Eddie McCormack wins Connacht Mid-Amateur

Eddie McCormack shows some emotion in last year's Irish Over-30s at Limerick. Picture: Pat Cashman

Galway Bay's Eddie McCormack captured the Connacht Mid-Amateur Championship for the third time since 2009 when he closed with a three-under 68 to win by a shot at Athenry.

Champion in 2009 and 2014, the Cavan native came from one stroke behind The Island's Fergal Kennedy and Balbriggan's Robbie Cannon, carding four birdies in the closing round to win by the minimum from Carton House's Des Morgan (72-68) on one-under par.

The key moments came on the 16th and 17th.

After holing a 12 footer for bogey on the 16th, McCormack saw Morgan fail to chip and putt for par at the par-three 17th in the match ahead and went for the flag.

He missed the green but after finishing pin high in the fringe he managed to get the putter on the ball from 10 feet and rolled in what turned out to be the crucial birdie putt.

Scores
 
The over 30s event was reduced from 54 to 36 holes due to torrential rain on Saturday.

Greystones' Alan Condren (72-70) was third on two over with LPGA Tour caddie Lorcan Morris (75-68) fourth ahead of Castle's Jim Mulready and Kennedy.

Cannon, who is keen to do well in the forthcoming East of Ireland at Baltray, closed with a disappointing 75 to share seventh place on five-over with Paraic Connolly and Kenneth Irwin.