Tom Cleary (Cork) with the 2016 Irish Seniors Amateur Open Championship trophy after his victory at Ardee Golf Club today. Picture by Pat Cashman
Tom Cleary added another prestigious title to his collection today, the Irish Seniors Amateur Open. The three time Munster Seniors Champion won his first national seniors title at Ardee Golf club after a final round 72 left him three ahead of the field. Cleary was tied for the lead going into the final round, and there were nine other players within two shots of the lead. Just like the Munster Seniors in Waterville, Cleary played very steady golf while all around him dropped shots on another testing day in Ardee.
The Cork Golf Club member opened on Wednesday with a three over par 74 to lie two shots off the lead. He followed on Thursday with another 74 that saw him lead alongside England’s Andrew Carman. The English international carded a four over par 75 in his final round to fall out of contention. Cleary had a testing start, he bogied the 2nd & 3rd holes but he added two birdies at 6 and 8 to reach the turn on level par. Two more pars followed and at that stage Tom was three shots ahead of Carman. Cleary bogies the 15th but he was three shots ahead of the leader in the club house. Cleary reached the 18th tee Continue reading
Cork’s Tom Cleary shots a second consecutive 74 to lead after two rounds at the Irish Seniors Open in Ardee today. Cleary was in 8th place after the first round, but he was only two shots off the three way tie for the lead. He followed up with another 74 today to tie with England’s Andrew Carman. Cleary was happy with his performance, this was his first competitive outing since representing GB&I in the Concession Cup in Florida: “It was very windy out there to be honest, very hard to keep the ball straight but I’m happy enough”.
James Sugrue recovered from an early double bogey to post a two under par 70, and jump into the top ten at the Flogas Irish Amateur Open. Sugrue had a 5 on the par three fourth hole, but bounced back with quick two birdies. More birdies on the back nine saw him move under par and he signed for a 70. The Mallow teenager is the best placed Cork golfer in action in Royal Dublin, he now on -3. Mark Shanahan finished with a one under par 71 to move inside the top 20. It could have been much better only for a double bogey on the 17th and he’s now on -1 for the tournament.
Mark Shanahan and James Sugrue both shot two under par 70’s at Royal Dublin today in the second round of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open. Sugrue is now two under for the tournament and he’s just outside the top 10. Around half of the field have completed their second rounds. Castlemartyr’s Mark Shanahan is two shots behind Sugrue. He had a mixed start to his round but he birdied three of the last six holes to get back into the red and he’s on level par after 36 holes. Shanahan is tied for 20th place currently. John Hickey bounced back from his opening 75, he had four birdies and two bogies and signed for a 70 to get back to +1. Cathal Butler shot a second round 74 and he now also sits in 30th place on +1. Ian O’Rourke is currently on +5, he added a 75 to his opening 74 and he’ll need a better score tomorrow to make the 54 hole cut.
Kinsale’s John Murphy has been selected on the Irish Boys team that will travel to the Fairhaven Trophy. Murphy is one of a team of four from Ireland and this will mark his second international event.
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