Walker birdies three of last four to win Castletroy Senior Scratch Cup by four

(L-R) Fergal Costelloe (Managing Director, Trade Electric Group, sponsor), Simon Walker, Paul Micks (Capt., Castletroy). GC

Roscommon’s Simon Walker fought off a spirited final round charge from Cork’s Morgan Cain to win the Trade Electric Group-sponsored Castletroy Senior Scratch Cup by four strokes.

The 21-year-old carded rounds of 67 and 69, finishing with birdies at the 15th, 17th and 18th to win on eight-under 136 from Cain (19), who shot a brace of 70s and Dean O’Riordan, who birdied his last three holes for a 72.

Walker, who is going into his final year of accounting and finance studies at Maynooth University, made six birdies before dropping a shot at the 17th, his final hole, in an opening 67 to lead by one stroke from Castleknock’s Paul Coughlan and Fermoy’s Dean O’Riordan in perfect conditions at the lovely Co Limerick parkland track.

Naas’ Robert Brazill and Greenore’s Michael Green shot 69s to share third place on three-under with Cain, Irish Close champion Quentin Carew from Castleknock, Castletroy’s Dean McMahon and Kilkenny’s Richie Walsh tied sixth after 70s.

Great win for Simon Walker in the @TradeElectricG @CastletroyGC Senior Scratch Cup 67 69 to win by 4 on -8. pic.twitter.com/NGXxB04wOX

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) September 10, 2022

There was a light breeze in the afternoon but Walker turned in one-under to lead a shot from Cain and by two from Coughlan with nine to play.

He appeared to be cruising to victory when he birdied the 11th and 12th to get to eight-under-par but flew through the back at the 13th and took four to get down, three-putting for a double-bogey six to see his lead cut to just a shot over Coughlan and to two from Cain on six-under.

Cain would bogey the tough, downhill, par-three 14th but Walker made a great pitch and putt for bogey there to remain in front after a poor shot left as Coughlan also bogeyed after failing to get up and down from the grass in the penalty area on the right, lipping out from around 10 feet for par.

While Cain eagled the 16th with a sensational approach to around three feet to close to within a shot on five-under, Walker rolled in a slick 20-footer at the 15th to give himself some breathing room.

Cain then bogeyed the 17th when his four-footer hit the plastic insert in the cup and hopped out and Walker made birdie from 12 feet to extend his lead to three before ripping a wedge to three feet at the last for a closing birdie and a four-shot win.

TBC but looks like Simon. Walker has won on -8. 67 69. @TradeElectricG @CastletroyGC Senior Scratch Cup. Birdie birdie finish. pic.twitter.com/5veVJ5AI4A

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) September 10, 2022

Castletroy Senior Scratch Cup, Castletroy (Par 72)

Sponsored by Trade Electric Group

1. Simon Walker (Roscommon) 67 69 136

2. Morgan Cain (Cork) 140 70 70 (back nine)

3. Dean O’Riordan (Fermoy) 68 72 140

4. Paul Coughlan (Castleknock) 68 73 141

5. Kevin Robinson (Castlewarden) 73 69 142 (last 18)

6. Jason Rackard (Enniscorthy) 71 71 142

7. Dean McMahon (Castletroy) 70 73 143

8. Keith Egan (Carton House) 73 71 144

Gross Rd 1 Robert Brazill (Naas) 69 (back nine)

Gross Rd 2 Padraig Connolly (Portmarnock Links) 69 (back nine)

