Moynihan Wins Blustery Irish Amateur
DUBLIN, IRELAND | With drives ranging in
length from 220 to 350 yards, flame-haired
Gavin Moynihan conquered fierce winds to
capture the Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay
Championship at Royal Dublin yesterday.
Closing rounds of 76 and 75 for an ag-
gregate of 295, gave the 17-year-old Dublin
schoolboy a one-stroke victory over the Neth-
erlands Robin Kind. Key to victory were single
putts from the 11th to the 14th in the afternoon,
which he covered in 1-under par.
“Those last two rounds were the best I’ve
played in such difficult conditions,” said the young-
ster who won the Peter McEvoy Trophy by five
strokes at Copt Heath last month. “I may be late
for school in the morning,” he added with a grin.
Though it underwent a major face-lift seven
years ago, shaped by the architectural skills of
Martin Hawtree, the Dollymount stretch retains
the essential character of an old-fashioned
“out-and-back” links. Which in the prevailing
westerly wind placed huge emphasis on reap-
ing the maximum dividend from the front nine.
When the half-way cut was made on 152
– 8-over par – there was the makings of a
fascinating story with current West of Ireland
champion, Harry Diamond, leading the
45 qualifiers on 143. It will be
recalled that the 27-year-
old from Belvoir Park
was guilty of disturb-
ing some Augusta
neighbours by playing
street-football with Rory
McIlroy during The Mas-
ters last year.
From a strong, challenging position in an
Gavin Moynihan
event which eluded his celebrated pal, however,
Diamond tumbled down the leaderboard in the
third round yesterday morning when the difficulty of the conditions were severe. As a reflection of his problems on the homeward journey,
he had to sink a 15-foot putt for a double-bogey
six on the 17th, en route to a dispiriting 81.
The lead at this stage was shared by
Moynihan and Richard Bridges of Stackstown
on 220 – 4-over par. Next came Kind on 221
with the 2010 champion, Alan Dunbar, a stroke
further back on 222. Morning conditions were
so daunting that officials considered it prudent
to move tees forward on the majority of the
inward nine for the final round.
Even at that, it remained a forbidding challenge, as Stackstown member Bridges found
to his cost. Where a final round in the low 70s
would have won him the championship, he
became one of several serious casualties of the
weather with a closing 84.
RESULTS
Dermot Gilleece
SCOTT CROWNED YOUTHS CHAMPION
Ewan Scott defied the difficult conditions to
claim glory in the Golf Data Lab Youths Open
Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Lady-bank Golf Club Sunday.
Ahead of turning 17 on Wednesday, the St
Andrews teenager gave himself an early birthday present in the prestigious Under- 21 national event, winning by three strokes from his
SGU National Boys’ Squad team-mate Bradley
Neil after 72 holes.
READ MORE RESULTS
Staff and Wire Reports
MayMadness
Suzann Pettersen returns to
Hamilton Farm Golf Club to defend her title at the
Sybase MatchPlay Championship
Suzann Pettersen
Cristie Kerr
Through head-to-head competition, the bracket
starts with 64 top players and ends up with one champion.
Play our online bracket game and predict who will be holding the trophy on Sunday
Tune In on the Golf Channel in
May 17 6: 30 - 8: 30 PM ET
May 18 6: 30 - 8: 30 PM ET
May 19 3:00 - 6:00 PM ET
May 20 4:00 - 6:00 PM ET
