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.

Morgan was devastated to come up short in his bid to become the first Mullingar player to win the tournament on its 50th anniversary. The 31-year old led by a stroke from Castlerock’s Aaron Kearney after a morning 72 but found himself five shots behind with nine to play as Casey birdied the first four holes and went out in 32 despite a bogey at the eighth.

Ballymena international McElroy set the clubhouse target at three under par thanks to a 69 before Casey edged in front.

Morgan did all the damage when he turned in 39 and while he applied pressure with birdies at the 11th, 14th and 16th, he needed a birdie at the last to force a play-off.

Just through the back of the par-five 18th in two, he chipped to five feet from an awkward lie but pushed his five footer wide of the mark and signed for a 73 that left him wondering if he will ever have a better opportunity to lift the trophy.