30 yards short and he was about 130 yards out and he hit it stiff and I didn’t get up and down. It was difficult for every player out there today.

“I played great early on but then the rain came and made it so difficult to play. Whatever about the wind, the rain was horrendous.

“I just lost my feel coming down there. I couldn’t figure out the greens at all. I was finding it hard to swing actually and make good contact with the ball on the back nine.

“Still, I had a chance. I hit a poor pitch on that last. He hit a great shot in. I just hit too many bad shots down the back nine.

“I enjoyed my week. I’m just disappointed with the way it turned out and it’s a pity we didn’t get a better day than that but it was the same for everybody. No point in blaming the weather.”

In the end the man from La Linea, 52, was the only player in red figures at the finish as he carded a one-over par 72 to Smyth’s 74 to finish one stroke clear on one-under par and pocket a cheque for €67,500 for his third European Seniors Tour win.

Leading by a shot from Quiros and Gordon J Brand overnight, Smyth birdied the first and fifth to move three shots clear of his rivals before the Spaniard fought back.

Birdies at the sixth and seventh and a 25-foot par save at the ninth, left the Andalucian just one behind Smyth playing the back nine on a day when only four players in the 75-man field broke par.

Struggling with the weather, Smyth dropped four shots in a three-hole stretch with bogeys at the 11th and 12th and a double bogey at the 13th leaving him one adrift of Quiros, who also bogeyed the 13th.

The Drogheda man was then handed a lifeline at the 14th where the Spaniard tangled with the rough and three-putted for a double bogey seven as Smyth birdied to go one clear again.

But he couldn't finish the job as the weather got progressively worse and after a bogey at the 16th left them tied on one under, both men bogeyed the 17th to go to the last with the title on the line.

Quiros drove into the right rough but played a superb five wood back into play and then sealed his third European Seniors Tour victory with that closing master-stroke.

He said: “The course was okay this morning but an hour before I started the conditions changed, the wind was coming in from the beach and it was unbelievable. I can’t remember the last time I played in conditions like that. But that’s golf and you have to play. The greens were perfect and the course was in perfect condition.

“In my first year on the Seniors Tour I won in Switzerland at Bad Ragaz. Then last year I won in France. And now I win here. It is one win every year so far. I am a lucky man.”

Irish Seniors Open, Ballyliffin (Old Links, par 71)

Final:

212 J Quiros (Esp) 71 69 72 (€67,500);

213 D Smyth (Irl) 71 68 74 (€45,000);

216 G Cali (Ita) 69 75 72; L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 76 71; D Russell (Eng) 72 70 74; S Owen (Nzl) 71 73 72; N Job (Eng) 71 73 72; G Brand (Eng) 70 70 76 (€20,865 each);

217 I Woosnam (Wal) 76 67 74; G Encina (Chi) 75 71 71; D O'Sullivan (Irl) 72 70 75; J Chillas (Sco) 72 71 74; S Torrance (Sco) 71 70 76; B Cameron (Eng) 72 74 71;

218 B Charles (Nzl) 71 75 72; D Good (Aus) 71 73 74; S Ginn (Aus) 74 77 67; R Drummond (Sco) 73 76 69; T Gale (Aus) 75 71 72;

219 S Ebihara (Jpn) 75 75 69; T Allen (Eng) 74 74 71; M Piñero (Esp) 71 74 74; A Fernandez (Chi) 75 73 71;

220 A Sowa (Arg) 72 76 72; T Charnley (Eng) 72 74 74; A Barrera (Arg) 70 72 78; L Higgins (Irl) 73 75 72; B Heuchan (Can) 73 74 73; K Tomori (Jpn) 71 76 73; K Spurgeon (Eng) 74 72 74; D Hospital (Esp) 76 67 77; C Rocca (Ita) 71 71 78; D Cambridge (Jam) 73 71 76; H Carbonetti (Arg) 74 75 71; B Longmuir (Sco) 71 70 79;

221 J Bland (RSA) 72 73 76; M Gray (Sco) 80 70 71; S Lyle (Sco) 73 73 75; A Murray (Eng) 73 72 76; E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 69 79;

222 M Bembridge (Eng) 77 74 71; P Teravainen (USA) 77 70 75; E Darcy (Irl) 77 73 72; J Heggarty (Nir) 76 75 71; C Mason (Eng) 75 70 77; E Polland (Nir) 74 75 73;

223 A Garrido (Esp) 73 77 73; T Rastall (Eng) 73 79 71; B Lincoln (RSA) 73 76 74; T Johnstone (Zim) 74 77 72;

224 M Poxon (Eng) 75 75 74; B Larratt (Eng) 74 81 69; T Price (Wal) 76 74 74; B Boyd (USA) 77 76 71; J Hall (Eng) 76 74 74; I Mosey (Eng) 80 70 74; J Rivero (Esp) 74 76 74; E McMenamin (am) (Irl) 74 75 75;

225 J Sallat (Fra) 73 72 80; J Benda (USA) 77 72 76; P Dugeny (Fra) 74 78 73; D Merriman (Aus) 72 72 81; P O'Hagan (Irl) 74 75 76;

