O'Flaherty claims Munster Mid-Am with closing birdie

Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) tees off in the third round of the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch on 28 July, 2018.  Picture © Niall O'Shea

Cork’s Gary O’Flaherty birded the 18th to claim the Munster Mid-Amateur title for the second time in eight years at Lee Valley Golf & Country Club.

The Munster Interprovincial began the final round three strokes behind Douglas’ Kieran O’Donoghue on three-over-par but followed an early bogey with two birdies to go to the last needing a birdie to overcome Dungarvan’s Alan Thomas, who shot a 69 to set the clubhouse target at two-over 218.

O’Flaherty, who won the title at Limerick in 2011, hit a 160-yard approach to five feet and made the putt to add a two-under-par 70 to previous rounds of 73 and 74 and claim the title for the second time on one-over 216.

Muskerry’s David O’Donovan shot a 70 to finish third, two shots behind the winner, on three-over-par 219.

He edged out overnight leader O’Donoghue, who shot 75, for fourth place after a countback.

Munster Mid-Amateur Open Championship, Lee Valley Golf Club (Par 72)

• Winner — Gary O’Flaherty (Cork) 217
• Runner — Up Alan Thomas (Dungarvan) 218
• Third — David O’Donovan (Muskerry) (Back 36) 219
• Fourth — Kieran O’Donoghue (Douglas) 219
• Fifth — Eoghan Long (Monkstown) (Back36) 220
• Best Gross — R3 Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock)(Back 6) 71
• Best Nett — Karl Bornemann (Douglas) 222
• Second Nett — John O’Brien (Castlemartyr) 224

Detailed scores

217 G O'Flaherty (Cork) 73 74 70

218 A Thomas (Dungarvan) 76 73 69

219 D O'Donovan (Muskerry) 73 76 70; K O'Donoghue (Douglas ) 72 72 75

220 E Long (Monkstown) 75 76 69; G Lenehan (Portmarnock) 72 77 71

222 K Bornemann (Douglas) 75 76 71

224 G Dunne (Co. Louth) 76 75 73; J O'Brien (Castlemartyr) 71 77 76

225 J O'Neill (Lee Valley) 75 74 76

226 P Murray (Clontarf) 79 75 72; M Ford (Cork) 75 72 79; A Condren (Greystones) 73 75 78

227 P Connolly (Killeen Castle) 70 76 81

228 J Waldron (Muskerry) 78 75 75; P Flynn (Tramore) 78 74 76; R Connolly (Grange) 73 81 74

229 C Ryan (Killeen Castle) 80 76 73; S Miskelly (Knock) 75 80 74

230 D O'Donoghue (Bandon) 77 75 78

231 J Kehoe (Limerick) 72 83 76

233 B Timlin (Galway) 73 82 78

234 P Power (Lee Valley) 79 79 76

237 C O'Donnell (Fota Island) 82 79 76

239 J O'Sullivan (Fota Island) 78 81 80

240 D Coughlan (Castleknock) 81 79 80

242 A Considine (Lahinch) 80 81 81

244 R Kennedy (Monkstown) 77 86 81

RTD K Collins (Fermoy) 81 81; N Duggan (Dromoland) 80 83

158 P Fitzpatrick (Kanturk) 77 81 (Did not play final round)

CUT

164 R Hurley (Fermoy) 83 81; B Loftus (Lahinch) 80 84

165 B Lenihan (Newcastle West) 86 79; K O'Connell (Cork) 85 80

167 D Smith (Malahide) 81 86

169 B Dore (Newcastle West) 86 83; D O'Sullivan (Dooks) 85 84; D Ryan (Lee Valley) 83 86; B Power (Goldcoast) 82 87

175 R Williams (Naas) 87 88; C Sheehy (Glasson) 86 89

NR L Halpin Jnr (Shannon)

RTD P Roche (Palmerstown Hse Est)

NR P O'Connor (Malahide); M Collins (Killeen Castle); J Kiely (Slievenamon)

RTD I O'Flynn (Cork )

NR C O'Donoghue (Castletroy); D McCarthy (Bandon)

RTD I Spillane (Killarney)

NR S Kenneally (Kinsale); B Attridge (Mallow); L Connolly (Wexford)

RTD K Crowley (Fota Island)

NR L Power (Palmerstown Hse Est); S Kelly (Ballinasloe); D O'Driscoll (Ballybunion)

RTD K Hurley (Bandon); S O'Brien (Fota Island)

NR S Morris (Limerick); M Coleman (Limerick)

RTD G Kelly (Mallow).

from News - Irish Golf Desk https://ift.tt/2Qf7dvn