Perfect response by McCloywithtriumph in epic singles final

GARY McCloy answered his critics by winning the Provincial Bowling Association’s singles championship at Limavady on Saturday.

The Portrush man turned in superb performance to defeat Gary Kelly 21-17 in an epic final.

It was the perfect response from McCloy, who was dropped from the Ireland team for this season’s Home International Series at Leamington Spa.

It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for Kelly, who reached the final of four disciplines.

He did mount the winning podium on Friday night, having lifted the fours title but, partnered by Aaron Tennant, the Ballymoney boys lost an exciting shootout (16-15) against Colin Hogg and Mark Wilson in the final of the pairs.

It was also a bad day for Kelly’s international team mate, Marty McHugh in the NIBA Championships at Carrickfergus.

The Whitehead man lost in both finals. Divis’ Gerard McGleave defeated McHugh in the singles, and Portadown’s Aidan Corrigan and Mark Sproule caused a shock by edging home against McHugh and Barry Browne in the pairs.

The were celebrations at Ewarts after Stephen Coleman lifted the PGL singles title for the first time, following a 21-14 victory over Alan McLean of Larne.

But Larne’s Andy Kyle skipped his combination to a 17-14 win over DJ Wilson’s Dunbarton side in the final of the fours.

Results: Provincial Bowling Association Championships: Singles: G McCloy (Portrush) 21 G Kelly (Ballymoney) 17.

Junior singles: J Rankin (Limavady) 21 C Marshall (Limavady) 19.

Youth singles: J Tennant (Ballymoney) 10 B Hutchinson (Castlerock) 21.

Pairs: C Hogg, M Wilson (Cookstown) 16 A Tennant, G Kelly (Ballymoney) 15.

Triples: A Tennant, B Smyth, G Kelly (Ballymoney) v A Steele, A Davidson, W McCaw (Ballymoney) (Date and venue still to be confirmed).

Fours: C McKnight, S Jeffers, E Sands, B Johnston (Cookstown) 15 A Tennant, J Martin, B Smyth, G Kelly (Ballymoney) 23. Senior fours: H Paul, T Smith, A Steele, W McCaw (Ballymoney) 24 18 T Johnston, W Lennox, E Sands, C Hogg (Cookstown) 9. Northern Ireland Private Greens League Championships: Singles: A McLean (Larne) 14 S Coleman (Ballymena) 21. Junior singles: R Cavan (Belmont) 21 D Mills (Pickie) 16.

Youth singles: W Orr (Comber) 21 J Kyle (Larne) 16.

Pairs: G Eaton, M Crawford (Salisbury) 23 M Nutt, S Kirkwood (Old Bleach) 18. Triples: D Copeland, C McCartan, DJ Wilson (Dunbarton) 22 A Davidson, D Palmer, K Massey (Ballywalter) 10

Fours: D Witherspoon, G Johnston, G McKee, A Kyle (Larne) 17 J Moffett, A Hughes, M Greenfield, DJ Wilson (Dunbarton) 14. Senior fours: D Linton, B Ewing, S Cunningham V Atkinson (Ewarts) 15 J Moore, I Hutton, P McVeigh, W Angus (Pickie) 25. Northern Ireland Bowling Association Championships: Singles: M McHugh (Whitehead) 15 G McGleave (Divis) 21. Junior singles: C Gaw (Donaghadee) 21 D Donnan (Donaghadee) 13

Youth singles: N Manish (Portadown) 21 A Cromie (Lisnagarvey) 14

Pairs: A Corrigan, M Sproule (Portadown) 17 B Browne, M McHugh (Whitehead) 15 Triples: N Foster, C Orderly, J Frazer (Dundonald) 10 M Shannon, G Clarke, G Scott (Bangor) 13

Fours: P O’Keefe, I Gallagher, G Clinghan, A O’Keefe (Banbridge) 25 L Gamble, T McClean, M Crawford, M Shannon (Bangor) 9. Senior fours: P Dew, I Ferguson, A Briggs, A Roberts (Lurgan) 22 D Dempsey, R McClune, P McGrail, S McCombes (Lurgan) 8. RORY McIlroy failed to find the magic touch in the final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last night.

The Holywood star’s hopes of regaining the title he won in 2014 faded as American Justin Thomas held his nerve to claim victory on 15 under par, four shots clear of nearest challenger, compatriot Kyle Stanley.

It was a disappointing climax to the tournament at Firestone Country Club for McIlroy who must dust himself down and go again in the final major of the year, the PGA Championship, which begins on Thursday.

The four-time major winner carded a three-under 67 in his third round to move three shots behind Thomas but when he bogeyed the eighth and ninth holes to fall five shots off the pace the writing was on the wall.

By the 11th hole McIlroy was three over par for his round and six shots adrift of Thomas.

Another bogey on the par three 15th hole saw the Ulsterman drop to four over for his round, eight shots adrift of the composed pacesetter. But he got that shot back when he birdied the par five 16th and finished the tournament on eight under par, in tied sixth position.

Stanley closed to within two of the lead thanks to a birdie from 40 feet on the 12th, only to promptly hand the shot back with a bogey on the next.

Former world number one Jason Day then took up the challenge with a hat-trick of birdies from the 10th, but also bogeyed the 13th after a wayward drive.

When Thomas picked up just his second birdie of the day on the 13th, the 25-year-old suddenly enjoyed what looked like an unassailable five-shot lead.

Stanley closed the gap with a birdie on the 16th but Thomas safely parred the remaining holes to complete a closing 69 and seal a four-shot win, his eighth since October 2016.

Ian Poulter fared even worse than McIlroy in his final round as his four over par score left him a shot further back on seven under par.

Tiger Woods had earlier struggled to a closing 73 which contained six birdies, five bogeys and two double bogeys in the space of three holes on the back nine.

Woods has won eight times at Firestone Country Club but this event will move to Memphis from next season.

Defending champion Justin Thomas will play with Woods and McIlroy in the opening two rounds of the PGA Championship. McIlroy, tees off at 2.23pm BST with the Americans on Thursday, while England’s Justin Rose goes out with Jordan Spieth at 7.37pm.

American Troy Merritt had emergency surgery on a footlong blood clot in his arm on Friday — but still hopes to play in this week’s PGA Championship.

The world number 173 said his arm swelled to twice its normal size and turned purple, when his wife told him to get it looked at.

Surgeons removed the clot which went from his left bicep, through his arm pit and into his left pectoral muscle. “I’m not in pain, but I can’t move my arm very much,” said the 32-year-old. Merritt — who won the Barbasol Championship two weeks ago, his second PGA Tour title — is scheduled to tee off at 2.51pm.

He is not expected to play in the practice rounds at Bellerive in St Louis, Missouri. Meanwhile, David Higgins fired a five under par 66 to