Cork golfer David Howard impresses in Seapoint Golf Club

David Howard put another good top level performance in the bank last week with a top ten finish in the Flogas Irish Amateur at Seapoint. 

The Fota Island golfer has been in good form this year and his -10 score for four rounds at the Co Louth links included rounds of 70, 68, 72 and a final round 68.

Although he was five shots off the winner, Howard had an impressive haul of 20 birdies which highlights how effective his tee to green game is. Howard played almost all of the Irish Championships and his efforts were rewarded with a tenth place finish in the Bridgestone Order of Merit.

Howard kept himself busy in the off season with events in Portugal and Spain. After four pro events in Portugal, he went on to record three top 3 results on the Toro Tour in Spain. 

The winter training meant that he was ready for the West in April where he qualified for the matchplay stage. He was 19th in Cork two weeks ago and that was followed by his 7th place at the Irish Amateur. 

Along the way he also won the BYD East Cork Senior Scratch Cup in April.

Next up for David is 54 holes in Bunclody at the Leinster Mid Am and from there he will head to Cornwall for the Motocaddy Masters on the Clutch Tour. 

This will be his first event on the Clutch Tour after winning full playing rights at the Q school at the end of last season.

In Seapoint, four of the six other Cork golfers made the cut. Jordan Boles finished in 21st position although he would have hope for a better finish until a closing 74 cost him a potential top ten place. 

James Walsh, Brian Lane and Joe O’Neill also had poor finishes on Sunday and didn’t feature in the top thirty. 

Sean Reddy just missed the cut despite a third round 72. John Doyle, who has won major events in his last two starts was inside the top thirty after playing 54 holes but withdrew from the final round.

The honours in Seapoint went to Stuart Grehan who finally got his hands on silverware after competing at both the West and the Munster Stroke Play. 

It took Grehan 75 holes to get his hands on the trophy. The former tour golfer returned to the amateur ranks in January and he was nine under on the final day. 

He shot a closing 66 to tie England’s Lewy Hayward after 72 holes. The two golfers traded birdies on the first and second playoff holes, but Grehan’s birdie on the 75th split the tie and secured the trophy.

The 32-year-old Offaly native, who now lives in nearby Termonfeckin was delighted with the win. 

“Delighted with everything, being close to home. I walk my dog here pretty much every night in the winter. I’m absolutely delighted. The biggest event in Ireland as well so thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” said Grehan. 

“Everything coming around full circle, so I’m absolutely thrilled to be honest.”

The local golfer looked to have left the door open when he went over the 18th green on the second play-off hole but Hayward missed his opportunity, and Grehan made him pay when they returned to the 10th.

“I just said to myself last night, you’re always going to have sticky patches and yesterday seemed to be that day for me,” said Grehan. 

“I had a good warm-up this morning and I played great golf today. Could have been even a little bit better but I was delighted with the way I played and under pressure, hitting the shots that I did.”

There was a thirteen strong contingent in Claremorris last week for the Connacht Seniors. Bandon’s Dave McCarthy was in second place after an opening round of 73, and a second 73 kept him tied for second place when the tournament finished. East Cork’s Jason law shot the low round of the tournament in the second round with a four under par 69. 

Four birdies and fourteen pars saw Law jump 22 places to also tie for second place. Brian Kelleher, Richard Crean and Karl Bornemann finished in the top twenty.