NORTH OF IRELAND: South of Ireland champion Cian McNamara clashes with East Tennessee State University colleague Gareth Shaw at Royal Portrush this morning in the third matchplay round of the North of Ireland Championship after yesterday's surprise results.
Shaw dismissed senior international Mark Campbell by 2 and 1. He was two down after seven holes but won eight and nine, and clinched victory with birdies at 15 and 17.
McNamara took 21 holes, however, before getting rid of The Island player David Rawluk. The winner rolled home a 40-foot putt at 17 to go one up but Rawluk hit back with 50-footer for birdie on the 18th. At the third tie-hole, Rawluk missed the green and failed to get up and down for par three, letting McNamara through.
Paul O'Hanlon, whose short game was superb, first sent Co Sligo's Martin McTernan packing on a one-hole ticket and then dismissed Aaron Wilson (Cairndhu) by 4 and 3.
This morning O'Hanlon clashes with Donal O'Brien from Laytown & Bettystown, who sent international Conor Doran (Banbridge) and Robert Forsythe packing. The match was all square after 14 holes but the winner rolled home a 20-footer for birdie to win the 15th hole and then took the 16th in par four. Ballyclare's Forsythe found a fairway bunker and failed to get up and down for his four.
Record-breaker Rory McIlroy continued his winning ways with 2 and 1 wins over Kevin Condren and Barry Trainor, and this morning faces Andrew Pitcher from The Island. McIlroy had to fight back in both his games. In the first round he was four down with four to play against Bill Armstrong but won the last four holes in par-birdie-birdie-bogey. Against Trainor, he wrapped up victory with birdie four at the 17th.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP: Brian McElhinney is one of six players chosen by the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) to compete in the European Individual Championship at Antwerp Golf Club in Belgium from August 17th-20th. The British Amateur champion is a former winner (2003) of the European Strokeplay event, reports John O'Sullivan. McElhinney, who competes in the British Open at St Andrews today, is Ireland's sole representative on the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team that takes on the USA in Chicago next month. Also included for Antwerp are Rory McIlroy, winner of the West of Ireland and Irish Close titles, Conor Doran, Michael McGeady (North West), Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) and Cian McNamara.
GUI TEAM: Connor Doran (Banbridge), Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Brian McElhinney (North West) Michael McGeady (North West), Rory McIlroy (Holywood), Cian McNamara (Limerick).
CHALLENGE TOUR: The Golf Union of Ireland has confirmed six participants in the "Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge", a European Challenge Tour event at Killarney Golf Club from July 28th-31st, reports John O'Sullivan. The event has been developed by the European Challenge Tour to mark the Ryder Cup in Ireland next year.
The challenge will carry a prize fund of €130,000.
GUI TEAM: Greg Bowden (Hermitage), Mark Campbell (Stackstown), Aengus McAllister (Portmarnock), Aaron O'Callaghan (Douglas), Mark O'Sullivan (Galway), Mervyn Owens (Mallow).
CHALLENGE TOUR: Athlone's Colm Moriarty got off to a flying five under par start at the Texbond Open to lie just two shots off the early pace set by Sweden's Fredrik Widmark at Garda Golf in Italy.
David Higgins of Waterville and Belfast's Michael Hoey are just one behind Moriarty, who had a great opening round consisting of six birdies, 11 pars and just a single dropped shot. Higgins and Hoey posted rounds of four under 68, while, the other Irishman in the field - Limerick's Tim Rice - carded a four over 76.
