McGeady still hopeful of first Irish success in Sydney

MICHAEL MCGEADY remains hopeful of a first ever Irish success, despite dropping one stroke from the lead on day three of the prestigious Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship in Australia.

McGeady carded a third round one under par 71 in humid conditions on the Belmont course at Newcastle, north of Sydney.

The Derry golfer slipped from a second day three-way share of the lead, at 10 under par, and into a two-way share of fifth place, on 11 under par, but just one shot behind four Australian players who head the event on 12 under par.

Tasmania’s Robin Hodgetts and Sydney’s Won Joon Lee surged to the front with five under par 67s and join other Sydney amateurs, Michael Brown and Adam Barker atop of the board.

The four Australians will each be striving to celebrate today’s countrywide Australia Day public holiday by claiming the nation’s leading amateur title.

But the Derry based McGeady, who is one of five Irish amateurs who travelled to Australia, will be looking to spoil the Australians’ party and become the first ever Irish-born champion.

McGeady began on Friday with a 67 and then moved into a three way share of the lead with a similar five under par tally on day two.

But he let slip his chance to forge clear of his Australian born rivals by failing to birdie any of the four par fives on the Belmont links like course during yesterday’s third round.

Portmarnock’s Noel Fox, the reigning Irish Amateur champion, carded a second successive 69 for a three under par 213 total and tied with Dunmurry’s Stephen Crowe who carded a third round 72.

lGermany’s Marcel Siem made it third time lucky to claim his maiden European Tour win at the Dunhill Championship at Houghton Country Club.

The 23-year-old missed eagle putts to clinch the title on the first two holes of a sudden-death play-off with French duo Raphael Jacquelin and Gregory Havret, but finally held his nerve on the third extra hole to earn a two-year tour exemption.

Siem’s victory made it the fifth time that a young player has made the Dunhill their maiden victory.

Siem set a new tournament record of 22 under par but watched as first Jacquelin and then Gregory Havret birdied the par five 18th to send the tournament into a three way play-off.

On returning to the 18th, Havret almost chipped in for an eagle three before Jacquelin left his eagle putt four feet short.

Siem was left with an eight foot putt for the win but missed his eagle attempt and the trio made the journey back to the 18th tee.

This time Havret pulled his tee shot into a fairway bunker and could only make a par five to drop out of the play-off.

Jacquelin also found sand with his approach but splashed out to six feet to make a birdie, and Siem left his eagle putt from 12 feet agonisingly short.

But finally the ponytailed German sealed victory with another birdie on the 18th after splashing out of the greenside bunker, while Jacquelin overshot the green with his second shot and in the end could only make par.