Maurice Kelly claimed his fifth Irish Seniors Close Championship at Enniscrone, finishing six shots clear of the field on five under.
Naas veteran Kelly entered the final round with a two-shot cushion but dropped three shots on the front nine to fall one behind Tuam’s Alan Moran. Disaster struck for Moran at the 10th where he ran up a triple bogey seven while Kelly caught fire on the back nine, making eagle at the par-five 14th and birdies at 13 and 16 to card a final round 72.
Kelly had previously won the Irish Seniors Close in 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2015. His triumph at Enniscrone marks his fifth victory in the event making him the most successful player in the championship since it was introduced in 2009.
Castlerock’s David Mulholland finished second on plus one having carded a 74 in the final round while England’s Steve Graham posted 75 to finish third.
Tramore’s John Mitchell took the category prize for the over 60s. Tralee’s Michael Coote was best in the over 65 category and Peter Cowley from Cork led the over 70s.
Irish Seniors Close Championship
Friday 6 July
Enniscrone (Par 73)
Results after 54 holes
214 M Kelly (Naas) 71, 71, 72
220 D Mulholland (Castlerock) 71, 75, 74
221 S Graham (East Sussex Nat) 76, 70, 75
222 A Egan (Royal Curragh) 73, 74, 75
223 A Moran (Tuam) 73, 71, 79
224 M Coote (Tralee) 74, 77, 73
226 S Underwood (Co. Sligo) 79, 71, 76; H Smyth (Mourne) 74, 76, 76
227 P Sheehan (Ballybunion) 80, 79, 68; E Haugh (Castletroy) 78, 73, 76; J O’Brien (Castlemartyr) 77, 75, 75; R Cross (Enniscrone) 75, 76, 76
228 J Mitchell (Tramore) 78, 77, 73
230 K Bornemann (Douglas) 83, 72, 75
231 J McVeigh (Carlow) 80, 75, 76
232 A Brannock (Newlands) 82, 75, 75; P Lyons (Cork) 79, 76, 77; R McDowell (Royal Belfast) 77, 77, 78
233 M Ahern (Skerries) 82, 77, 74; L Halpin (Westport) 80, 77, 76
234 T McClements (Clandeboye) 86, 74, 74
235 C Murphy (Clandeboye) 80, 82, 73; P Rogers (Dundalk) 79, 78, 78; P Cowley (Cork) 77, 78, 80
236 T Hayes (Co. Louth) 85, 74, 77; M McMurray (Royal Portrush) 84, 72, 80
237 B O’Leary (Greystones) 86, 74, 77; A Lilley (Ballyclare) 85, 69, 83
238 J Garvey (Seapoint) 82, 79, 77; F Flynn (Laytown & Bettystown ) 78, 82, 78
239 E Power (Kilkenny) 79, 82, 78
240 M Quirke (Doneraile) 85, 77, 78; D O’Loughlin (Kingswood) 85, 77, 78; S Alley (Co. Tipperary) 79, 79, 82; T Kelly (Balcarrick) 74, 81, 85
242 B Donlon (Birr) 83, 76, 83; B Burke (Moate) 82, 77, 83; P Bevins (Carlow) 81, 81, 80
245 M Gaynor (Co. Meath) 80, 82, 83
246 W Doggart (Clandeboye) 88, 74, 84
247 J Hughes (Balcarrick) 80, 82, 85
248 N Mannion (Dun Laoghaire) 85, 76, 87; I Smyth (Clandeboye) 84, 75, 89
249 D Smith (Millicent) 79, 83, 87
250 D Varian (Dun Laoghaire) 75, 85, 90
251 M Chambers (Royal Dublin) 82, 77, 92
NR N McGrane (Royal Dublin) 84, 66; E Heywood (City of Derry) 79, 79
NS J Dempsey (Royal Curragh) 82, 80
Non-Qualifiers
163 A Wynne (Strandhill) 82, 81; D O’Neill (The Links Portmarnock) 81, 82
164 P Madigan (Waterford Castle) 88, 76; R Timlin (Galway) 84, 80; L Connolly (Wexford) 83, 81; D Hogan (Newlands) 83, 81; N Duke (Killiney) 82, 82; F Leonard (Knightsbrook ) 81, 83; T Tyrrell (The Heath) 79, 85
165 S Ward (Laytown & Bettystown) 87, 78; M McCormick (West Middlesex) 86, 79; D O’Donovan (Bandon) 86, 79; M Eaton (Holywood) 83, 82; B Hobson (Malone) 81, 84; D Linehan (Muskerry) 80, 85; V Carney (Beech Park) 79, 86
166 P Mitchell (Holywood) 87, 79; J Hughes (Woodbrook) 86, 80; P Lewis (Woodbrook) 84, 82; C Mcilroy (Holywood) 84, 82; P Butler Jnr (Newlands) 83, 83; D Sheedy (Lahinch) 82, 84; D Weekes (Malone) 81, 85
167 P McGilloway (Hermitage) 87, 80; S Carter (Mountrath) 85, 82; M O’Neill (Clonmel) 85, 82; K Knightly (Royal Dublin) 82, 85; R Fitzgerald (Tramore) 82, 85; J Houlihan (Dooks) 81, 86
168 N Woods (Bangor) 87, 81; J Bodkin (Tuam) 84, 84; C Hurst (Pedham Place ) 83, 85; F Harrold (Castletroy) 82, 86; C Harrington (Southfield) 81, 87; M Crowley (Naas) 80, 88
169 J Williams (Castle) 93, 76; P Morgan (Co. Sligo) 85, 84; S Healy (Galway) 82, 87
170 K Lawlor (Beaverstown) 89, 81; T Saunders (Ennis) 87, 83
172 I Harbourne (Newlands) 89, 83; M Higgins (Claremorris) 83, 89
173 T Byrne (Greystones) 89, 84; P Browne (Laytown & Bettystown) 77, 96
174 B O’Malley (Royal Dublin) 90, 84; M Hogan (Glasson) 88, 86
175 H MacKeown (Portmarnock) 91, 84
176 M Donohue (Portumna) 97, 79
177 G Hutchinson (Royal Belfast) 91, 86; D Francis (Ashbourne) 91, 86
179 G Fox (Strandhill) 91, 88
184 S O’Mahony (Galway) 90, 94
187 T Griffin (Corballis Links) 91, 96
188 A Bell (Greencastle) 95, 93
WD H O’Leary (Muskerry) 83, WD; M Scott (Luttrellstown Castle) 84, WD; B Bolger (Portmarnock) 81, WD
NR M Horan (Birr Golf Club); P Higgins (Naas); D Egan (Moyvalley); P Reilly (Co. Louth)
RTD A Morrow (Portmarnock); C Walshe (Dundalk); K Sheehy (Athlone); R McDonnell (Co. Louth); J Hutchinson (Royal Dublin)
NR P Fulham (Glenlo Abbey); G Eagleton (Virginia); R Joyce (Oughterard); P Killeen (Claremorris)
