Casey’s title bid derailed on back nine

Brian Casey had to be content with second spot in the English Open strokeplay championship for the Brabazon Trophy at Formby after a final round hiccup.

The Headfort youngster went into the last round level with England’s Jordan Smith, but the West Country player got off to a flier with three birdies in the first five holes and then a poor homeward half saw the end of the Irishman’s hopes.

The 15th was really the undoing of Casey as he got into serious trouble in the rough and slumped to a double-bogey six.

Smith kept his nerve and finished with a steady 70 to Casey’s 74 to triumph by four strokes.

Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy plummeted to a share of 24th spot with a gross 299 while Gary Hurley of West Waterford joined McElroy with an impressive 71.

Chris Selfridge finished a shot behind those two while Portmarnock’s Geoff Lenehan was a further stroke back on 301 .