Morgan one clear in Mullingar
Daniel Holland and Des Morgan swap cards after the third round.Des Morgan has a one stroke lead with a round to play in the Mullingar Scratch Cup but with just six shots separating the top 14, a tight finish looks certain.
The home hero, bidding to become the first Mullingar winner in the event’s 50th year, carded a third round 74 to find himself in front on five under after playing partner Daniel Holland of Castle drove out of bounds and ran up a triple bogey seven at the 17th en route to a 73.
Mullingar’s Liam Gregan, (68), Portmarnock’s Geoff Lenehan (69), Tullamore’s Stuart Grehan (68), Warrenpoint’s William Hanna (72) and 2011 champion Nicky Grant of Knock (70) are just two behind.
Morgan, who underwent a heart intervention just 10 weeks ago, struggled in perfect morning conditions but did enough to keep his title hopes intact.
However, the chasing posse will have a chance to post a formidable target with the likes of Claremorris’ Stephen Healy just three behind after a super 67 earlier today.
Mullingar Scratch Cup after 54 holes
211 D Morgan (Mullingar) 67 70 74
212 D Holland (Castle) 68 71 73
213 L Grehan (Mullingar) 75 70 68, G Lenehan (Portmarnock) 73 71 69, S Grehan (Tullamore) 72 73 68, W Hanna (Warrenpoint) 70 71 72, N Grant (Knock) 69 74 70
214 S Healy (Claremorris) 73 74 67
215 C Doran (Banbridge) 75 69 71, A Kearney (Castlerock) 71 69 75, A Grant (Dundalk) 70 71 74
216 J Galbraith (Whitehead) 71 74 71
217 R Cannon (Balbriggan) 71 75 71, J Lyons (Galway) 71 73 73
218 J Whelan (Newlands) 73 71 74, S Ward (Co Louth) 70 75 73
219 C Rafferty (Greenore) 74 69 76, M Shanahan (Castlemartyr) 71 76 72
220 S Hogan (Nenagh) 77 72 71, R Bridges (Stackstown) 74 71 75, R Symington (Lisburn) 72 77 71
221 C Fairweather (Knock) 76 72 73, C Purcell (Portmarnock) 74 73 74, S Bryan (Delgany) 73 77 71, G Mungovan (Headfort) 73 75 73, J Fox (Portmarnock) 72 71 78
222 B McSweeney (Royal Dublin) 76 74 72, P Coughlan (Moate) 74 75 73, S Cullen (Slieve Russell) 70 79 73
223 S Ryan (Royal Dublin) 73 76 74, C Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 73 74 76, S Brady (Co Sligo) 72 78 73
224 S Maloney (Dunmurry Springs) 75 74 75, B McCormack (Castle Barna) 73 76 75
225 P Connolly (Clontarf) 77 74 74, J Pierse (Grange) 73 72 80, A Doran (Ardee) 72 76 77
226 C Tormey (Mullingar) 76 74 76, S O’Connor (Luttrelstown) 75 72 79, A Thomas (Dungarvan) 73 77 76
227 C Kennedy (Forrest Little) 74 76 77, C McKenna (Mallow) 74 73 80, J Igoe (Longford) 73 75 79
228 M Murphy (Co Longford) 76 75 77
229 C McGrogan (Newbridge) 77 74 78