O’Connor stands strong in Rosapenna winds
ATHLONE’S Thomas O’Connor won the Ulster Mid-Amateur Championship at Rosapenna by two strokes.
After opening with a one-over 72 on the Old Tom Morris links to trail defending champion Frank Casey Jnr by three strokes, he added a two-over 74 on the Sandy Hills Links to fall four behind after a second round that was not completed until Sunday due to fading light.
High winds and heavy rain showers affected scoring throughout the day but O’Connor closed with a six-over 77 to edge out home favourite Casey (83) by two strokes on the Sandy Hills Links.
Conditions were so testing that O’Connor’s final round 77 was the best score of the day by three strokes from Beaverstown’s Gary Cullen, who finished sixth after a closing 80.
Mourne’s Noel Crawford was third, seven shots behind the winner, after an 81 with Co Sligo’s Shane Underwood fourth (and the leading over 50s player) with Rosapenna’s Enda Kennedy fifth. Ulster Mid-Amateur Championship, Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris Par 71, Rounds 1&3, Sandy Hills, Par 72, Rd 2): 223 Thomas O’Connor (Athlone) 72 74 77; 225 Frank Casey Jnr (Rosapenna) 69 73 83; 230 Noel Crawford (Mourne) 74 75 81 230; 232 Shane Underwood (Co. Sligo) 74 73 85; 233 Enda Kennedy (Rosapenna) 78 72 83; 234 Gary Cullen (Beaverstown) 78 76 80; 237 Seryth Heavey (Co. Sligo) 78 79 80; 238 Karl Murray (Charlesland) 75 78 85; 240 Sean Quigg (City of Derry) 76 80 84; 240 Derek Basquill (Enniscrone) 74 72 94.