226 M Miller (Sco) 77 76 73; P Leonard (Nir) 77 74 75; G McGimpsey (am) (Nir) 75 73 78;

227 P Oakley (USA) 78 73 76;

228 A Tapie (USA) 67 83 78; A Franco (Par) 74 72 82; T Giedeon (Ger) 73 72 83; J Rhodes (Eng) 73 74 81;

229 V Smyth (am) (Irl) 77 77 75;

230 J Bruner (USA) 78 79 73;

231 J Hoskison (Eng) 73 77 81;

241 G Hopkins (USA) 83 82 76.

Stroke of genius signals end for Smyth

Brian Keogh — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:32:40 -0500

Brian Keogh in Ballyliffin

Des Smyth stood dripping in the scorer’s hut at stormed-lashed Ballyliffin with a wry smile on his face and a look of sadness in his blue eyes.

Only a victory in the Senior British Open would have meant more to the 55-year-old from Bettystown but after coming within a whisker of ending a decade-long wait for a home winner of the Irish Seniors Open, the golden prize was snatched from under his nose by a stroke of sheer genius on the 18th by the dogged Spaniard Juan Quiros.

The Old Links was ravaged from midday by 25 mph west winds and relentless Atlantic rain, but the man from the town of La Linea, overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar, proved to be as nerveless as the Rock itself.

With Smyth just short of the green in two on the 580-yard par-five 18th, the 52-year-old rifled a 132-yard wedge through the maelstrom and watched it pitch just past the flag and spin to a halt two feet from the cup, setting up what proved to be a winning birdie four.

Having held a three-stroke lead after just five holes and a one-stroke advantage with three to play, overnight leader Smyth was now required to get up and down from 30 yards to force and a play-off. But his pitch grabbed too soon and he failed with make the 20 footer required to extend the action to extra holes.

Quiros tapped in his short victory putt, clenching his fists in victory after carding a one-over par 72 that left him the only man in red figures after three rounds on one-under par - one clear of Smyth, who shot a three-over par 74 for level par and four better than a sextet of players in third place.

It was the stocky Spaniard’s third European Tour victory in as many seasons and the winner’s cheque for €67,500 lifted him from 26th to fourth on the Order of Merit after an unforgettable day in Donegal.

Just four players broke par in the final round, but all of them set off before 8.45 am while no-one in the last eight groups managed to match par as the weather turned nasty from midday, taking the gloss off an otherwise successful week for the home club.

As Quiros explained: “The course was okay this morning but an hour before I started the conditions changed, the wind was coming in from the beach and it was unbelievable.”

One ahead overnight and three shots clear of Quiros and Gordon Brand after making two birdies in the first five holes, Smyth couldn’t shake off the dogged Spaniard in end-of-the-world conditions.

As relentless as the weather, the Andalucian birdied the sixth and seventh, holed a 25-foot par putt at the ninth to remain just one-stroke adrift and then played the back nine in three-over par 39 to Smyth’s 41 to claim the biggest prize of his career.

“The back nine was horrendous, it was lashing rain and it was blowing a gale,” said Smyth, who dropped four shots in a three hole stretch from the 11th to go two behind but birdied the par five 14th to a double bogey by Quiros to edge one clear again before faltering at the finish.

Bunkered awkwardly at the 16th, he bogeyed there to go one behind and then hit his five-iron tee shot heavy at the 170-yard 17th, where he got away with a bogey four after Quiros three putted from the back fringe.

With the title riding on the 18th, Smyth hit two career shots into the throat of the hole but failed to matched Quiros’s mastery with the wedge and had to settle for his firs top-ten finish in nine months.

“It was very difficult to play golf but, in fairness to him, he hit a wonderful shot at the last,” Smyth said. “I played some very good golf this week but I think the weather beat us today. We were trying our heart out.

"I played great early on but then the rain came and made it so difficult to play. Whatever about the wind, the rain was horrendous. I just lost my feel coming down there. I couldn’t figure out the greens at all. I was finding it hard to swing actually and make good contact with the ball on the back nine.

“Still, I had a chance. I hit a poor pitch on that last. He hit a great shot in. I just hit too many bad shots down the back nine.

“I enjoyed my week. I’m just disappointed with the way it turned out and it’s a pity we didn’t get a better day than that but it was the same for everybody. No point in blaming the weather.”

