Elite Amateur tournament's 2019

Rikand

Figured it would be just as well to have a catchall thread for all low handicap amateur tournaments rather than me just starting another one for the Wesht!

West of Ireland kicks off today! A change from its usual running over the Easter break.

Scoring here :: https://www.golfnet.ie/GUILIve#/competition/1883276/leaderboard

Live twitter here :: https://mobile.twitter.com/2019woig

Leading qualifier from the qualifier was mel deasy who shot -3 and +2 or better was needed to be one of the 9 players from the qualifier.

Scoring looks just as good so far in the early running on day1

fred funk }{

Alan Lowry, I presume that's Shane's brother?

dar_cool

fred funk }{ wrote: »

Alan Lowry, I presume that's Shane's brother?

Yes Shane's brother. He caddied for him not so long ago

ShriekingSheet

Rikand wrote: »

Leading qualifier from the qualifier was mel deasy who shot -3 and +2 or better was needed to be one of the 9 players from the qualifier.

Scoring looks just as good so far in the early running on day1

I heard +2 was the cut in the Qualifier, but do the +3s & above then act as Reserves to get in where guys in the main draw don't show up?

ShriekingSheet

Has anyone got a good handle on the cut offs to get into the championships?

I think West was +0.7 (and East similar), South and Close are around 0.0 and North ends up as high as 2.5 - but I'm half guessing.

ShriekingSheet

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Has anyone got a good handle on the cut offs to get into the championships?

I think West was +0.7 (and East similar), South and Close are around 0.0 and North ends up as high as 2.5 - but I'm half guessing.

That sounds about right. The North is much higher because they play 36 hole qualifier over 2 courses where the Top 64 qualify for matchplay so more capacity for people to try and qualify.

Rikand

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

I heard +2 was the cut in the Qualifier, but do the +3s & above then act as Reserves to get in where guys in the main draw don't show up?

Yes they do.

fearruanua

All the big guns heading out around now!!


what do we think about the change in format??

Rikand

fearruanua wrote: »

All the big guns heading out around now!!


what do we think about the change in format??

Hate it. But sure what can you do. Fellas are already taking enough time off work Thursday and Friday to meet the new date so there's not much you can do. The matchplay would run on too long. Be different if it was still over the Easter

blackwhite

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

I heard +2 was the cut in the Qualifier, but do the +3s & above then act as Reserves to get in where guys in the main draw don't show up?

That's basically it.

Although in reality you end up with mainly locals taking the reserve slots, as anyone not within an hour or two of Rosses Point isn't going to hang around and hold the time off work in the hope of drop-offs.

Rikand

A young Rory from when he won the west in 2005 with the people he stayed with for the week

Rikand

Conor Purcell leads on -5 after shooting a 66.

Some great scoring up there

blackwhite

Fairways are relatively generous for a links - it’s the regular NW weather in Sligo that transforms the course into a beast.
When the winds are quiet the top amateurs will always make hay there

fearruanua

blackwhite wrote: »

Fairways are relatively generous for a links - it’s the regular NW weather in Sligo that transforms the course into a beast.
When the winds are quiet the top amateurs will always make hay there

Looking at the weather this morning, they'll be saving a lot of hay today I'd say.
Beautiful morning here in Galway!!

Remind me

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Has anyone got a good handle on the cut offs to get into the championships?

I think West was +0.7 (and East similar), South and Close are around 0.0 and North ends up as high as 2.5 - but I'm half guessing.

Cut for West was +.3 this year

Dr Devious

blackwhite wrote: »

Fairways are relatively generous for a links - it’s the regular NW weather in Sligo that transforms the course into a beast.
When the winds are quiet the top amateurs will always make hay there

Wind and inclement weather is one of the natural defenses of any links course, no wind then obviously the courses are open to some fellas going ape 5h1t on them.

Rikand

Into round 3 and the leaders at the start of the day at -5 are south champion Rafferty and 17 year old max Kennedy. Defending champion Robbie Brazil on -4

The cut happens after today with top 50 and ties making it through to Sunday. Cut line will probably fall somewhere around +10

Bit of controversy on the twitter this morning due to the large number of withdrawals, retirees and no shows. Should no shows get a 1 year ban from all championships if they do it? The vocal consensus is yes!

Donald Trumped

Rikand wrote: »

Into round 3 and the leaders at the start of the day at -5 are south champion Rafferty and 17 year old max Kennedy. Defending champion Robbie Brazil on -4

The cut happens after today with top 50 and ties making it through to Sunday. Cut line will probably fall somewhere around +10

Bit of controversy on the twitter this morning due to the large number of withdrawals, retirees and no shows. Should no shows get a 1 year ban from all championships if they do it? The vocal consensus is yes!

Saw that on twitter also. Personally I would 100% agree that a 1 year ban (longer if players withdraw for no reason again for the second time) for all GUI and provincial championships, would be the only way to stamp this out.

