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Disaster struck Tuam’s Alan Moran today (Friday, 8th July) when a triple bogey seven on the 10th hole denied him victory after he took the lead in Enniscrone in the 2018 Irish Seniors Close Championship.
Naas veteran Maurice Kelly claimed a fifth title finishing six shots clear of the field on five under par.
Kelly entered the final round with a two-shot cushion but dropped three shots on the front nine to fall one behind Moran. However, disaster struck for Moran at the 10th and he finished with a six over par 79 seeing him drop from second placed overnight to fifth.
GOLF: Alan Moran Just Two Off The Lead in Irish Seniors Championship https://t.co/4TRlOrWpLR
— Galway Daily (@GalwayDaily) July 6, 2018
Kelly caught fire on the back nine, making eagle at the par-five 14th and birdies at 13 and 16 to card a final round 72. Following wins in 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2015, this triumph made him the most successful player in the championship since it was introduced in 2009.
Castlerock’s David Mulholland finished second on plus one having carded a 74 in the final round while England’s Steve Graham posted 75 to finish third.
Tramore’s John Mitchell took the category prize for the over 60s. Tralee’s Michael Coote was best in the over 65 category and Peter Cowley from Cork led the over 70s.
Irish Seniors Close Championship
Friday 6 July 2018 – Enniscrone (Par 73)
Results after 54 holes
214 Maurice Kelly (Naas) 71, 71, 72
220 David Mulholland (Castlerock) 71, 75, 74
221 Steve Graham (East Sussex Nat) 76, 70, 75
222 Alan Egan (Royal Curragh) 73, 74, 75
223 Alan Moran (Tuam) 73, 71, 79
224 M Coote (Tralee) 74, 77, 73
226 S Underwood (Co. Sligo) 79, 71, 76; H Smyth (Mourne) 74, 76, 76
227 P Sheehan (Ballybunion) 80, 79, 68; E Haugh (Castletroy) 78, 73, 76; J O’Brien (Castlemartyr) 77, 75, 75; R Cross (Enniscrone) 75, 76, 76
228 J Mitchell (Tramore) 78, 77, 73
230 K Bornemann (Douglas) 83, 72, 75
231 J McVeigh (Carlow) 80, 75, 76
232 A Brannock (Newlands) 82, 75, 75; P Lyons (Cork) 79, 76, 77; R McDowell (Royal Belfast) 77, 77, 78
233 M Ahern (Skerries) 82, 77, 74; L Halpin (Westport) 80, 77, 76
234 T McClements (Clandeboye) 86, 74, 74
235 C Murphy (Clandeboye) 80, 82, 73; P Rogers (Dundalk) 79, 78, 78; P Cowley (Cork) 77, 78, 80
