Fast finishing Fahy wins Munster Stroke Play
Alan Fahy in action in the Munster Strokeplay in Cork Golf Club. Picture: Niall O'Shea
Dun Laoghaire's Alan Fahy birdied two of his last three holes to win the Munster Strokeplay Championship by two shots at Cork Golf Club.
He fired a 66 in the morning to tie for the 54-hole lead on four-under-par with Balbriggan’s Robbie Cannon, who had shot an eight-under-par, course record 64 to lead by one stroke on two-under after 36 holes.
In the final round, Fahy turned in level par to remain tied with Cannon but after following a bogey at the 10th with a birdie at the 11th, he birdied the 16th and 18th for a closing 70 to set the target at six-under 282.
Cannon birdied the 12th, 13th and 15th but as he chased a birdie in his last three holes for overall victory, he lost a ball at the 17th and made a triple bogey seven for an ultimately disappointing 73, leaving him alone in fourth on three-under.
Warrenpoint’s Ryan Gribben closed with a 66 to finish second, tied on four-under with Waterford’s Eanna Griffin, who shot a 69 in the final round.
“I’m delighted with the win,” said Fahy, who carded rounds of 75, 71, 66 and 70 to claim his first senior championship. “I haven’t been playing that much with exams coming up.
“I’ve only played two rounds in the past two weeks and played just nine holes in the practice round. The course was in great condition, and I’d heard lots of good things about it."
Eight under for his last two rounds on the revamped Little Island course, he added: “I just played really solid from tee to green over the two days, and I holed a few putts which was nice.”
Munster Stroke Play Championship, Cork Golf Club (Par 72)
Sponsored by Ryan's Super Valu
CSS – RD 1 74; RD 2 74; RD 3 73; RD 4 72
- Alan Fahy (Dun Laoghaire) 282 Best U25
- Ryan Gribben (Warrenpoint) 284
- Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 284
- Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) 285
- James Sugrue (Mallow) 287
- Dylan Brophy (Castleknock) 289
- Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) 289
- Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 290
- Best Nett — Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) 293
CSS – ROUND 1 = 74 CSS – ROUND 2 = 74 CSS - ROUND 3 = 73 CSS - ROUND 4 = 72
Final
282 A Fahy (Dun Laoghaire) 75 71 66 70
284 R Gribben (Warrenpoint) 71 73 74 66; E Griffin (Waterford) 71 72 72 69
285 R Cannon (Balbriggan) 78 64 70 73
287 J Sugrue (Mallow) 74 72 72 69
289 D Brophy (Castleknock) 75 74 72 68; P O'Keeffe (Douglas) 70 75 73 71
290 J Pierse (Portmarnock) 76 73 69 72; M Collins (Killeen Castle) 74 72 68 76; I O'Rourke (The Royal Dublin) 71 77 69 73
291 A McCormack (Castletroy) 76 71 72 72; A Grant (Dundalk) 70 73 75 73; G O'Flaherty (Cork) 68 75 79 69
292 D Coghlan (Portmarnock) 78 71 72 71; J Hickey (Cork) 75 74 72 71; R Brazill (Naas) 75 72 75 70; R Williamson (Holywood) 73 75 70 74
293 J Keane (Lahinch) 79 67 75 72; C Butler (Kinsale) 72 73 78 70; G Lenehan (Portmarnock) 72 73 71 77; S Desmond (Monkstown) 72 71 76 74
294 M McKinstry (Cairndhu) 76 73 70 75
295 I O'Flynn (Cork G.C.) 75 74 76 70; A McDaid (Palmerstown Stud) 72 74 73 76
296 M Nolan (Dun Laoghaire) 75 68 77 76; J Temple (Portmarnock) 73 74 75 74; B Murray (Waterford Castle) 73 74 72 77; T Neenan (Lahinch) 70 78 71 77
297 R Black (Hilton Templepatrick) 72 75 76 74
298 J Fox (Portmarnock) 76 72 73 77; K McCarthy (Kinsale) 74 73 74 77
299 J McDonnell (Forrest Little) 73 73 76 77
300 D Reddan Jnr (Nenagh) 75 74 77 74; P Connolly (Killeen Castle) 74 72 77 77; P Murray (Clontarf) 74 72 76 78; M Healy (Kinsale) 71 76 75 78
302 J Ryan (Castletroy) 79 70 73 80
305 E Long (Monkstown) 77 70 81 77
306 R O'Connor (Co. Sligo) 74 75 78 79
NR E Farrell (Ardee) 71 72 85
Cut
150 R Dutton (Tandragee) 78 72; H Foley (The Royal Dublin) 78 72; D McMahon (Castletroy) 76 74; R McKinstry (Cairndhu) 75 75; A Ryan (Thurles) 74 76; G Dunne (Co. Louth) 74 76;
151 T O’Connor (Athlone) 77 74; R Moran (Castle) 76 75; T Ford (Co. Sligo) 75 76;
152 J Byrne (Baltinglass) 77 75; W Small (Tandragee) 76 76; B Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 73 79;
153 C Feeney (Co. Sligo) 81 72; G O’Mahony (Fota Island) 80 73; A Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown) 75 78; G Ward (Kinsale) 75 78; P Carey (Nenagh) 75 78; C Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 74 79;
154 H Gillivan (Westport) 77 77;
155 J Madden (Royal Portrush) 80 75; R Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 77 78; T Plunkett (Crover House) 76 79;
156 P O’Connor (Macroom) 75 81;
157 F Kennedy (The Island) 81 76; R Pierse (Grange) 78 79; G Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick) 76 81; D Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 76 81; D O’Donovan (Muskerry) 73 84;
159 S McGlynn (Portmarnock) 82 77; P Flynn (Tramore) 80 79; D Brady (Co. Sligo) 79 80;
162 M O’Sullivan (The International) 79 83; S O’Brien (Nenagh) 77 85;
165 I Lynch (Rosslare) 85 80
NR R Clarke (Wexford) 83 NR
