11 hours ago
Paul McBride takes step closer to The Open with win in regional qualifying at The Island
The former Walker Cup star made an eagle, five birdies and four bogeys in the only sub-70 round of the day at the windswept Malahide links to top the qualifiers by a shot from Cloverhill's Keith Shannon.
There were ten spots up for grabs at The Island for the right to tee it up at Final Qualifying for Royal Portrush at one of four UK venues on July 1.
Hermitage's Rowan Lester, Royal Belfast amateur Finlay Eager, Galwayman Ronan Mullarney and Foyle's Brendan McCarroll tied for third with one-under 71s.
Rúaidhrí McGee and Finn Alex Hietala qualified with level par 72s but there was an eight-man playoff for the final two places on two-over.
In the end, Laytown and Bettystown's Alex Maguire and Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney progressed at the second tie hole.
At Frilford Heath, Kinsale's John Murphy birdied six of his last seven holes to shoot a one-under 71 before losing out in a five-man playoff for the last of nine spots.
Local Qualifying was played at 15 venues across Great Britain and Ireland for 131 spots alongside already exempt players in Final Qualifying at Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire next week.
Irish golf will have at least five players in the field at Royal Portrush in former champions Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harrington and LIV Golf's Tom McKibbin.
