Cormac Sharvin continued his season of consistency when he lifted the English men's open stroke-play title for the Brabazon Trophy over the Hollinwell course at Nottingham at the weekend.
The 22-year-old star from Ardglass who has been prominent in stroke-play events in Scotland, Wales and Ireland this summer already became the first Irishman since Rory McIlroy in 2006 to hold aloft the famous Trophy.
Sharvin who had put himself in pole position with a stunning five under par 67 on Friday to take the lead finished with a solid 70 for a 72-hole aggregate of seven under par 281.
And that total gave him a one-stroke victory over fellow Irishman and Walker Cup player Gavin Moynihan, the Dubliner who plays out of The Island.
Sharvin carded four birdies on the outward half and just one on the homeward stretch but seven pars to finish were sufficient for him to edge home.
Moynihan posted a brilliant concluding 66 which included two bogeys in the last three holes. An eagle three on the long sixth hole was the highlight of Moynihan’s final round.
In what was an excellent tournament for the Irish contingent Jack Hume of Naas ended in joint third place with the English pair of Charlie Danielson and Paul Kinnea, all carding totals of 284 – four under par. Paul Dunne tied for ninth spot with Kevin Le Blanc and Dermot McElroy in 11th place.
These performances will almost certainly cement places for Sharvin, Moynihan and Hume in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup side to face the Americans at Royal Lytham and St Annes in September.
“I have been pretty consistent all season apart from a hiccup at the Amateur and it is great to win this big one – a tournament every amateur international targets,” said Sharvin.
He will now hope to help Ireland win the Euro Team Championships for the first time since 2008 and then play a major role in the Home Internationals before heading to Lytham.
VAGLIANO TROPHY
Great Britain and Ireland’s run of defeats at the hands of Continental Europe was extended to five at Malone near Belfast at the weekend but they came desperately close to ending their barren spell. In one of the most exciting contests of recent times the hosts, who have not won this biennial fixture since 2005, went down 12.5 to 11 after the second and final day honours were shared.
Leona Maguire showed just why she is the world's number one by going through the two days undefeated with three wins and a half, the most successful of the home players.
The 21-year-old ended the tournament by beating Luna Sobron 4&2 after sweeping into a four hole lead at the turn – she had overcome new British champion Celine Boutier the previous day.
Olivia Mehaffey, the Royal County Down teenager suffered one reverse – by Boutier on the final hole in the second session of singles on Saturday.
In the Junior Vagliano Trophy match Claire Coughlan-Ryan's Great Britain and Ireland team went down 10.5 to 7.5 after trailing by three points following the first day's play.
This was Europe’s third consecutive success – they have won all the fixtures since the inaugural match.
“The girls showed their battling qualities – the damage was done the first day,” said Coughlan-Ryan.
Irish girls Annabel Wilson and Mairead Martin won both their foursomes matches and Wilson secured a singles half.