In my opinion it is very hard to police and stop these no-shows, withdrawals just because they are playing bad etc, unless they have a genuine medical condition or legitimate emergency.

It does damage the reputation of stroke play amateur championships and indeed amateur golf in general.

Anyways looks like a great final 36 holes in store in Co. Sligo. Personally I would not discount James Sugrue at all. The 2017 South of Ireland champion, is a wonderful tee to green player and could surprise Rafferty, Purcell et al. The Mallow clubman is 4 back on 1 under.

Mantis Toboggan

How old was McIlroy when he won it and are any of these lads good enough to go pro?

Donald Trumped

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

How old was McIlroy when he won it and are any of these lads good enough to go pro?

McIlroy won the West of Ireland in both 2005 and 2006 so he was just 15 years young when he claimed the West 14 years ago. Incredible really.

Any lads playing here that might be good enough to turn pro? Definitely Conor Purcell, Caolan Rafferty and James Sugrue are very talented and can easily make the transition from amateur to the pro game a smooth one. But as we have seen far too often, that transition can be a tough one. Stay amateur for as long as possible, is my message to those wannabe pros.

Mantis Toboggan

Huge transition alright, they really need to be launching it 270 metres off the the tee on average to have any hope.

Remind me

Max kennedy is only in 5th year so a serious prospect.

I would agree on sanctions for lads that just do not show up.

blackwhite

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

How old was McIlroy when he won it and are any of these lads good enough to go pro?

I remember the first year that he won it - from Good Friday onwards the word around Sligo was to get down to Rosses Point over the weekend to see him, because he was going to be the next big thing. Not only did he win, but he looked like a future star at that age.

Nobody since has had anything resembling that kind of excitement

Rikand

Caolan Rafferty 4 clear after 3 rounds.

There's no chance he'll be caught, is there ?

Remind me

Don’t know the English lad in 2nd but Purcell in 3rd would be the only other danger.

Weather looks lovely again for tomorrow so should be one less thing for Caolan to worry about.

BigChap1759

I see on the scores that one lad shot 98?!?

LuckyGent88

Conor Purcell closing the gap with 6 holes to go.

Also, another to look out for in future is Sam Murphy from Portumna. Had an incredible year last year

Donald Trumped

Caolan Rafferty is an impressive 4 shot winner of the West of Ireland. That win surely assures the Dundalk clubman a GB&I Walker Cup place in Hoylake this September. Conor Purcell finished tied 2nd after 3 bogeys in the last 5 holes, ending any chance the Portmarnock clubman had for a win in Rosses Point today.

Golfgorfield

Donald Trumped wrote: »

Caolan Rafferty is an impressive 4 shot winner of the West of Ireland. That win surely assures the Dundalk clubman a GB&I Walker Cup place in Hoylake this September. Conor Purcell finished tied 2nd after 3 bogeys in the last 5 holes, ending any chance the Portmarnock clubman had for a win in Rosses Point today.

Nothing Is assured when team selection is concerned. He will have to perform. Extremely well in the UK to get a pick. Usually home country success doesnt count for much with GBi selectors.

Dr Devious

I think the course stood up quite well to the top amateurs, there wasn’t any stupid wind to contend with at any time over the four days, at worst was it probably no more than a 2 club wind, if even. I think only 3 guys broke 70 today. Either the course changes have toughened the point up or there isn’t any great strength in the amateur ranks.

Mantis Toboggan

Yeah was thinking that with a field of top amateurs only 4 players to break par in very good conditions is dissapointing. You'd have to imagine the top Americans/british would tear it apart.

Remind me

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

Yeah was thinking that with a field of top amateurs only 4 players to break par in very good conditions is dissapointing. You'd have to imagine the top Americans/british would tear it apart.

Why?

6 of last 7 Irish amateur winner have been Irish and that has a very strong international field.

Just had a quick look and 2 British and 2 Australians in top 50 of WAGR from a much larger pool of players, Ireland also have 2.

Rikand

Yanks off +4 handicap regularly come over to play the west and shoot 90+

Dr Devious

If the top amateurs can't blitz the point in april with no rough and wind then they'll certainly struggle in May when the rough come up.

Donald Trumped

Some more good news in relation to golfers who are currently on a golf scholarships in the other side of the Atlantic.

Forrest Little's Julie McCarthy, has won her first US collegiate golf title by finishing joint 1st in the Clemson Invitational, which was reduced to 36 holes due to bad weather. McCarthy who secured a place in the International team for the Palmer Cup, a annual team event between the US and the Rest of the World, secured her spot after a string of impressive performances for Auburn golf in 2019. Killarney's Catriona Griffin and Lurgan's Maeve Cummins also had victories on the US Collegiate circuit.

The work that the Irish ladies golf union are doing to promoting and improving standards in Irish women's golf, is clearly bearing fruit. With Olivia Meheffey also performing well in the Augusta Women's Amateur, and with Leona Maguire securing her first pro title on the Symetra Tour, women's golf in Ireland is in a really good place at the moment. Long may that continue.

