Kearney has Irish eyes smiling

in Brabazon Trophy as well ...

FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Niall Kearney made it an Irish Sunday double when he won the Brabazon Trophy, supported by SkyCaddie, in the teeming rain at a soggy Moortown in Leeds.
A closing round of 70 for an aggregate of 208 saw the Irish international from Royal Dublin triumph by five shots from Kent champion Liam Burns who signed off with 73.
As soon as he signed his card and had added to his compatriot Shane Lowry triumph in the Irish Open, Kearney said: “It’s great. I heard about it when we were coming up the 14th. That news spurred me on to complete my victory.”
Reflecting on his own success, the 21 year old Dubliner added: “This win means a lot to me. It’s a relief because the weather wasn’t too kind all week but I play well. I’m on the Walker Cup squad and hopefully this will prove a stepping stone to getting on the team. It is a real confidence booster and kicks off my season.”
Kearney, pictured above with the Brabazon Trophy by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography, becomes the first Irishman since Ronan Rafferty at Hunstanton in 1980 to win the Brabazon Trophy but the latter had to share the title with Peter McEvoy on that occasion. There was no sharing it this time and he didn’t even need a dramatic playoff like his close pal.On a day that turned decidedly nasty in mid-afternoon with heavy rain a plunging temperature after a fine and sunny morning, Kearney took the lead at lunchtime following a morning 68 then made an explosive start to his afternoon round.
On the 488-yard first he holed his bunker shot for an eagle 3 which set him on his victory trail.
“The first hole has been kind to me all week,” he added. “I’ve played it in five under for the three rounds so that was a big factor.”
He added another eagle at the seventh in an outward 33 and did well to only drop two shots on the back nine as the heavens opened. He was the only player to beat par in all three rounds and the only one to finish in red figures. Some achievement in a week that was fraught with problems weatherwise.
Burns, who was one of Kearney’s playing partners, began two behind the Irishman but the two eagles meant he was unable to put any pressure on him. However a 73 ended a solid week for the Kent man.
In third place was 20 year old Welsh cap Joe Vickery, who had seven birdies in a closing 68 for 214, while England international Dale Whitnell climbed the leaderboard with a 69 to share fourth place with seven others on 216.
The battle for the Henriquez Salver for the best performance by a Great Britain and Ireland player aged under 20 proved a four-way tie between Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Nixon, Stiggy Hodgson and Ireland’s Alan Dunbar who all finished on 216, three over par.
Top Scot was Steven McEwan (Caprington) who had two very steady rounds of 71 today to share fourth place on six-over-par 216.
Glenn Campbell (Murrayshall) came joint 12th on 217 with scores of 72, 73 and 72.
Ross Kellett totalled 219 for a share of 20th place with three rounds of 73.
Irish open amateur champion the previous weekend, Gavin Dear was obviously not feeling himself at all with Sunday rounds of 81 and 75 after an opening 69. He shared 43rd place on 225 - two shots ahead of Paul O'Hara to tied for 46th place with scores of 73, 80 and 74.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 210 (3 x 70)
208 N Kearney 70 68 70.
213 L Burns 70 70 73.
214 J Vickery 72 74 68.
216 A Dunbar 73 74 69, D Whitnell 74 73 69, M Nixon 71 75 70, S McEwan 74 71 71, A Hogan 74 71 71, T Fleetwood 71 73 72, S Hodgson 71 73 72, S Haywood 72 71 73.
217 B Martin 70 80 67, G Campbell 72 73 72, H P Bacher 71 73 73, C Ford 71 73 71, R Carter 74 68 75.
Selected scores:
219 R Kellett 73 73 73 (jt 20th).
225 G Dear 69 81 75 (jt 43rd).
227 P O'Hara 73 80 75 (jt 46th).