Whiffin, Quinlivan and Murray qualify for Galgorm Castle
Mullingar's James Quinlivan. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
The Hertfordshire's Sean Whiffin took the top spot in the Northern Ireland Open Challenge qualifier when he fired a four under 68 at Hilton Templepatrick to take the first of three spots in the field for the €170,000 Challenge Tour event set for Galgorm Castle later this month.
Mullingar's James Quinlivan took second place with a one under 71 while third spot went to Massereene's Noel Murray after a play-off with Peter McCarroll from Allen Park.
Th tied with 73s and while both birdied the first extra hole, Murray eagled the second, hitting a five iron to 15 feet and holing the putt to secure his place at Galgorm Castle from August 28-31.
As for Whiffin, he said: "I putted great, which is mainly down to my work with Dermott Parker of Sveye Sports Vision."
NI Open qualifier, Hilton Templepatrick (Par 72)
| Sean Whiffin | The Hertfordshire | 68 |
|---|---|---|
| James Quinlivan | Mullingar | 71 |
| Noel Murray | Masserene | 73 |
| Peter McCarroll | Allen Park | 73 |
| Michael McIntyre | Unattached | 74 |
| Thomas Perry | Abbeydale | 75 |
| Jonathan Hearn | Chart Hills | 77 |
| Wayne Telford | Loughgall | 77 |
| David Leathem | Lisburn | 77 |
| Enda Maguire | Dundalk | 77 |
| Mark Weatherall | Unattached | 78 |
| John Henry | Clydebank & District | 78 |
| Mark Whelan | Castlewarden | 78 |
| James Wilson | Formby | 79 |
| Simon Ward | Unattached | 79 |
| David Hughes | Masserene | 80 |
| David Foley | Dromoland | 81 |
| Scott Wilson | Co. Louth | 82 |
| Patrick Small | Galway | 82 |
| Garry Moore | Unattached | 84 |
| Steve Moore | Spawell | 85 |
| Nial Kearns | Omagh | 85 |
| Bernard Quigley | Carton House | 87 |
| Ciaran Molloy | Blackwood | DQ |
| Graham Callaghan | McGuirks Golf | DQ |
| Brian Sweeney | Concra Wood | RTD |
