MajorsBrian KeoghRegional Qualifying for The Open, The Open, Sean Keeling, Tim Rice, Stuart Grehan, Brendan McCarroll, John Hickey, Ronan Mullarney, Thomas Finnegan

Keeling tops at Baltray as 10 Irish survive Regional Qualifying for The Open

MajorsBrian KeoghRegional Qualifying for The Open, The Open, Sean Keeling, Tim Rice, Stuart Grehan, Brendan McCarroll, John Hickey, Ronan Mullarney, Thomas Finnegan
Keeling tops at Baltray as 10 Irish survive Regional Qualifying for The Open
Sean Keeling (Roganstown)

Sean Keeling (Roganstown) in an archive picture. Picture: Pat Cashman

Roganstown’s teenage sensation Sean Keeling carded a brilliant seven-under 65 to top the qualifiers in Regional Qualifying for The Open at County Louth and keep alive his dream of playing in The 150th Open at St Andrews next month.

The Belvedere College student (15), who was a major factor in Roganstown’s AIG Senior Cup win at Castle last year, topped the eight qualifiers by two shots from irish international Robert Moran from Castle as he bogeyed the first at Baltray but played the next 17 holes in eight-under.

Derry’s Ruaidhri McGee was third after a 68 with Edmondstown amateur Thomas Abom fourth after a 69.

There was an eight-man playoff on 70 for the last four spots with Tim Rice, Stuart Grehan, Brendan McCarroll and John Hickey edging out Conor O’Rourke, Rowan Lester and amateurs David Kitt and Robert Brazill.

Galway’s Ronan Mullarney shot a three-under 69 to finish in a five-way tie for first at Frilford Heath, one of 15 Regional qualifying venues, with Co Sligo amateur Thomas Finnegan second with a 66 at Panmure earning their ticket to Final Qualifying at Fairmont St Andrews, Hollinwell, Prince’s or St Annes Old Links where a minimum of 12 places in total will be available on 28 June.

Regional Qualifying for The Open

Scoring from all 15 venues

  • The Buckinghamshire (Par 72) - Non-qualifier: T106 Patrick Godwin (Sunningdale) 86.

  • Burhill (Par 72) - Non qualifier: T25 Michael Young (Saint-Nom-le-Breteche) 76.

  • Caldy (Par 72) - Non qualifiers: T44 Dan Byrne (am, The Els Club Dubai) 75.

  • Co Louth (Par 72): Qualifiers, 1 Sean Keeling (am, Roganstown) 65; 2, Robert Moran (Am, Castle) 67; 3, Ruaidhdri McGee (Unatt) 68; 4, Thomas Abom (am, Edmondstown) 69: T5 (after 8 for 4 playoff) Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) 70, John Hickey (Cork) 70, Brendan McCarroll (West Cliffs) 70, Tim Rice (Limerick) 70. Non-qualifiers: Conor O’Rourke (The K Club) 70, Rowan Lester (Hermitage) 70, David Kitt (am, Athenry) 70, Robert Brazill (am, Naas) 70.

  • Frilford Heath (Par 72) - Qualifier: T1 Ronan Mullarney (Galway) 69. Non-qualifiers: T53 Noel Quinn (Chartridge Park) 76, Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 76; T78 Ignatius McGuinness (Harleyford) 78.

  • Kedlestone Park (Par 70) - Non-qualifier: T68 Luke Donnelly (PGA Catalunya) 77.

  • Minchampton (Par 72) - Non-qualifier: T30 Johnny Grace (am, Cumberwell Park) 73.

  • Moor Park (Par 72) - Non-qualifiers: T91 Eoin Leonard (Wentworth) 81, Darren Close (9 of Herts Golf Centre) 81.

  • Northamptonshire (Par 70) - Non-qualifiers: T86 Eamonn O’Connor (Am, Royal Wimbledon) 79.

  • Panmure (Par 70) - Qualifier: 2, Thomas Finnegan (am, Co Sligo) 66. Non-qualifier: T70 Scott Wilson (St Andrews Links Trust) 76.

  • Rochester & Cobham (Par 71) - Non-qualifier: Conor Coyne (Youghal) 76.