Irish Seniors Open, Ballyliffin (Old Links, par 71)
Final:
212 J Quiros (Esp) 71 69 72;
213 D Smyth (Irl) 71 68 74;
216 G Cali (Ita) 69 75 72; L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 76 71; D Russell (Eng) 72 70 74; S Owen (Nzl) 71 73 72; N Job (Eng) 71 73 72; G Brand (Eng) 70 70 76;
217 I Woosnam (Wal) 76 67 74; G Encina (Chi) 75 71 71; D O'Sullivan (Irl) 72 70 75; J Chillas (Sco) 72 71 74; S Torrance (Sco) 71 70 76; B Cameron (Eng) 72 74 71;
218 B Charles (Nzl) 71 75 72; D Good (Aus) 71 73 74; S Ginn (Aus) 74 77 67; R Drummond (Sco) 73 76 69; T Gale (Aus) 75 71 72;
219 S Ebihara (Jpn) 75 75 69; T Allen (Eng) 74 74 71; M Piñero (Esp) 71 74 74; A Fernandez (Chi) 75 73 71;
220 A Sowa (Arg) 72 76 72; T Charnley (Eng) 72 74 74; A Barrera (Arg) 70 72 78; L Higgins (Irl) 73 75 72; B Heuchan (Can) 73 74 73; K Tomori (Jpn) 71 76 73; K Spurgeon (Eng) 74 72 74; D Hospital (Esp) 76 67 77; C Rocca (Ita) 71 71 78; D Cambridge (Jam) 73 71 76; H Carbonetti (Arg) 74 75 71; B Longmuir (Sco) 71 70 79;
221 J Bland (RSA) 72 73 76; M Gray (Sco) 80 70 71; S Lyle (Sco) 73 73 75; A Murray (Eng) 73 72 76; E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 69 79;
222 M Bembridge (Eng) 77 74 71; P Teravainen (USA) 77 70 75; E Darcy (Irl) 77 73 72; J Heggarty (Nir) 76 75 71; C Mason (Eng) 75 70 77; E Polland (Nir) 74 75 73;
223 A Garrido (Esp) 73 77 73; T Rastall (Eng) 73 79 71; B Lincoln (RSA) 73 76 74; T Johnstone (Zim) 74 77 72;
224 M Poxon (Eng) 75 75 74; B Larratt (Eng) 74 81 69; T Price (Wal) 76 74 74; B Boyd (USA) 77 76 71; J Hall (Eng) 76 74 74; I Mosey (Eng) 80 70 74; J Rivero (Esp) 74 76 74; E McMenamin (am) (Irl) 74 75 75;
225 J Sallat (Fra) 73 72 80; J Benda (USA) 77 72 76; P Dugeny (Fra) 74 78 73; D Merriman (Aus) 72 72 81; P O'Hagan (Irl) 74 75 76;
226 M Miller (Sco) 77 76 73; P Leonard (Nir) 77 74 75; G McGimpsey (am) (Nir) 75 73 78;
227 P Oakley (USA) 78 73 76;
228 A Tapie (USA) 67 83 78; A Franco (Par) 74 72 82; T Giedeon (Ger) 73 72 83; J Rhodes (Eng) 73 74 81;
229 V Smyth (am) (Irl) 77 77 75;
230 J Bruner (USA) 78 79 73;
231 J Hoskison (Eng) 73 77 81;
241 G Hopkins (USA) 83 82 76.

Final hole agony for Smyth

Brian Keogh — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:31:04 -0500

Des Smyth perished on the Rock of Gibraltar as Spaniard Juan Quiros snatched the weather-ravaged Irish Seniors Open with a killer birdie at the last.

With Ballyliffin’s Old Links lashed by 25mph west winds and driving rain, it was the stocky Spaniard from the Straits who was the only man under par at the end thanks to a sensational finish.

Locked with Smyth playing the par-five 18th, Quiros fired a 132-yard wedge to just two feet for a closing birdie four and looked on as Smyth’s 30-yard chip and run checked up 20 feet short and missed the putt to force a play-off.

In the end the man from La Linea, 52, carded a one-over par 72 to Smyth’s 74 to finish one stroke clear on one-under par and pocket a cheque for €67,500 for his third European Seniors Tour win.

It was a gutting defeat for the Irish star, 55, who was bidding to bridge a decade-long Irish drought in the event since Joe McDermott won the 1998 title.

Dripping wet at the finish, Smyth said: “The back nine was horrendous, it was lashing rain and it was blowing a gale. It was very difficult to play golf but, in fairness to him, he hit a wonderful shot at the last.

“I was about 30 yards short and he was about 130 yards out and he hit it stiff and I didn’t get up and down. It was difficult for every player out there today.

“We were trying our heart out. We were trying to hit shots in a left to right wind and sometimes they were moving really fast to the right and sometimes they weren’t.”

Three shots clear after five holes and two clear at the turn, Smyth couldn’t shake off the dogged Spaniard in end-of-the-world conditions.

He dropped four shots in a three hole stretch from the 11th to go two behind but birdied the par five 14th to a double bogey by Quiros to edge one clear again before faltering at the finish.

Bunkered awkwardly at the 16th, he lost his lead and never got it back as they halved the 17th in bogey to go to the last with the title on the line.

Shattered to lose out, Smyth added: “I played great early on but then the rain came and made it so difficult to play. Whatever about the wind, the rain was horrendous.

“I just lost my feel coming down there. I couldn’t figure out the greens at all. I was finding it hard to swing actually and make good contact with the ball on the back nine.

“Still, I had a chance. I hit a poor pitch on that last. He hit a great shot in. I just hit too many bad shots down the back nine.

