Clubhouse leader on 6 under par, Chris Selfridge (Moyola Park) Photo: Pat Cashman
25 May 2012
Irish Close: Six Under Selfridge Leads
LIVE BLOG: http://www.gui.ie/home/events-results/championships/irish-amateur-close.aspx
Although viewed by many as the clear favourite this week, Alan Dunbar has been feeling a little bit under the weather heading into the Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at a sun kissed Royal Portrush.
The Portrush local who plays out of the Rathmore club is struggling to stave off a summer cold ahead of the start of the Championship on Friday morning.
"I've a bit of flu, preparations haven't been great", said Dunbar who has managed to hit only 50 shots this week, and could only manage one practice hole on Thursday morning.
"I know the place well, and tried to play a few holes last night (Wednesday) and got very weak and had to come in. I've literally just played up the 18th hole this morning".
"I had a good week's practice after Royal Dublin but I've barely played since last Friday"
It was at Royal Portrush 12 years ago that Dunbar's clubmate from Rathmore Graeme McDowell captured the Irish Close title, and attention is undoubtedly going to be on the 2011 Walker Cup star
Can the Rathmore man replicate the success of McDowell? "If my health holds up, I'm playing well enough, hopefully I'll be ready for the morning".
The action gets underway on Friday morning at 7.30am, and with such great golfing names on the list of past winners (McIlroy, McDowell, Harrington & Clarke among them), whoever wins will be in good company.
Irish Amateur Open Winner Gavin Moynihan has withdrawn from the field due to school examinations. Another notable withdrawal is Greystone's Paul Dunne who is at college in the USA.
Irish Amateur Close Championship
Royal Portrush Golf Club
Friday 25th May - Sunday 27th May 2012
Sponsored by Golfsure
Draw for Round One, Friday 25th May 2012
07:30: Tony O'Leary (Wexford), Jeff Hopkins (Skerries), Noel Crawford (Mourne)
07:39: Stuart Winsby (Whitehead), Patrick Small (Bangor), Ian Moore (Dunmurry)
07:48: Peter McKeever (Castle), Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint), Chris Carvill (Belvoir Park)
07:57: Stephen Rea (Carrickfergus), Darragh O'Sullivan (Strandhill), Matthew Welsh (Knock)
08:06: Ciaran Molloy (Ardee), Eoghan O’Donovan (Crad’town), Cian Geraghty (L’town & B’town)
08:15: Christopher Moulds (Lisburn), Derek Downie (Sutton), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park)
08:24: Declan O'Neill (Carton House), Damien Coyne (Tuam), James Fox (Portmarnock)
08:33: Simon McConnell (Ballyclare), Shane McGlynn (Carton House), Robin Dawson (Faithlegg)
08:51: Eddie McCormack (Galway), Andrew Hogan (Newlands), Simon Bryan (Delgany)
09:00: Alan Dunbar (Rathmore), Robert Cannon (Balbriggan), Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little)
09:09: Simon Miskelly (Knock), Gary McDermott (Co. Sligo), Niall Gorey (Muskerry)
09:18: Paul O'Kane (Moyola Park), Nicky Grant (Knock), Ally Purdy (Ballyclare)
09:27: Neville Steedman (Courtown), Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene), Dermot McElroy (Ballymena)
09:36: Reeve Whitson (Mourne), Michael Sinclair (Knock), Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry)
09:45: Alan Thomas (Tramore), Chris Selfridge (Moyola Park), Stephen Healy (Claremorris)
09:54: Colin Fairweather (Knock), Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Barry Anderson (Co. Sligo/NUIM)
10:12: Brendan Walton (The Island), Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle), Michael Durcan (Co. Sligo)
10:21: Richard O'Donovan (Lucan), Daniel Holland (Castle), Jake Whelan (Newlands)
10:30: Rory McNamara (Headfort), Ryan McKinstry (Cairndhu), Aaron Kearney (Castlerock)
10:39: Colum Kenny (Curragh), Jack Hume (Rathsallagh), Barry Stevens (Spa)
10:48: Ryan Symington (Lisburn), Rory Leonard (Banbridge), Enda Cradock (Gort)
10:57: Jack Pierse (Grange), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock), Gary Hurley (West Waterford/NUIM)
11:06: Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock), Harry Diamond (Belvoir Park), Shaun Carter (Stackstown/NUIM)
11:15: Patrick McCrudden (Royal Portrush), Ross Kenny (Naas/NUIM), Brian Casey (Headfort)
11:33: Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle), Eugene Smith (Ardee), Davey Barry (Mahon)
11:42: Jamie Richardson (Royal Portrush), Allan Kiernan (Forrest Little), Stephen Dwyer (Lucan)
11:51: Sean Moran (Carton House), John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead), Shaun Doherty (Ballyliffin)
12:00: Declan Loftus (Castlebar), Ronan Burke (Castle), Ian Brennan (Greenore)
12:09: John Turner (Royal Portrush), Keith Shannon (Greenore), Quentin Carew (Edenderry)
12:18: Jonathan Yates (Naas), Greg Mungovan (Headfort), Ross McConnell (Belvoir Park)
12:27: Dave O'Donovan (Muskerry), Matthew Kane (Whitehead), Adrian Burns (Galgorm Castle)
12:36: Kevin Stack (Dungarvan), Paul McBride (The Island), John Greene (Portmarnock)
12:54: Bryan Martin (Killymoon), Brian McCormack (Castle Barna), Liam Mulligan (Stackstown)
13:03: Kelan McDonagh (Athlone), Ian Kettyle (Rathmore), Alan Stevens (Spa)
13:12: Aaron Grant (Dundalk), Conor Glynn (Carton House), Chris Carroll (Shandon Park)
13:21: Darragh Coghlan (The Royal Dublin), Ryan O'Dwyer (Callan), Barry Daly (Edmondstown)
13:30: Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass), Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin), Stephen Watts (Cairndhu)
13:39: Alex McCloy (Ballymena), Matthew McAlpin (Royal Portrush), Barry Fennelly (The Royal Dublin)
13:48: Simon Ward (Co. Louth), Ciaran McKenna (Mallow), Gerard Dunne (Seapoint)
13:57: Rick Weldon (Killeen Castle), Mark Mullen (Wexford), Philip Gibb (Massereene)
14:06: Ben Best (Royal Portrush), Keith Egan (Carton House), Robert McNeill (Gracehill)
14:15: Gary Walsh (Mount Juliet), Ian Lynch (Rosslare), John Finnegan (Royal Portrush)
14:24: Pio O’Leary (Lucan), Daniel Coyle (Co. Louth), Richard Bridges (Stackstown)
14:33: Mark Richards (Carton House), Shaun O'Connor (Skerries), Matt McKnight (Lisburn)
14:42: Joe Lyons (Birr), Fergal O’Sullivan (Tralee), Stephen Brady (Co. Sligo)
14:51: Conor McGrogan (Newbridge), Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo), Michael Brett (Portmarnock)
15:00: Andrew Kelly (Muskerry), Mark Hammond (Moyola Park), Connor Doran (Banbridge)
15:09: Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley), Chris Johnston (England), William Hanna (Kilkeel)