LynchindisbeliefatNorthofIrelandvictory

Unheralded Ian Lynch (Rosslare GC) won the North of Ireland Championship at a sun-baked Royal Portrush GC yesterday. The 29-year-old software engineer beat Englishman, Kieran Babbage (The Players Club) 2&1 in Friday’s final.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I came up here for a bit of a family holiday and some golf and now I’m North of Ireland champion. It’s surreal to even say it, it’s unbelievable,” said Lynch moments after clinching victory with a par on the 17th.

“I was playing okay before the tournament started. I won a scratch cup a month or so ago but still, this is a big step up. I Triumphant: Ian Lynch holds his trophy aloft

played alright on the first day of qualifying on The Valley, shooting three under.

“I thought, ‘fair enough, you have a chance of making the matchplay stages now’.

“From then on I was just taking it one round at a time. Anything can happen in match play.”

There was nothing to separate the two players on the front nine and the duo were level as they turned for home. Lynch then made his move, winning the 10th and 11th in par to go two clear of his opponent.

Babbage conceded the 14th when he came to grief in a greenside bunker to fall three behind. Although Lynch bogeyed 15, Babbage could not capitalise and that left him needing to win 16 to keep the match alive.

Lynch failed to find the green with his tee shot at the 16th and Babbage this time took advantage and made par to take the final down the penultimate hole. That was as far as they went. Lynch found the fairway with his drive down the hill on 17 and pocketed a regulation par from 30 feet to take the title. GRAEME McDowell’s last shot at a place at Carnoustie for The Open Championship will continue into the weekend at the Scottish Open after the Rathmore man made the cut at Gullane.

McDowell added a four-under 66 on day two to sit five under for the tournament, and needs to finish as one of the top three players not already qualified for next week’s Major to earn a place in the field.

Currently those three spots are going to leader Robert Rock, Sweden’s Jens Dantorp and England’s Eddie Pepperell, with McDowell five shots adrift of Pepperell, who is on 10-under.

However, the Ulsterman has Fighting on: NI ace Graeme McDowell is still in the mix

given himself a glimmer of hope that he may still earn a spot, however he will need two big rounds at the weekend to work his way into contention.

Meanwhile, Englishman Rock achieved a personal milestone to claim the halfway lead at Gullane.

Rock added a second round of 63 to his opening 64 for a halfway total of 13 under par and a two-shot lead over Dantorp and Tyrrell Hatton, with Pepperell and 2015 champion Rickie Fowler another stroke back.

Rock has not dropped a shot over the first 36 holes for the first time in his career and is in pole position to secure his first title since 2012.

“I’ve started well in a few tournaments recently but it’s all about putting four rounds together and that’s the challenge,” said Rock.

“Getting into The Open is everything, but you have to focus on this event first and play the course here before that.

“I’ll be there whatever happens as a coach, but it’s hard going and not playing.”