Stellar line-up for Mullingar Scratch Trophy
Co Louth’s Gerard Dunne contended for the Mullingar Scratch Trophy last year, finishing tied fifth. Picture: Pat Cashman Photography
Three of the world’s top 100 amateurs will be fancied to add their names to the prestigious Mullingar Scratch Trophy this weekend.
Amateur champion James Sugrue, the world 14; West of Ireland champion Caolan Rafferty, the world No 18; and two-time former Irish Boys champion Mark Power, the world No 73, are the leading players in the 90-strong field for the 58th staging of a Leinster Golf event sponsored by Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt & Davitt and Pinergy.
With the 2019 winner, Kinsale’s John Murphy, back in the US with the University of Louisville, many will be hoping to notch their name on the famous silver cup alongside those of major champions Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Shane Lowry and Ryder Cup players Philip Walton and Paul McGinley.
A past winner, such as Massereene’s Tiarnan McLarnon, can never be discounted around the much-loved James Braid design, where there is a huge emphasis on driving the ball well.
But it would be no surprise to see the likes of current Irish panellists Rowan Lester, Peter O’Keeffe, Colm Campbell, Eanna Griffin, Keith Egan or Matt McClean, who was second to Murphy last year, join the immortals.
The list of up and coming stars ready to take then next big step in their careers is a long one and quite apart from the brilliant Kilkenny man Power, there will be many looking for names such as Max Kennedy, Luke O’Neill, Dylan Keating, Allan Hill, Harry Gillivan, Sam Murphy, Joshua Hill or the outstanding 15-year old Laytown & Bettystown talent Daniel Mulligan to make their mark alongside the senior players.
Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley and his Leinster teammates Gerard Dunne, Alan Fahy and Robert Moran will also be looking to continue their progression at the top end of the amateur game and make a fast start in the race for the Bridgestone Order of Merit.
Rory McIlroy in action at Mullingar in 2006
However, reigning Order of Merit champion Rob Brazill from Naas in Co Kildare misses the first event of the domestic season due to the current public health travel restrictions.
Forrest Little’s Jack McDonnell, tied seventh in Mullingar last year, showed form when pipping Lester for the Balbriggan Senior Scratch Cup a few weeks ago while Carton House’s Marc Boucher is back from college in the US and set to step up for his club in the AIG Senior Cup.
Add to that long list of top players, names such as former Irish Amateur Open winner Gary Cullen and three-time championship winner Robbie Cannon and there is no shortage of star quality in the field for one of Ireland’s best-loved events.
Sadly, it will be played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 restrictions. But the competitors are assured of a warm Mullingar welcome.
"We are really looking forward to welcoming all the players to the 58th consecutive staging of the Mullingar Scratch Trophy and very grateful to Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt & Davitt and Pinergy for coming on board as sponsors again this year," said John Plunkett, Captain of Mullingar Golf Club.
Mullingar Scratch Trophy, August 15-16
Sponsored by Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt & Davitt and Pinergy
06:30/11:30 Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk); Paul Coughlan (Castleknock); Marc Boucher (Carton House)
06:40/11:40 Peter O'Keeffe (Douglas); Graham Donohoe (Enniscorthy); Mark Power (Kilkenny)
06:50/11:50 Rowan Lester (Hermitage); James Sugrue (Mallow); Hugh Foley (Royal Dublin)
07:00/12:00 Max Kennedy (Royal Dublin) Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth); Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park)
07:10/12:10 Keith Egan (Carton House); Darragh Flynn (Carton House); Dylan Keating (Seapoint)
07:20/12:20 Ross Latimer (Knock); Matthew McClean (Malone); Robert Moran (Castle)
07:30/12:30 Gary Cullen (The Links Portmarnock); James Temple (Portmarnock); Scott Jones (Belvoir Park)
07:40/12:40 A.J. McCabe (The Links Portmarnock); Liam Grehan (Mullingar); Colm Jnr Cambell (Warrenpoint)
07:50/12:50 Allan Hill (Athenry); Gary Collins (Rosslare); Thomas O'Connor (Athlone)
08:00/13:00 Luke O'Neill (Connemara); Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu); Richard McCrudden (Royal Portrush)
08:10/13:10 Alan Fahy (Dun Laoghaire); Robert Cannon (Balbriggan); Joshua McCabe (Roganstown)
08:20/13:20 Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin); Liam Nolan (Galway); Sam Murphy (Portumna)
08:30/13:30 Charlie Denvir (Elm Park); Joe Lyons (Galway); Eanna Griffin (Waterford)
08:40/13:40 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little); Jack Pierse (Portmarnock); David Reddan Jnr (Nenagh)
08:50/13:50 Ben Murray (Waterford Castle); Daniel Mulligan (The Links Portmarnock); TJ Ford (Co. Sligo)
09:00/14:00 Richard Knightly (Royal Dublin); Sean Desmond (Monkstown); Aaron Ryan (Thurles)
09:10/14:10 Rory Milne (Faithlegg); Joseph Byrne (Baltinglass); Jason Rackard (Enniscorthy)
09:20/14:20 Paul Conroy (Enniscorthy); Desmond Morgan (Carton House); Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle)
09:30/14:30 Eoin Sullivan (Carton House); Harry Gillivan (Westport); Marc Norton (Belvoir Park)
09:40/14:40 Jake Whelan (Newlands); Shane McDermott (Co. Cavan); Declan O'Neill (The Links Portmarnock)
09:50/14:50 Jack Doherty (Carton House); Colin Woodroofe (Dun Laoghaire); Cathal Butler (Kinsale)
10:00/15:00 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene); Kealan Quigg (Ballyliffin); Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire)
10:10/15:10 Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown); Peter McKeever (Castle); Fergal Kennedy (The Island)
10:20/15:20 Joshua Hill (Galgorm Castle); David Kitt (Athenry); Andrew McCormack (Castletroy)
10:30/15:30 Ryan Griffin (Ballybofey & Stranorlar); Shane O'Connor (Castlebar); Shane Hogan (Nenagh)
10:40/15:40 Brian Doran (Baltinglass); Jack Blake (The Island); Tom Dowdall (Woodbrook)
10:50/15:50 Gary Ward (Kinsale); Paraic Connolly (Killeen Castle); Alex Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown)
11:00/16:00 Ross Nelson (Belvoir Park); Keith Murphy (Dun Laoghaire); Conor Ryan (Dun Laoghaire)
11:10/16:10 James Hewitt (Tandragee); Adam Smith (Mullingar); William Small (Tandragee)
11:20/16:20 Greg O'Mahony (Fota Island); Eoin Murphy (Dundalk); Mel Deasy (Lee Valley)