“I enjoyed my week. I’m just disappointed with the way it turned out and it’s a pity we didn’t get a better day than that but it was the same for everybody. No point in blaming the weather.”

Smyth needed a win to boost his confidence ahead of a vital period on the US Champions Tour, where he is struggling to keep his card.

Set to return there tomorrow, he said: “I think it will help me. I played a lot of good golf. Today was hard to judge. It just got too tough. We’ll see. “

Quiros punched the air after grabbing a famous victory on one of the toughest days he can remember in a 34-year career.

Before settling down to watch Spain take on Italy in the European Championships, he said: “The course was okay this morning but an hour before I started the conditions changed, the wind was coming in from the beach and it was unbelievable.

“I can’t remember the last time I played in conditions like that. But that’s golf and you have to play. The greens were perfect and the course was in perfect condition.

“In my first year on the Seniors Tour I won in Switzerland at Bad Ragaz. Then last year I won in France. And now I win here. It is one win every year so far. I am a lucky man.

“Everyone knows Des Smyth. He is a great person and a great player. It was beautiful to be on the course with a professional like Des. I played with his brother Val on the first day and he is another very nice person.

“Des took a lead of a few shots at one point but mentally you tell yourself that there are still a lot of holes to play and you tell yourself, okay, let’s see what we can do.

“Then he had bad luck on the 13th hole and made a six. But it was the same for me on the 14th.

“To celebrate, I hope Spain beat Italy tonight. I will stay here and drive to Dublin. And then tomorrow morning I will fly to Malaga. After that I will go to America for the US Senior Open.”

Irish Seniors Open, Ballyliffin (Old Links, par 71)

Final:

212 J Quiros (Esp) 71 69 72 (€67,500);

213 D Smyth (Irl) 71 68 74 (€45,000);

216 G Cali (Ita) 69 75 72; L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 76 71; D Russell (Eng) 72 70 74; S Owen (Nzl) 71 73 72; N Job (Eng) 71 73 72; G Brand (Eng) 70 70 76 (€20.865 each);

217 I Woosnam (Wal) 76 67 74; G Encina (Chi) 75 71 71; D O'Sullivan (Irl) 72 70 75; J Chillas (Sco) 72 71 74; S Torrance (Sco) 71 70 76; B Cameron (Eng) 72 74 71;

218 B Charles (Nzl) 71 75 72; D Good (Aus) 71 73 74; S Ginn (Aus) 74 77 67; R Drummond (Sco) 73 76 69; T Gale (Aus) 75 71 72;

219 S Ebihara (Jpn) 75 75 69; T Allen (Eng) 74 74 71; M Piñero (Esp) 71 74 74; A Fernandez (Chi) 75 73 71;

220 A Sowa (Arg) 72 76 72; T Charnley (Eng) 72 74 74; A Barrera (Arg) 70 72 78; L Higgins (Irl) 73 75 72; B Heuchan (Can) 73 74 73; K Tomori (Jpn) 71 76 73; K Spurgeon (Eng) 74 72 74; D Hospital (Esp) 76 67 77; C Rocca (Ita) 71 71 78; D Cambridge (Jam) 73 71 76; H Carbonetti (Arg) 74 75 71; B Longmuir (Sco) 71 70 79;

221 J Bland (RSA) 72 73 76; M Gray (Sco) 80 70 71; S Lyle (Sco) 73 73 75; A Murray (Eng) 73 72 76; E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 69 79;

222 M Bembridge (Eng) 77 74 71; P Teravainen (USA) 77 70 75; E Darcy (Irl) 77 73 72; J Heggarty (Nir) 76 75 71; C Mason (Eng) 75 70 77; E Polland (Nir) 74 75 73;

223 A Garrido (Esp) 73 77 73; T Rastall (Eng) 73 79 71; B Lincoln (RSA) 73 76 74; T Johnstone (Zim) 74 77 72;

224 M Poxon (Eng) 75 75 74; B Larratt (Eng) 74 81 69; T Price (Wal) 76 74 74; B Boyd (USA) 77 76 71; J Hall (Eng) 76 74 74; I Mosey (Eng) 80 70 74; J Rivero (Esp) 74 76 74; E McMenamin (am) (Irl) 74 75 75;

225 J Sallat (Fra) 73 72 80; J Benda (USA) 77 72 76; P Dugeny (Fra) 74 78 73; D Merriman (Aus) 72 72 81; P O'Hagan (Irl) 74 75 76;

226 M Miller (Sco) 77 76 73; P Leonard (Nir) 77 74 75; G McGimpsey (am) (Nir) 75 73 78;

227 P Oakley (USA) 78 73 76;

228 A Tapie (USA) 67 83 78; A Franco (Par) 74 72 82; T Giedeon (Ger) 73 72 83; J Rhodes (Eng) 73 74 81;

229 V Smyth (am) (Irl) 77 77 75;

230 J Bruner (USA) 78 79 73;

231 J Hoskison (Eng) 73 77 81;

241 G Hopkins (USA) 83 82 76.

Smyth facing final day battle

Brian Keogh — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:29:53 -0500

Des Smyth faces a massive battle to end Ireland's ten-year drought in the Irish Seniors Open at Ballyliffin.

