Downes wins strokeplay championship

SEAN Downes (Stackallen) scored a fantastic 132 gross, 30 under par for the 54 holes event to win the men’s All-Ireland senior pitch and putt strokeplay championship at Clonee, Co Meath yesterday.

William Buckley (Erry, Co Offaly) was runner-up on 139 gross while Frank O’Donoghue (Templebreedy) was third on 140 gross. Downes’ winning score was a new course record. Thomas Lynch (ESB Cork) returned 151 gross, 11 under par, to win the Irish intermediate strokeplay title with Dave Forde (Lucan) runner-up on 153 and Paul Collins (Majestic) third with 154.

The new national junior strokeplay champion is Kevin O’Brien (Midleton). He returned 155 gross, seven under par, while Jimmy Quinn (Cunnigar) was runner-up on 159 gross and David Long (Deerpark, Killarney) was third on 166 gross.