No.	Name	Club	R1 Gross	R2 Gross	OA Gross
1	Simon Walker	Roscommon GC	67	69	136
2	Morgan Cain	Cork GC	70	70	140
3	Dean O'Riordan	Fermoy GC	68	72	140
4	Paul Coughlan	Castleknock GC	68	73	141
5	Kevin Robinson	Castle Warden GC	73	69	142
6	Jason Rackard	Enniscorthy GC	71	71	142
7	Dean McMahon	Castletroy GC	70	73	143
8	Keith Egan	Carton House GC	73	71	144
9	Fionn Dobbin	Malone GC	72	72	144
10	Mark Gazi	Tralee GC	72	72	144
11	David Reddan	Nenagh GC	72	72	144
12	Quentin Carew	Castleknock GC	70	74	144
13	Richie Walsh	Kilkenny GC	70	74	144
14	Rob Brazill	Naas GC	69	75	144
15	Padraig Connolly	Portmarnock Links GC	76	69	145
16	Charlie Flavin	Cork GC	76	69	145
17	Brian Keenan	The Heath GC	72	73	145
18	Shane McDermott	Slieve Russell GC	72	73	145
19	Donnacha Cleary	Tipperary GC	71	74	145
20	Harry Gillivan	Westport GC	71	74	145
21	Tom Cafferky	Ballinasloe GC	76	70	146
22	Annraoi Collins	Laytown & B'town GC	73	73	146
23	David Kitt	Athenry GC	73	73	146
24	Philip Spratt	West Waterford GC	75	72	147
25	Chris Taylor	Mallow GC	75	72	147
26	Stephen Moloney	Castletroy GC	74	73	147
27	Sean Mernagh	Castletroy GC	73	74	147
28	Shane O'Connor	Castlebar GC	72	75	147
29	Joseph Byrne	Baltinglass GC	71	76	147
30	Darragh Conlon	Athenry GC	76	72	148
31	Joe Lyons	Galway GC	75	73	148
32	Eoin Power	Galway GC	74	74	148
33	Hugh Nolan	Doneraile GC	73	75	148
34	Eoin Magill	East Clare GC	72	76	148
35	Michael Green	Greenore GC	69	79	148
36	Jack Murphy	Douglas GC	77	72	149
37	Jordan Boles	Charleville GC	75	74	149
38	James Murray	Lee Valley GC	75	74	149
39	Alex King	Faithleg GC	74	75	149
40	Aoran McNulty	Lahinch GC	72	77	149
41	Eric Dunlea	Killarney GC	76	74	150
42	Ryan Griffin	Ballybofey & Stanorlor GC	76	74	150
43	Killian Cotter	Doneraile GC	72	78	150
44	Luke Harris	Hermitage GC	79	72	151
45	Andrew Hickey	Ballyhaunis GC	78	73	151
46	Greg Barrett	Mallow GC	77	74	151
47	Shane Concannon	Loughrea GC	78	74	152
48	Justin Kehoe	Limerick GC	78	74	152
49	Paul Flynn	Tramore GC	76	76	152
50	Seamus Cullen	Slieve Russell GC	75	77	152
51	Conor Hickey	Dooks GC	75	77	152
52	Brian Lane	Muskerry GC	72	80	152
53	Ross McCormack	Palmerstown House GC	77	76	153
54	Brian Doran	Baltinglass GC	73	80	153
55	Ciaran Vaughan	Limerick GC	71	82	153
56	Andrew McCormack	Castletroy GC	80	74	154
57	Conor  Dowling	Mallow GC	79	75	154
58	Darrren Kelliher	Blarney GC	73	81	154
59	Andrew Doyle	Woodbrook GC	79	76	155
60	Eanna Mernagh	Kanturk GC	77	78	155
61	Gary Morrisson	Cahir Park GC	72	83	155
62	Mark Doogue	Baltinglass GC	80	76	156
63	Sean Deasy	Douglas GC	77	79	156
64	Cormac Ryan	Killeen Castle GC	75	81	156
65	John Doyle	Fota Island GC	78	80	158
66	Niall Corcoran	Charleville GC	82	79	161
67	Dean Browne	Blarney GC	84	79	163
68	Jason McLynn	Galway Bay GC	79	84	163
69	Donal Considine	Killarney GC	78	0	78
70	Fergus Harrold	Castletroy GC	80	0	80
71	Jason O'Leary	Dromoland GC	83	0	83
72	Sean  Calvert	Ballykisteen GC	0	0	0