The Drogheda ace, 55, crafted a three-under par 68 in blustery conditions to take a slim, one-shot lead over Spain's Juan Quiros and England's Gordon J Brand on three under par.

But with Scots Bill Longmuir and Sam Torrance lurking just two shots off the pace on one-under and Ian Woosnam only four behind after a 67, Smyth knows it won't be easy with high winds forecast.

Smyth said: "I'd prefer if the wind didn't blow too hard tomorrow. People say I am a great wind player but I don't want to be trying to hang on to par on every hole.

"This is a title I would want to win more than any other apart from the British Seniors. Last year I won in Wentworth and went back to the US and had some good finishes. I'd love to win tomorrow and I will be giving it my best."

Out in two-under par 33, Smyth birdied the 11th and 13th to get to four under but bogeyed the par three 17th and failed to birdie the par-five last.

"I had a 66 within my reach but just let it get out of my hands today," Smyth added. "Still I played well and I am very pleased with a 68."

Cork's Denis O'Sullivan carded a 70 and is just three shots behind Smyth on level par alongside Costantino Rocca.

Smyth rediscovers his form

Brian Keogh — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:28:14 -0500

From Brian Keogh at Ballyliffin

Des Smyth produced some of his best golf of the season to stand on the verge of an historic Irish Seniors Open victory at Ballyliffin.

Without a top-10 finish for nine months, the 55-year-old etched out a three under par 68 on the windswept Old Links to take a one stroke lead over Spain's Juan Quiros and England's Gordon J Brand on three-under par.

After firing five birdies and just two bogeys, Smyth is bidding to become the first home winner of the title since Joe McDermott in 1998

"This is a title I would want to win more than any other apart from the British Seniors," said Smyth, who is hoping that win in Ireland will boost his confidence on the Champions Tour, where he is struggling to keep his card.

"Last year I won in Wentworth and went back to the US and had some good finishes. I'd love to win tomorrow and I will be giving it my best.

"I had a 66 within my reach but just let it get out of my hands today. Still I played well and I am very pleased with a 68.

"I'd prefer if the wind didn't blow too hard tomorrow. People say I am a great wind player but. I don't want to be trying to hang on to par on every hole."

Scots Bill Longmuir and Sam Torrance both shot 70 to lurk just two strokes behind Smyth on one-under par with Cork's Denis O'Sullivan (70) in a five-man group on level par that also includes defending champion Costantino Rocca.

Former Masters champion Ian Woosnam and Spain's Domingo Hospital equalled the best round of the week with four under par rounds of 67 moving them to within four strokes of the lead on one-over.

Overnight leader Alan Tapie followed his 67 with an 83 to crash out of contention on eight-over par.

Irish Seniors Open, Ballyliffin GC, Old Links (Par 71)

After 36 holes:

139 D Smyth (Irl) 71 68

140 J Quiros (Esp) 71 69, G Brand (Eng) 70 70

141 S Torrance (Sco) 71 70, B Longmuir (Sco) 71 70

142 E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 69, D Russell (Eng) 72 70, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 72 70, C Rocca (Ita) 71 71, A Barrera (Arg) 70 72

143 D Hospital (Esp) 76 67, I Woosnam (Wal) 76 67, J Chillas (Sco) 72 71

144 D Cambridge (Jam) 73 71, D Merriman (Aus) 72 72, D Good (Aus) 71 73, N Job (Eng) 71 73, S Owen (Nzl) 71 73, G Cali (Ita( 69 75

145 C Mason (Eng) 75 70, J Sallat (Fra) 73 72, A Murray (Eng) 73 72, T Giedeon (Ger) 73 72, J Bland (RSA) 72 73, M Piñero (Esp) 71 74, L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 76

146 G Encina (Chi) 75 71, T Gale (Aus) 75 71, A Franco (Par) 74 72, K Spurgeon (Eng) 74 72, S Lyle (Sco) 73 73, B Cameron (Eng) 72 74, T Charnley (Eng) 72 74, B Charles (Nzl) 71 75

147 P Teravainen (USA) 77 70, J Rhodes (Eng) 73 74, B Heuchan (Can) 73 74, K Tomori (Jpn) 71 76

148 A Fernandez (Chi) 75 73, G McGimpsey (NIr, am) 75 73, T Allen (Eng) 74 74, L Higgins (Irl) 73 75, A Sowa (Arg) 72 76

149 J Benda (USA) 77 72, E McMenamin (Irl, am) 74 75, H Carbonetti (Arg) 74 75, E Polland (NIr) 74 75, P O'Hagan (Irl) 74 75, B Lincoln (RSA) 73 76, R Drummond (Sco) 73 76,

