February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By John Manley
The combined team representing Ireland and Britain won the Walker Cup for only the fifth time in 37 renewals last Sunday at the Nairn Golf Club in Scotland. Paddy Gribben of Warrenpoint, Co. Down, clinched the event in his match with Hunter Haas, sinking a 3-foot putt on the 16th hole to go up 3 and 2. That gave the Irish-British team the 12 points needed for the championship.
Earlier in the day, Gribben and Simon Dyson of England took the U.S. duo of Haas and John Miller to 18 holes, where the Americans prevailed in the alternate shot format by a stroke. On Saturday, Gribben played Bryce Molder even in singles play, with each man earning a half point. Gribben and Lorne Kelly, also of Ireland, were defeated in foursomes by David Gossett and Tim Jackson, 3 and 1.
Neither Kelly nor David Patrick, the other Irish member of the team, played on Sunday. In singles action on Saturday, Patrick lost to Jonathan Byrd, 6 and 5, while Kelly lost to Jackson, 3 and 1.
One of the world’s premier amateur events, the Walker Cup is held every other year, and was most recently staged in Westchester County, New York in 1997, when the U.S. won. Ireland-Great Britain last won the event in 1995.
Nike Tour
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John Kernohan tied for 24th place in the Tri-Cities Open at the Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland, Wash. Kernohan shot 2-under 286 (69-72-72-73), leaving him eight shots behind Glen Hnatiuk, the low man on the board. Kernohan earned $1,912.50. Keith Nolan finished in a tie for 37th place at 290 (69-72-74-75), bringing him a check for $1,012.50.
European Tour
Darren Clarke loosened up for the pending Ryder Cup matches with a 10th place finish in the Victor Chandler British Masters at Woburn in Bucks, England. Clarke and Paul McGinley were among eight golfers to complete 72 holes with scores of 10-under-par 278. Clarke had rounds of 71, 66, 74 and 67, while McGinley’s cards came up with the numbers 71, 71, 70 and 66. Each earned $18,578.
Des Smyth took a piece of 32nd place at 281 (70-71-69-71), good for $9,085. Richard Coughlan and Eamonn Darcy shared 60th place with three others, all of whom carded scores of 287. Coughlan’s numbers were 72, 71, 71 and 73, while Darcy shot 69, 73, 72 and 73. The financial number for them was $3,220. John McHenry tied for 71st position with his 292 (72-71-73-76), enriching him by $1,726.
Bob May of the U.S. won the top prize with a score of 19-under 269, one shot ahead of Colin Montgomerie.
European Seniors
David Jones was top Irishman when the Zepter Monte Carlo was completed at the Monte Carlo Golf Club in Monaco. Jones’s 209 (69-69-71) placed him in a tie for fifth place, two shots behind Tommy Horton, the champion. Eddie Polland was bunched with four others in seventh place at 210 (72-68-70). Joe McDermott was one of five in 13th place at 212 (70-73-69).
European Challenge Tour
David Higgins tied for 29th place in the D’woo Warsaw Open at the First Warsaw Golf & Country Club in Poland. Higgins’ final score of 288 (74-72-72-70) was four strokes over par, and eight behind the medalist, Niclas Fasth. Missing the 36-hole cut were Francis Howley, 148 (73-75), and Gary Murphy, 153 (76-77). They needed scores of 146 or lower to continue into the weekend.
Golden Bear Tour
P.J. Cowan tied for 47th place in the Smartspikes Classic at Hammock Creek last week. Cowan shot 283 (68-73-72-70) for the 72-hole event, 15 strokes behind the medalist, Steve Hart. Cowan earned $684.