McCormack tops as storms curtail Rosapenna Scratch Cups

2014 Rosapenna Senior Scratch Cup winner Eddie McCormack with sponsor Noel McGinley (right) and Rosapenna Captain Bernard O'Neill (left).

Galway Golf Club's Eddie McCormack claimed the 10th edition of the McGinley Motors sponsors Rosapenna Senior Scratch Cup after the third round was abandoned due to high winds at the spectacular Donegal resort.

Ten years after Master's favourite Rory McIlroy beat the reigning British Amateur champion Brian McElhinney over 36 holes on the Sandy Hills links, the annual Rosapenna Senior and Junior Scratch Cups were to be contested over 54 holes with 36 holes on Saturday and a further 18 holes on Sunday morning. 

After the first day's play — Sandy Hills in the morning followed by the Old Tom Morris links in the afternoon —  McCormack lead by three strokes on two under par (71-70) from Rory Leonard (73-71) on one over par.

County Sligo's Steffan O'Hara was a shot further back on two over (72-73) followed by Robbie Cannon (76-70) and Connor O'Rourke (73-73) on three over par while Portmarnock's up and coming star Conor Purcell was four over.

Sadly, the weather did not co-operate on Sunday morning as the field tackled the Sandy Hills Links and with high winds causing golf balls to oscillate, the round had to be abandoned and the event was awarded on the 36 hole scores with gross prizes  for the top six with McCormack triumphing for the first time in an event he has supported staunchly over the years.

The best first round prize went to Dan Carlin (Balmoral) with a one over par 73 and the second round prize went to Matthew McClean (Balmoral) with a two under par 69.

The nett winner was Marc Nolan (Delgany) with 144 nett bot and the nett runner up was Jamie Foley (Letterkenny) with 144 nett.

In the McGinley Motors sponsored Junior Scratch Cup it was Rosapenna member Martin McDermott who claimed first place by just one stroke on 152 (+9) with rounds of 74 (+3) over the Old Tom Morris Links and 78 (+6) over the Sandy Hills Links.

The runner up was Pascal Cullen (Portsalon) with a 153 (+10) total returning rounds of 76  and 77.

Third place was Niall Carroll (Athlone) on 158 with Letterkenny's young Jack Patton fourth on 159. 

The best first round was Liam Walsh (Castlerea) with 75 (+4) and the best second round was Joe Coyle (Portsalon) with 78 (+6).

The nett section was won by Louis Boyce with 148 nett bot and the nett runner up was Pat Boyce with 148 nett.

With over 100 participants in both competitions it was the largest field to date with golfers coming from as far away as Cork Golf Club.