150 M Gray (Sco) 80 70, I Mosey (Eng) 80 70, E Darcy (Irl) 77 73, T Price (Wal) 76 74, J Hall (Eng) 76 74, M Poxon (Eng) 75 75, S Ebihara (Jpn) 75 75, J Rivero (Esp) 74 76, J Hoskison (Eng) 73 77, A Garrido (Esp) 73 77, A Tapie (USA) 67 83

151 P Oakley (USA) 78 73, P Leonard (NIr) 77 74, M Bembridge (Eng) 77 74, J Heggarty (NIr) 76 75, S Ginn (Aus) 74 77, T Johnstone (Zim) 74 77

152 P Dugeny (Fra) 74 78, T Rastall (Eng) 73 79

153 M Miller (Sco) 77 76, B Boyd (USA) 77 76

154 V Smyth (am) (Irl) 77 77

155 B Larratt (Eng) 74 81

157 J Bruner (USA) 78 79

165 G Hopkins (USA) 83 82

Smyth on the verge of career-boost

Brian Keogh — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:27:04 -0500

Wind specialist Des Smyth can re-iginite his season after firing a three-under par 68 to take and slim, one-shot lead into the final round of the Irish Seniors Open at Ballyliffin.

The Drogheda veteran fired five birdies and just two bogeys on the revamped Old Links to take the slenderest of advantages over Spain?s Juan Quiros (69) and England?s Gordon J Brand (70) on three-under par.

Out in two under par 33, Smyth birdied the 11th and 13th to get to four under but bogeyed the par three 17th and failed to birdie the par-five last.

But he is still confident that he has the game to take his third European Seniors Tour win today and use it as a springboard to greater things on the US Champions Tour, where he is struggling to retain his card.

Smyth said: ?This is a title I would want to win more than any other apart from the British Seniors. Last year I won in Wentworth and went back to the US and had some good finishes. I?d love to win tomorrow and I will be giving it my best.

?I had a 66 within my reach but just let it get out of my hands today. Still I played well and I am very pleased with a 68."

With high winds forecast for today's final round, tee-times have been brought forward by half an hour. But that's not good news for Smyth, who'd prefer to avoid a survival exercise.

?I?d prefer if the wind didn?t blow too hard tomorrow," Smyth said. "People say I am a great wind player but. I don?t want to be trying to hang on to par on every hole.?

Scotland?s Bill Longmuir and Sam Torrance both shot 70 to lurking just two strokes behind Smyth on one under par as overnight leader Alan Tapie crashed to a 12 over par 83 to fall out of contention.

Cork?s Denis O?Sullivan signed for a 70 and is just three shots behind Smyth on level par with Ian Woosnam and Domingo Hospital lurking on one-over par after a best of the day 67.

Irish Seniors Open, Ballyliffin GC, Old Links (Par 71)

After 36 holes:

139 D Smyth (Irl) 71 68

140 J Quiros (Esp) 71 69, G Brand (Eng) 70 70

141 S Torrance (Sco) 71 70, B Longmuir (Sco) 71 70

142 E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 69, D Russell (Eng) 72 70, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 72 70, C Rocca (Ita) 71 71, A Barrera (Arg) 70 72

143 D Hospital (Esp) 76 67, I Woosnam (Wal) 76 67, J Chillas (Sco) 72 71

144 D Cambridge (Jam) 73 71, D Merriman (Aus) 72 72, D Good (Aus) 71 73, N Job (Eng) 71 73, S Owen (Nzl) 71 73, G Cali (Ita( 69 75

145 C Mason (Eng) 75 70, J Sallat (Fra) 73 72, A Murray (Eng) 73 72, T Giedeon (Ger) 73 72, J Bland (RSA) 72 73, M Piñero (Esp) 71 74, L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 76

146 G Encina (Chi) 75 71, T Gale (Aus) 75 71, A Franco (Par) 74 72, K Spurgeon (Eng) 74 72, S Lyle (Sco) 73 73, B Cameron (Eng) 72 74, T Charnley (Eng) 72 74, B Charles (Nzl) 71 75

147 P Teravainen (USA) 77 70, J Rhodes (Eng) 73 74, B Heuchan (Can) 73 74, K Tomori (Jpn) 71 76

148 A Fernandez (Chi) 75 73, G McGimpsey (NIr, am) 75 73, T Allen (Eng) 74 74, L Higgins (Irl) 73 75, A Sowa (Arg) 72 76

149 J Benda (USA) 77 72, E McMenamin (Irl, am) 74 75, H Carbonetti (Arg) 74 75, E Polland (NIr) 74 75, P O'Hagan (Irl) 74 75, B Lincoln (RSA) 73 76, R Drummond (Sco) 73 76,

150 M Gray (Sco) 80 70, I Mosey (Eng) 80 70, E Darcy (Irl) 77 73, T Price (Wal) 76 74, J Hall (Eng) 76 74, M Poxon (Eng) 75 75, S Ebihara (Jpn) 75 75, J Rivero (Esp) 74 76, J Hoskison (Eng) 73 77, A Garrido (Esp) 73 77, A Tapie (USA) 67 83

