McBride bows out with NCAA disappointment

May 16, 2018 Brian Keogh

Paul McBride (GB&I) during the 2017 Walker Cup. © USGA/Chris Keane)

Ireland's challenge at the NCAA Regionals ended in disappointment with Wake Forest's Paul McBride tied 20th on his US college swansong as Wake Forest failed to qualify.

WIth just five teams and top individuals qualifying from each of the six Regional finals, it was a disappointing week for the six Irishmen hoping to advance to the NCAA Championship next week.

McBride closed with a two-over 73 to tied for 20th on six-over 219 in the NCAA Columbus Regional, where Wake Forest shot eight-over on Wednesday to finish the tournament in eighth place at 35-over.

“We had the second-most birdies in the field for the week, but we need to learn to value a par and bogey,” said head coach Jerry Haas. “We basically only had one or two guys play well each day when it takes a total team effort to get it done.”

Louisville were ninth with Oughterard's Devin Morley 51st on 227 after a 73 and Kinsale's John Murphy tied 57th on 230, also after a 73.

Yale were 12th with Killiney's Eoin Leonard 67th on 238.

At the Raleigh Regional in North Carolina, Conor Purcell was tied 61st as an individual competing for Charlotte on seven over after a 74 with Carton House's Oisin Devereux 70th as Iona College finished 14th.

On a brighter note, Oregon made it to the finals in Stillwater, Oklahoma from May 25-30 thanks to their fifth place finish in the Pacific Regional though Laytown and Bettystown's Thomas Mulligan did not get to start.