Golf: Smyth wins Irish C'ship again

Des Smyth, winner of the Madiera Open this season, has brought his total of Smurfit PGA Irish Championship wins to six with a three shots win over the holder Paul mcGinley at Castlerock.

Drogheda man Smyth carded a final round of 68 (five under) for a total of 19-under after taking a two strokes lead over McGinley in the third round.

McGinley had led by two at the halfway stage.

The tournament was really a two-horse race during Sunday's play and only when McGinley birdied the long 11th hole to close the gap to one stroke did it look possibloe that he would hold on to the title.

However, Smyth immediately answered with a 30-feet birdie putt on the 12th green and he finally closed out the holder with a birdie-birdie finish.

Final Round (Par 292):

273 - D Smyth (Unattached) 73,66,66,68 (£16,600).

276 - P McGinley (K Club) 73,64,70,69 (£10,600)

279 - M Allan (Leopardstown) 72,69,67,71 (£7,100). .

281 - D Mooney (Laganview) 75,70,68,68; M Bannon (Bangor) 73,68,67,72

(£4,400 each);

282 - P Russell (Unattached) 72,71,70,69; F Howley (Milltown) 75,65,72,70; K

Morris (Fota Island) 75,69,67,71 (£3,117 each);

283 - P Walton (Westpoint Fitness Centre) 71,72,67,73 (£2,200);

284 - R Burns (Newlands) 74,71,69,70; B Kelleher (Ballybunion) 76,69,71,68

(£1,9.00 each)

287 - P Leonard (Fintona) 79,69,69,70; N Howley (Black Bush) 75,70,71,71;

288 - B McGovern (Headfort) 77,69,73,69;

289 - J Bolger (Kilkenny) 77,71, 69, 72; J Dignam (Slade Valley)

73,69,73,74;

290 - M O'Donovan (Harbour Point) 75,73,72,70;

291 - A Schweppe (Malahide) 77,72,74,68; D Walker (Foxrock) 75,72,72,72;

292 - S Hamill (Lisburn) 76,74,73,69; G Loughrey (knockbracken) 76,73,71,72;

H O'Neill (Connemara) 76,72,71,73; N Manchip (Royal Dublin) 75,68,73,76;

293 - J Kelly (Ward) 81,69,69,74; D McFarlane (East Cork) 76,75,68,74;

294 - JP Dolan (Charleville) 77,74,72,71; E Doyle (Heath) 77,72,73,72; W

O'Callaghan (Fernhill) 73,68,79,74; G Robinson (Wexford) 74,73,70,77;

295 - J Heggarty (Spawell) 78,73,73,71; G Chambers (Killymoon) 78,70,74,73;

296 - G Burke (Curragh) 74,72,79,71; N Callan (City of Derry) 75,75,75,71; G

Fairweather (Knock) 77,74,72,73; S Thornton (Royal Co Down) 76,73,73,74; C

Barry (Donabate) 75,72,71,78;

297 - L Walker (Dundalk) 73,74,79,71; J Murray (Malahide) 77,72,76,72; Z

Rouiller (Spawell) 78,74,70,75; J Dwyer (Ashbourne) 79,72,70,76; K Grealy

(Royal Tara) 74,71,74,78;

298 - D Byrne (Hermitage) 75,71,79,73; P Stevenson (Portadown) 74,76,75,73;

299 - J Murray (Elm Green) 73,78,76,72;

300 - G Madden (Galway DR) 78,74,77,71; J Langan (Milltown) 78,71,73,78; R

Hutton (Cliftonville) 74,75,73,78;

301 - J Greenaway (Portadown) 79,73,75,74; E Tracey (Enniscrone)

77,73,72,79;

302 - P McGuirk (Co Louth) 76,76,76,74; P Farrell (Ardglass) 79,73,72,78; C

Smyth (Dundalk) 76,76,72,78;

303 - A Johnston (Ballyclare) 75,75,75,78;

305 - T Mullaly (Royal Portrush) 81,71,77,76;

308 - J Kinsella (Skerries) 77,74,82,75;

312 - JP Noonan (Unattached) 77,71,73,75;