Top class field following in Rory's footsteps at Rosapenna

A lot has happened in Rory McIlroy’s life since he won the inaugural Rosapenna Senior Scratch Cup in 2005.Walker Cup players Alan Dunbar and Paul Cutler have had to pull out to meet up with the Great Britain and Ireland team ahead of next week’s joust with the US, but there is still a top quality field for tomorrow’s Rosapenna Senior and Junior Scratch Cups in spectacular Donegal.

Sponsored by McGinley Motors Letterkenny, competitors in both events will begin with 18 holes over the sensational Sandy Hills Links, rated 19th in the Golf World list of Great Britain and Ireland’s top courses.

Rory with the trophy. Click to enlarge.After lunch they will face another 18 holes over the Old Tom Morris Links, which is currenly rated at No.44 in the Top 100 Irish Course List.

The event was first staged in 2005 when current US Open champion Rory McIlroy triumphed in one of his greatest amateur seasons.

In 2006 it fell to Ballyliffin’s Brendan McCarroll, now a professional, but since then the handsome silver trophy has remained in the hands of some of Ireland’s elite amateurs.

Simon Ward won in 2008 and Enda Kennedy in 2009 while Connor Doran claimed the title in 2007 and again last year and is back again to seek a third victory when he tees it up with Ward and Royal Portrush’s Patrick McCrudden.

Matt McAlpin, Dwayne Mallon, Willie Hanna, John Greene, Shaun Ryan, Enda Kennedy, Colm Campbell, Aaron Kearney and Andy Hogan complete the leading entries for what promises to be another cracking tussle over two great links courses.