Tiarnan McLarnon
Tiaran McLarnon shot a course record 66 (-6) in Lee Valley this afternoon to take a four stroke lead heading into the final round of the Boylesports sponsored Senior Scratch Cup. The Massereene golfer tied the lead after the opening round when he and Kinsale teenager Robbie Walsh shot a pair of 73’s in difficult conditions. McLarnon doubled down this afternoon and an eagle on the par four 1st hole helped him to take a firm hand on the 54 hole event, he’s on -5 (139) going into the final round. McLarnon, who finished as runner up last year, is now six under for his last five rounds in Lee Valley – 66-73-70-74-71!
McLarnon is the man to catch and he’s four shots ahead of Ronan Mullarney who sot a 69 this afternoon to go with his opening 74 (143, -1). Sean Desmond rounds off the top three. He was under par in the afternoon as well, with a 71 to finish on 147 (+3).
Gallery: Boylesports Lee Valley Senior Scratch R2 Pictures
Kieran McCarthy was a bit cross after the opening round. After a good drive on the 17th he failed to find his ball Continue reading
Donal McDonnell was the winner on Sunday, picking up his first Senior Scratch Cup title. Fota Island held their annual showpiece on Sunday, again in association with Top Golfer. There was a full timesheet for the event on the Deerpark course, and the three time Irish Open venue proved itself yet again as nobody could break par. Although the course was in great condition, it did play all of it’s 6,927 yards. Donal McDonnell from Monkstown was the winner after four players tied on 73. McDonnell took the title ahead of John O’Brien (Castlemartyr), Kieran Kennedy (Thurles) and David Howard (Fota Island). The Monkstown golfer is a regular on Monkstown’s successful Senior Cup team and has a provincial winners medal, Donal is also Junior Officer in Monkstown. This was his first senior scratch cup title and needless to say he was delighted with his win. Although he was four over par at the turn, McDonnell put together a great back nine. He shot two under for the second nine, and finished 3,3,4 which was crucial in terms of his placing for the countback. Although the top four were tied, John O’Brien took second place, Kennedy was third and David Howard was fourth. Howard had a busy weekend, on Saturday the four handicapper shot a 75 in Muskerry in the Ford Junior Scratch Trophy qualifier, and on Sunday he beat his handicap by two when he shot the 73. Anyone looking to play Fota this week can take advantage of their Masters Week specials, full details are available from the pro shop.
On Saturday Fionn Hickey claimed his second scratch cup when he won the East Cork Senior Scratch Cup. The 16 year old came away with the title after beating Kinsale’s Mark Healy on the countback. A birdie on Hickey’s final hole (15th) proved crucial in the end after both golfers shot a 70 (+1). Fermoy’s Dean O’Riordan took third place with a 71. The first nett prize went to Bandon’s Michael O’Neill with a 68, while East Cork’s Kieran O’Brien was second nett with 69. The scratch cup was sponsored by McGuirks and was the first of a few events that will mark the club’s 50th anniversary.
