McIlroy defends Irish title at European Club

Rory McIlroy (Holywood), ranked fifth in the world amateur golf rankings, will defend the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at The European Club from June 10 to 14.

The Holywood teenager, who turned 17 earlier this month, successfully defended his West of Ireland Championship title at Co Sligo in April and will be hoping to do the same in the Irish Amateur Close Championship.

McIlroy captured the title at Westport Golf Club last year when he beat Galway’s Eddie McCormack in the final.

The handicap cut for this year’s championship fell at 1.5, and no less than 111 players in the field of 150 have handicaps of scratch and better.

Included among the strong entry are leading contenders in Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Seamus Power (West Waterford), and past champions John McGinn (Laytown and Bettystown) and Eddie Power (Tramore).

The Irish Amateur Close Championship was first staged in 1893 at Royal Portrush and has been played each year since, with the exception of the war years.

Former winners of the championship include Brian McElhinney (2004), Graeme McDowell (2000), Peter Lawrie (1996), Padraig Harrington (1995), Darren Clarke (1990) and Paul McGinley (1989).