Casey holds off late Morgan challenge

Headfort’s Brian Casey held off a late charge from home hope Dessie Morgan to win the Mullingar Grant Thornton Scratch Trophy by a stroke and boost his confidence heading to next month’s European Tour Qualifying School.

The 21-year-old from Navan, who won last year’s Irish and Leinster Youths titles before storming to a 10 shot win in May’s Munster Strokeplay Championship, fired rounds of 71 and 70 on the final day to win by a stroke from Morgan and Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy on four under 284.

“I missed the entry deadline for the European Individual Amateur Championship so this makes up for it big time. It’s a great title to win and a nice feeling to have my name on a famous trophy alongside names like Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Shane Lowry”, said Casey.