Maurice Kelly claims his third Irish Seniors Close
Maurice Kelly (Naas) playing from the trees at the 15th hole in the final round of the 2014 Tourism Malaysia sponsored Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship at Tullamore Golf Club (11/07/2014) . Picture by Pat Cashman www.cashmanphotography.ie
Maurice Kelly carded a superb final round 69 to capture the Tourism Malaysia sponsored Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship for the third time.
Maurice Kelly (Naas) with his wife Ann. Picture by Pat Cashman www.cashmanphotography.ie
The Naas man had six bogies and seven pars in the only sub-par round of the final day, coming from two-strokes behind the overnight leader Neville Steedman of Courtown to win by a massive eight-stroke margin on level par 210.
Kelly got off to a poor start with dropped shots on the first three holes to fall six shots behind Steedman who had picked up a shot on the third.
But birdies at the fourth, fifth, seventh ninth and 10th put Kelly back in command as former Shamrock Rovers player Steedman slowly frittered shots away.
Kelly's win — his third since he successfully defended the title in 2010 — was assured on the back nine when Steedman dropped eight shots in the final six holes.
Woodbrook's John Hughes was second on eight over after a one over 71 with Steedman carding an 80 to end up tied for third with Ballyclare's Alan Lilley on nine-over.
Irish Amateur Open winner Adrian Morrow from Portmarnock shot a 74 to share fifth place with Doneraile's Michael Quirke (73) on 221.
Neville Steedman (Courtown) playing from the trees at the 15th. Picture by Pat Cashman www.cashmanphotography.ie
Michael Connaughton (President Elect, Golfing Union of Ireland) presenting Maurice Kelly (Naas) with the 2014 Tourism Malaysia sponsored Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship trophy after his victory at Tullamore. Also pictured are Joe Feely (Captain, Tullamore Golf Club) and Willie O'Grady (President, Tullamore Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman www.cashmanphotography.ie
Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship, sponsored by Tourism Malaysia.
Tullamore GC (Par 70)
210 Maurice Kelly (Naas) 72 69 69
218 John L Hughes (Woodbrook) 73 74 71
John L Hughes (Woodbrook) driving from the 18th tee in the final round of the 2014 Tourism Malaysia sponsored Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship at Tullamore Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman www.cashmanphotography.ie
219 Alan Lilley (Ballyclare) 75 73 71, Neville Steedman (Courtown) 70 69 80
221 Michael Quirke (Doneraile) 76 72 73, Adrian Morrow (Portmarnock) 70 77 74
222 John Mitchell (Tramore) 72 80 70, David Conway (Portmarnock) 72 74 76
223 Donal O'Donovan (Bandon) 73 76 74, Turlough Considine (Clontarf) 71 76 76
224 Richard Brooker (Skerries) 76 74 74
225 Billy Donlon (Birr) 77 74 74, Eddie Condren (Scarke) 77 73 75
226 Tom Cleary (Cork) 77 76 73, Val Smyth (Co. Louth) 69 80 77
227 David Walpole (Milltown) 76 78 73, Peter Cowley (Cork) 73 78 76
228 Kevin Sheehy (Athlone) 78 75 75, Nigel Duke (Killiney) 75 76 77, Bert Burke (Moate) 74 79 75, Peter Rogers (Dundalk) 73 80 75
229 John Carroll (Bandon) 77 73 79, Shane Magee (Lurgan) 74 78 77, Jim McVeigh (Carlow) 73 80 76
230 Adrian Wynne (Strandhill) 75 79 76, Richard McDowell (Royal Belfast) 74 78 78
231 John Cuffe (Monkstown) 82 75 74, Mick Gaynor (Co. Meath) 78 78 75, Barry O'Leary (Greystones) 75 74 82
232 Peter Murphy (Carlow) 79 77 76, Greg Murphy (K Club) 76 78 78
233 Phillip Clifford (Kilrush) 83 72 78, Gerry Reeves (Limerick) 76 81 76
235 Terry Lilly (Slade Valley) 79 78 78, Michael Darcy (Oughterard) 79 75 81, Declan Corcoran (Thurles) 75 79 81
237 Michael F Galvin (Limerick) 84 72 81, Ian Smyth (Clandeboye) 79 75 83
238 Liam Doran (Ardee) 76 80 82
239 Enda McMenamin (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) 79 77 83
Missed the cut
156 Liam Horgan (The Heath) 77 79
157 Liam MacNamara (Rosslare) 77 80
158 Hugh Smyth (Mourne) 84 74 , Rory Timlin (Galway) 80 78 , Paul Cooley (Portstewart) 77 81 , Sean Hosty (Galway) 77 81
159 Brendan O'Malley (The Royal Dublin) 82 77 , Mick Ahern (Skerries) 81 78 , Jimmy Mccarthy (Mannan Castle) 80 79 , Dermot Morris (Limerick) 80 79
160 Michael Foley (Faithlegg) 85 75 , Seamus Doherty (Ballyliffin) 84 76 , Noel Mannion (Dun Laoghaire) 80 80 , Marcus Conroy (Galway) 78 82 , Jack Dempsey (Royal Curragh) 78 82
161 Patrick Harrington (Muskerry) 87 74
162 Gerry O Keeffe (Waterford) 84 78 , Paul Hautz (Delgany) 84 78 , Kevin Murray (Tramore) 76 86
163 Alistair Campbell (Massereene) 84 79 , Gerry Phelan (Macreddin) 84 79 , Michael O Brien (Co. Louth) 80 83 , Niall Finnegan (Gort) 80 83
164 Des Egan (Loughrea) 87 77 , Paul Fogarty (Moate) 83 81
165 Martin Higgins (Claremorris) 85 80 , David Sheedy (Lahinch) 83 82 , Larry Cushen (The Heath) 82 83 , Tony Hayes (K Club) 81 84 , Mervyn Eager (Lucan) 80 85
166 Matt Donohue (Portumna) 84 82 , Richard Cotter (Delgany) 83 83 , Brendan McDonnell (K Club) 81 85 , Garry Campbell (Greystones) 79 87
167 Pat Lynch (Slade Valley) 86 81 , Jan Gilbert (Malone) 86 81 , Keith Lapsley (Dunfanaghy) 84 83
168 Rory Fitzgerald (Tramore) 82 86
169 John Houlihan (Dooks) 88 81 , Tony Goode (Lucan) 86 83
170 Jody Gilhooly (Edmondstown) 88 82
171 Kieran O'Mahony (Galway) 92 79
172 Robert Ryland (Birr) 87 85
177 John Cullen (Esker Hills) 85 92
79 Michael Coote (Tralee) 79
82 Steve Prendergast (The Royal Dublin) 82
WD George Mellerick (Fota Island) 81 WD , Neil Kilgallon (European) 83 WD , Alistair Smith (Blainroe) DQ DQ