Hugh O’Leary from Castlemartyr captured second place in the Irish Seniors Close at Malone today. O’Leary started the final around just one shot behind Jim Carvill and while he couldn’t catch the leader he did hold on to second place.  Similar to yesterday, O’Leary struggled on Malone’s front nine and turned on +4.  And just like yesterday he broke par on the back nine with birdies is at the 16th and 17^th.  That saw him finish one shot ahead of third placed Desmond Shearer.  Karl Bornemann continued his steady scoring for a third day, he signed for a 74 which saw him retain his sixth place position.

Cork’s Fergal Deasy made his senior’s debut this week and he continued his recent form to claim a top ten finish.  Deasy was one of only two players to break par today.  He was level par after the front nine after three birdies, three pars and three bogies, but he was one under on the way back thanks to eight pars and birdie on the 14^th.

Deasy won the Macroom Senior Scratch Cup last week, it was an impressive performance given that a large number of golfers used the competition as a practice round for the upcoming AIG Barton Shield.  Fergal was the only golfer to match par at the event signalling the likelihood of a tough course set-up for next week’s showpiece.  Michael Quirke finished in 14^th place and Tom Cleary was 25^th.

For Carvill, this success is added to a CV that also includes the Irish Over-30s (2016), East of Ireland (2005) and South of Ireland (2005) Championships.  Carvill finished with a round of 72, one over for the day and level par for the tournament.  He was level par through nine holes which meant he had a clear lead over the field.

Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championships, Results – Malone GC, Friday 7 July

213 J Carvill (Banbridge), 73, 68, 72
216 H O’Leary (Castlemartyr), 72, 70, 74
218 D Shearer (Malone), 75, 72, 71
219 M McMurray (Royal Portrush), 74, 71, 74
220 E Haugh (Castletroy), 72, 73, 75
221 K Bornemann (Douglas), 73, 74, 74; C Murphy (Clandeboye), 72, 81, 68; A Morrow (Portmarnock), 72, 72, 77
222 F Deasy (Cork), 77, 75, 70; J Mitchell (Tramore), 77, 73, 72
223 J Hughes (Woodbrook), 70, 82, 71
224 D O’Neill (Carton House), 78, 72, 74; B Donlon (Birr), 72, 76, 76
225 M Kelly (Naas), 77, 72, 76; G McGimpsey (Royal Portrush), 76, 76, 73; M Quirke (Doneraile), 76, 74, 75; B Hobson (Malone), 75, 75, 75; T Tyrrell (The Heath), 75, 75, 75; J McWilliams (Naas), 73, 76, 76; N Duke (Killiney), 70, 81, 74
226 P Bevins (Carlow), 77, 76, 73; P Sheehan (Ballybunion), 74, 73, 79; D Brabazon (Balbriggan), 71, 77, 78
227 D Hogan (Killeen), 73, 76, 78
228 T Cleary (Cork), 81, 74, 73; J Kelly (Lucan), 81, 72, 75; A Moran (Tuam), 75, 80, 73; M Scott (Hollystown), 74, 75, 79
229 H Smyth (Mourne), 81, 71, 77; P Madigan (Waterford Castle), 79, 76, 74; T McClements (Clandeboye), 75, 76, 78
230 C Mcilroy (Holywood), 79, 71, 80; E Heywood (City of Derry), 77, 78, 75; F Harrold (Castletroy), 76, 76, 78; A Egan (Royal Curragh), 76, 73, 81; B McDonnell (K Club), 74, 80, 76; M Darcy (Tullamore), 73, 79, 78
231 B O’Leary (Greystones), 73, 78, 80
232 G O’Sullivan (Tralee), 76, 76, 80
233 C Walshe (Dundalk), 78, 77, 78; A Lilley (Ballyclare), 75, 75, 83
236 D Smith (Millicent), 78, 77, 81
237 M Eaton (Holywood), 79, 75, 83; D Weekes (Malone), 76, 79, 82
245 N Woods (Bangor), 79, 85, 81
249 H MacKeown (Portmarnock), 82, 83, 84

NON QUALIFIERS
L Halpin (Westport), 82, 74; J Gilbert (Malone), 79, 77; P Reilly (County Loth), 76, 80; P Higgins (Forrest Little), 82, 75; M Gaynor (Co. Meath), 79, 78; P Houston (Galgorm Castle), 79, 78; R McDowell (Royal Belfast), 79, 78; J Coey (Clandeboye), 78, 79; P Mitchell (Holywood), 78, 79; J Williams (Castle), 77, 80; J McVeigh (Carlow), 77, 80; R Cross (Enniscrone), 76, 81; P Lewis (Woodbrook), 81, 77; G Maher (Castletroy), 78, 80; P Comerford (Corrstown), 78, 80; M Coote (Tralee), 78, 80; K Lawlor (Beaverstown), 77, 81; B Brennan (Malone), 77, 81; J Dempsey (Royal Curragh), 80, 79; K Knightly (The Royal Dublin), 79, 80; K Magennis (Banbridge), 78, 81; J O’Brien (Castlemartyr), 76, 83; T Byrne (Greystones), 85, 75; R Timlin (Galway), 83, 77; S McGarry (Ballymena ), 82, 78; K Lapsley (Dunfanaghy), 82, 78; J Doran (Letterkenny), 81, 79; G Bailie (Lisburn), 80, 80; M McCormick (West Middlesex), 79, 81; F Flynn (Laytown and Bettystown ), 78, 82; D O’Donovan (Bandon), 77, 83; N Mannion (Dun Laoghaire), 80, 81; J Field (Tulfarris), 83, 79; D Wilson (Royal Co. Down), 82, 80; R Fitzgerald (Tramore), 82, 81; S Bell (Gracehill), 81, 82; D Francis (Ashbourne), 80, 83; G Alford (Royal Portrush), 83, 81; J Morris  (Hollywood Lakes), 81, 83; W Todd (Blackwood), 84, 81; T Griffin (Corballis Links), 84, 81; E Murphy (Royal Curragh), 83, 82; M Galvin (Limerick), 82, 83; P Cox (Balbriggan), 81, 85; M Higgins (Claremorris), 83, 84; P Hautz (Delgany), 82, 85; J Power (Portmarnock), 81, 87; D Mc Inerney (Lahinch), 87, 82; M D’arcy (Oughterard), 83, 86; W Miscampbell (Malone), 82, 87; B Whitaker (Elm Park), 80, 89; D Boyd (Royal Belfast), 84, 86; A Smith (Blainroe), 87, 84; E Connolly (Blainroe), 86, 85; P Fulham (Glenlo Abbey), 85, 86; G Hutchinson (Royal Belfast), 84, 88; P Phelan (Cahir Park), 92, 83; T Collier (Co Louth), 86, 90; S Hosty (Galway), 90, 90; N Gormley (Dungannon), 86, 97

WD D Mulholland (Castlerock), 72, WD; J Gore (Oughterard), 78, WD; R Joyce (Oughterard), 76, WD

NR I Smyth (Clandeboye); A Bell (Greencastle)

RTD S Penney (Galgorm Castle); C Boyce (Rosapenna); M Ahern (Skerries); G Mellerick (Fota Island); K Sheehy (Athlone)