McIlroy ties for eighth at Ganton

Holywood's Rory McIlroy continued his impressive start to the season when he finished tied for eighth in the Brabazon Trophy at Ganton in Yorkshire on Sunday.

The 17-year-old carded rounds of 73 and 71 in treacherous conditions on the final day to finish on nine over par 293 alongside England's Gary Wolstenholme and Jamie Abbott.

Walker Cup player Robert Dinwiddie (aged 23) raced through the field with rounds of 70 and 69 to win by three shots from overnight leader Ross McGowan on two under par 282 and complete a remarkable treble of English, Welsh and Scottish strokeplay titles.

“I’m very happy,” Dinwiddie said. “Apart from winning I have a lot of reasons to be happy, especially the way I played and to only run up one bogey in the final round in those conditions.

“I’ve been in this position before, one shot behind going into the final round and the key is not to drop shots and I did that well.”

Greg Bowden of Hermitage was the next best of the Irish on 298 after a closing 77 with Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney three shots further back.

Aaron O'Callaghan from Douglas was the only other Irishman to make the halfway cut but finished on 303 after closing rounds of 74 and 79.