151 P Oakley (USA) 78 73, P Leonard (NIr) 77 74, M Bembridge (Eng) 77 74, J Heggarty (NIr) 76 75, S Ginn (Aus) 74 77, T Johnstone (Zim) 74 77

152 P Dugeny (Fra) 74 78, T Rastall (Eng) 73 79

153 M Miller (Sco) 77 76, B Boyd (USA) 77 76

154 V Smyth (am) (Irl) 77 77

155 B Larratt (Eng) 74 81

157 J Bruner (USA) 78 79

165 G Hopkins (USA) 83 82

Smyth carves out Irish Seniors lead

Brian Keogh — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:44:39 -0500

From Brian Keogh in Ballyliffin

Ireland's Des Smyth crafted a three-under par 68 to take and one-shot lead into the final round of the Irish Seniors Open at Ballyliffin.

The 55-year old carded five birdies and just two bogeys in a stiff southerly wind on the Old Links to top the leaderboard from Spain's Juan Quiros (69) and England's Gordon J Brand (70) on three-under par.

Struggling on the Champions Tour, Smyth is hoping to that a third European Seniors Tour victory will give him the confidence to retain his card in the United States and extend his run there for a seventh season.

Smyth said: "This is a title I would want to win more than any other apart from the British Seniors. Last year I won in Wentworth and went back to the US and had some good finishes. I'd love to win tomorrow and I will be giving it my best."

Out in two under par 33, Smyth birdied the 11th and 13th to get to four under but bogeyed the par three 17th and failed to birdie the par-five last.

"I had a 66 within my reach but just let it get out of my hands," said Smyth. 'still I played well and I am very pleased with a 68.

"I'd prefer if the wind didn"t blow too hard tomorrow. People say I am a great wind player but I don't want to be trying to hang on to par on every hole."

Scotland's Bill Longmuir and Sam Torrance both shot 70 to lurking just two strokes behind Smyth on one under par as overnight leader Alan Tapie crashed to a 12 over par 83 to fall out of contention.

Cork's Denis O'Sullivan carded a 70 and is just three shots behind Smyth on level par with Ian Woosnam lurking on one-over par after a best of the day 67.

Irish Seniors Open, Ballyliffin GC, Old Links (Par 71)

After 36 holes:

139 D Smyth (Irl) 71 68

140 J Quiros (Esp) 71 69, G Brand (Eng) 70 70

141 S Torrance (Sco) 71 70, B Longmuir (Sco) 71 70

142 E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 69, D Russell (Eng) 72 70, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 72 70, C Rocca (Ita) 71 71, A Barrera (Arg) 70 72

143 D Hospital (Esp) 76 67, I Woosnam (Wal) 76 67, J Chillas (Sco) 72 71

144 D Cambridge (Jam) 73 71, D Merriman (Aus) 72 72, D Good (Aus) 71 73, N Job (Eng) 71 73, S Owen (Nzl) 71 73, G Cali (Ita( 69 75

145 C Mason (Eng) 75 70, J Sallat (Fra) 73 72, A Murray (Eng) 73 72, T Giedeon (Ger) 73 72, J Bland (RSA) 72 73, M Piñero (Esp) 71 74, L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 76

146 G Encina (Chi) 75 71, T Gale (Aus) 75 71, A Franco (Par) 74 72, K Spurgeon (Eng) 74 72, S Lyle (Sco) 73 73, B Cameron (Eng) 72 74, T Charnley (Eng) 72 74, B Charles (Nzl) 71 75

147 P Teravainen (USA) 77 70, J Rhodes (Eng) 73 74, B Heuchan (Can) 73 74, K Tomori (Jpn) 71 76

148 A Fernandez (Chi) 75 73, G McGimpsey (NIr, am) 75 73, T Allen (Eng) 74 74, L Higgins (Irl) 73 75, A Sowa (Arg) 72 76

149 J Benda (USA) 77 72, E McMenamin (Irl, am) 74 75, H Carbonetti (Arg) 74 75, E Polland (NIr) 74 75, P O"Hagan (Irl) 74 75, B Lincoln (RSA) 73 76, R Drummond (Sco) 73 76,

150 M Gray (Sco) 80 70, I Mosey (Eng) 80 70, E Darcy (Irl) 77 73, T Price (Wal) 76 74, J Hall (Eng) 76 74, M Poxon (Eng) 75 75, S Ebihara (Jpn) 75 75, J Rivero (Esp) 74 76, J Hoskison (Eng) 73 77, A Garrido (Esp) 73 77, A Tapie (USA) 67 83

151 P Oakley (USA) 78 73, P Leonard (NIr) 77 74, M Bembridge (Eng) 77 74, J Heggarty (NIr) 76 75, S Ginn (Aus) 74 77, T Johnstone (Zim) 74 77

152 P Dugeny (Fra) 74 78, T Rastall (Eng) 73 79

153 M Miller (Sco) 77 76, B Boyd (USA) 77 76

154 V Smyth (am) (Irl) 77 77

155 B Larratt (Eng) 74 81

157 J Bruner (USA) 78 79

165 G Hopkins (USA) 83 82

Round one to Ballyliffin

Brian Keogh — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:42:41 -0500

Ballyliffin’s Old Links was the real winner as just five players broke par in the opening round of the Irish Seniors Open.