GreeBo

Donald Trumped wrote: »

Some more good news in relation to golfers who are currently on a golf scholarships in the other side of the Atlantic.

Forrest Little's Julie McCarthy, has won her first US collegiate golf title by finishing joint 1st in the Clemson Invitational, which was reduced to 36 holes due to bad weather. McCarthy who secured a place in the International team for the Palmer Cup, a annual team event between the US and the Rest of the World, secured her spot after a string of impressive performances for Auburn golf in 2019. Killarney's Catriona Griffin and Lurgan's Maeve Cummins also had victories on the US Collegiate circuit.

The work that the Irish ladies golf union are doing to promoting and improving standards in Irish women's golf, is clearly bearing fruit. With Olivia Meheffey also performing well in the Augusta Women's Amateur, and with Leona Maguire securing her first pro title on the Symetra Tour, women's golf in Ireland is in a really good place at the moment. Long may that continue.

Is Dave Kearney still involved with them?

Rikand

Athlone Senior Scratch Cup was on today.

i know its not quite elite level but Nenaghs David Reddan shot an elite score and came home the winner in very tough wet freezing cold conditions. The main reason I came on here to post of course was that yours truly picked up a prize! I think I more got a prize just for going the distance, but still, a prize is a prize! A dozen proV's

Donald Trumped

The Irish Amateur Open championship got underway in County Sligo GC today. Already we have had a bit of history, as Galway's Ronan Mullarney shot a course record 9 under par round of 62 today (previous record was 64 I think) and not surprisingly is the current leader of this prestigious tournament.

Conditions look good there in Sligo and with the forecast for light breezes to continue until tournament's end on Sunday, expect plenty of good scoring in this beautiful part of North West Ireland. Conor Purcell from Portmarnock, who is the highest ranked player in the World Amateur Golf rankings heading into this tournament is at 1 under par, after an opening round of 70.

Donald Trumped

James Newton claimed victory in the Irish Amateur open golf championship yesterday. He won by 5 shots in tough final round conditions in Co. Sligo GC at 9 under. The Englishman's nearest challenger was Ireland's best amateur at the moment, Portmarnock's Conor Purcell who finished second at 4 under.

fearruanua

St Andrews Links Trophy kicks off this morning. Defending champion is John Murphy from Kinsale.

https://salt.intelligentgolf.co.uk/competition.php?compid=3446&preview=1

Remind me

Must be a calm morning looking at those scores!

fearruanua

fair shooting alright!!!

mighty magpie

-6 through 9 for peter o'keefe! surely that's his best ever 9 holes!!

Donald Trumped

Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty currently leads the way in the St Andrews Links Trophy as round 2 completes its halfway stage. Rafferty carded a 7 under par round of 65 to lead at 10 under. He is one shot ahead of Mallow's James Sugrue who shot a 4 under par round of 68 to finish round 2 at 9 under. The 1st round was played yesterday at the Jubilee Course at St Andrews. Rounds 2, 3 and 4 will be played at the infamous world renowned Old Course, where they are at today. The final 36 holes will be played tomorrow. Conor Purcell at 4 under is just starting his second round.

Remind me

Donald Trumped wrote: »

Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty currently leads the way in the St Andrews Links Trophy as round 2 completes its halfway stage. Rafferty carded a 7 under par round of 65 to lead at 10 under. He is one shot ahead of Mallow's James Sugrue who shot a 4 under par round of 68 to finish round 2 at 9 under. The 1st round was played yesterday at the Jubilee Course at St Andrews. Rounds 2, 3 and 4 will be played at the infamous world renowned Old Course, where they are at today. The final 36 holes will be played tomorrow. Conor Purcell at 4 under is just starting his second round.

Rowan Lester -6 not long into his second round

mighty magpie

lots of big names out in round 2 of the south matchplay including our 3 current walker cup hopefuls Surgue, Rafferty and Power. Conor Purcell and Ronan Mullarney also out.

Big names currently left in the last 16 are John Murphy, Peter O'Keeffe and Tiarnan McLarnon.

Remind me

mighty magpie wrote: »

lots of big names out in round 2 of the south matchplay including our 3 current walker cup hopefuls Surgue, Rafferty and Power. Conor Purcell and Ronan Mullarney also out.

Big names currently left in the last 16 are John Murphy, Peter O'Keeffe and Tiarnan McLarnon.

Purcell is still in the Walker Cup squad

Remind me

Would have been nice to see Egan win the final

Rikand

Was anyone down at it ? Only 1 hole in it at the finish

mighty magpie

Great start by Sugrue in the US amateur at pinehurst. Purcell and Rafferty with a bit of work to do to make the cut although it looks like one course is playing much harder than the other based on the most of the scoring and is reflected in the Irish scores too.

paulos53

Average score on Course No. 2 was 77 vs 73 on Course No. 4