McIlroy denies Ward in Scratch Cup

Rory McIlroy dashed Simon Ward's dream of a second win in a week with an exciting sudden-death victory in the Owens Group Mullingar Scratch Cup.

The 17-year-old Irish champion grabbed the title with a par four at the second extra hole to deny South of Ireland winner Ward the title.

Just a year after suffering a frustrating play-off defeat to Gareth Shaw, McIlroy was forced to go into extra holes again after the pair had finished on 13 under par.

McIlroy said: "I was a bit frustrated with my putting out there this afternoon but I got the job done.

"A play-off against a good putter like Simon in not what you want but I got over the line and that's what matters.

"After losing to Gareth last year it is a nice feeling to get the win here. It is a great strokeplay event and it is nice to come back and win this with all the best players here."

Two strokes behind Mark Campbell starting the day, McIlroy hit a three under par third round 69 to Campbell's 71 to tie for the lead on 12 under.

But Ward fired a superb six-under- par 66 to trail the leaders by just two strokes with a round to play and forced a play-off after a closing 69 to McIlroy's 71.

Campbell dropped four shots in three holes after the turn in a 74 that left him tied for third with Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell on 10 under.

In the play-off, the first was halved in birdie threes before McIlroy eventually claimed the title with a par to Ward's bogey at the ninth after the Carrickmacross native found a poor lie in a fairway bunker.

McIlroy added: "Simon was a bit unlucky to find a leaf near his ball in the play-off but he's had a fantastic year and I wouldn't be surprised if he got on the three-man Ireland team from the Eisenhower Trophy.

"I played a practice round with him and he said his ambition for next year is to get on the Walker Cup team and I don't think it is beyond him."

A disappointed Ward said: "I just just unbelievably unlucky with the lie I got in the bunker. I had two divots near my ball and a leaf on top of it. I had good vibes coming in here after Lahinch last week. I

thought I had the putt to keep the play-off going but that is the way it goes."

Mullingar Scratch Trophy (Sponsored by The Owens Group), Mullingar GC, par 72

275: R McIlroy (Holywood) 68 67 69 71 (Won on 2nd Tie Hole)

S Ward (Co Louth) 73 67 66 69

278: J Caldwell (Clandeboye) 73 68 69 68, M Campbell (Stackstown) 65 68 71 74

281: J Carvill (Warrenpoint) 73 70 70 68

287: S Lowry (Esker Hills) 73 71 73 70, N O Briain (Royal Dublin) 69 70 74 74

288: S Gannon (Co Louth) 75 72 69 72, G Shaw (Lurgan) 74 71 70 73, C O'Connor (Athlone) 71 73 70 74

289: R Leonard (Banbridge) 77 68 71 73, E Arthurs (Forrest Little) 74 68 77 70

290: D Morgan (Mullingar) 75 69 75 71, N Turner (Muskerry) 73 69 75 73

291: G O'Connor (Malahide) 69 71 77 74

292: A McAllister (Portmarnock) 79 71 70 72, B O'Connor (Hermitage) 75 75 69 73, J McGinn (L'town & B'town) 75 74 71 72, J Lyons (Galway) 75 71 73 73

293: G Bowden (Hermitage) 76 69 73 75, C McNamara (Limerick) 75 75 73 70, G Carew (Edenderry) 74 72 72 75, J Waldron (Muskerry) 72 73 75 73

294: D Lernihan (Castle) 75 74 72 73, A McCloy (Ballymena) 74 74 77 69

295: J Quinlivan (Mullingar) 75 76 74 70, G Hall (Edenderry) 75 70 77 73, C O'Malley(Westport) 75 65 77 78, B Walton (The Island) 73 70 75 77, P O'Keeffe (Douglas) 73 68 74 80

296: G Lawlor (Citywest) 75 75 69 77

298: A Dowling (Hermitage) 78 72 75 73, R McNamara (Headfort) 75 73 75 75, K Metcalfe (Mullingar) 74 72 80 72

299: R Durnin (L'town & B'town) 76 75 75 73

301: D Scully (Galway) 75 72 75 79

302: R Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 73 77 73 79

303: M Lavelle (K Club) 79 73 76 75, B Fennelly (Royal Dublin) 76 76 75 76

304: G Lenehan (Portmarnock) 76 76 77 75, B O'Brien (Headfort) 75 75 77 77

305: S McSweeney (Cork) 76 75 77 77, J Somers (L'town & B'town) 75 76 80 74

307: J Fox (Portmarnock) 74 73 78 82

309: P Buckley (Kanturk) 78 72 82 77

310: D Houlihan (K Club) 75 75 78 82

312: G Flynn (Delgany) 76 76 78 82

315: P Higgans (Mullingar) 77 74 80 84

RTD: J Morris (Mullingar) 73 68 RTD

DQ: A Dooley (Athlone) 78 74 73 DQ