American Alan Tapie birdied the par-five 18th for a four under par 67 and a two-stroke lead over Italy’s Giuseppe Cali and Argentina’s Luis Carbonetti.

But while Argentina’s Alfonso Barrera and England’s Gordon J Brand carded rounds of 70 to share fourth place on one-under it was New Zealander Bob Charles who grabbed all the limelight when he shot a level par 71 to beat his age by a shot.

The elegant left-hander finished the day in an 11-man group that included Des Smyth, Sam Torrance and defending champion Costantino Rocca on a day when Sandy Lyle struggled to a two-over par 73 and Ian Woosnam limped home in 76 with just one birdie on his card.

Asked the secret of his success, Charles beamed: “Moderation is my motto. I don’t go to excess on anything. A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

“I have a glass of white and a glass of red in the evenings, sometimes I have two glasses of red. I drink wine and water, nothing else. I think tea and coffee are more poisonous than anything else.”

Leader Tapie had five birdies and just one bogey in his 67 that featured some strong play off the tee.

“This course is about as linksy as you can get,” the 59-year old explained. “You get all different lies on the fairways and it’s a good test. You’ll be lucky to go all three days and not find any trouble out here.”

While Smyth played the back nine in two under for his 71, Torrance had to finish birdie-birdie to match him while defending champion Rocca needed an closing eagle three, hitting a glorious three wood to six feet at 580-yard 18th.

Rocca said: “It’s not easy out there with the wind but I like this links course. When you hit it well out there you can make a good connection with the ball.”

Denis O’Sullivan is the next best of the Irish after a one-over par 72 with Liam Higgins a shot back on 73 on a day when a stiff west wind and squally showers made life difficult for the 75-man field.

Amateur Enda McMenamin failed to make a birdie but he had just one bogey and a double bogey in a 74 that left him tied for 39th place with fellow Ulstermen Peter O’Hagan and Eddie Polland on three-over par.

Former Walker Cup and Ireland great Garth McGimpsey birdied the last for a 75, but echoed the feelings of many when he explained: “I hit some good tee shots and finished just off the fairways. You feel a bit aggrieved as you’ve hit the middle of the fairway and it’s kicked off left or right but that’s the nature of links golf and in particular this place. It is quite humpy and hilly.”

Irish Seniors Open (in association with Failte Ireland and Allied Irish Bank)

Ballyliffin GC, Old Links (Par 71)

67 A Tapie (USA) ;

69 G Cali (Ita) ; L Carbonetti (Arg) ;

70 G Brand (Eng) ; A Barrera (Arg) ;

71 B Charles (Nzl) ; M Piñero (Esp) ; D Good (Aus) ; J Quiros (Esp) ; S Torrance (Sco) ; C Rocca (Ita) ; N Job (Eng) ; K Tomori (Jpn) ; S Owen (Nzl) ; B Longmuir (Sco) ; D Smyth (Irl) ;

72 J Bland (RSA) ; A Sowa (Arg) ; B Cameron (Eng) ; J Chillas (Sco) ; D Merriman (Aus) ; T Charnley (Eng) ; D Russell (Eng) ; D O'Sullivan (Irl) ;

73 L Higgins (Irl) ; B Heuchan (Can) ; J Hoskison (Eng) ; D Cambridge (Jam) ; S Lyle (Sco) ; A Garrido (Esp) ; E Rodriguez (Esp) ; T Rastall (Eng) ; B Lincoln (RSA) ; A Murray (Eng) ; J Rhodes (Eng) ; T Giedeon (Ger) ; R Drummond (Sco) ; J Sallat (Fra) ;

74 P O'Hagan (Irl) ; B Larratt (Eng) ; H Carbonetti (Arg) ; A Franco (Par) ; K Spurgeon (Eng) ; E Polland (Nir) ; T Johnstone (Zim) ; T Allen (Eng) ; S Ginn (Aus) ; P Dugeny (Fra) ; J Rivero (Esp) ; E McMenamin (am) (Irl) ;

75 T Gale (Aus) ; G Encina (Chi) ; A Fernandez (Chi) ; S Ebihara (Jpn) ; M Poxon (Eng) ; C Mason (Eng) ; G McGimpsey (am) (Nir) ;

76 J Heggarty (Nir) ; J Hall (Eng) ; D Hospital (Esp) ; T Price (Wal) ; I Woosnam (Wal) ;

77 B Boyd (USA) ; M Miller (Sco) ; J Benda (USA) ; E Darcy (Irl) ; M Bembridge (Eng) ; P Leonard (Nir) ; P Teravainen (USA) ; V Smyth (am) (Irl) ;

78 P Oakley (USA) ; J Bruner (USA) ;

80 I Mosey (Eng) ; M Gray (Sco) ;

83 G Hopkins (USA)