27 May 2010: Conor Glynn, a hugely promising one-handicapper from Carton House, booked a return trip to Lough Erne when he won the Boys’ Under-18 event and the overall title at the Faldo Series Ireland Championship over the Faldo Course at the acclaimed resort in Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Glynn put together rounds of 70 and 78 in blustery conditions to finish five shots ahead of fellow Carton House club member, Cian Geraghty, and to progress to his second successive Faldo Series Grand Final where he will be joined by Boys’ Under-21 winner, Bangor’s Patrick Small, Boys’ Under-16 winner, Kieran Lynch from Skibbereen & West Carberry and Girls’ Under-16 winner, Chloe Ryan from Castleroy.
All four will return to the Lough Erne Resort, the Home of the Faldo Series Europe, for the 2010 Grand Final on September 21-23 where they will compete against all the age group winners from the other 15 events on this year’s Faldo Series Europe schedule. These include events in Russia, The Netherlands, Greece, Poland, Slovakia and South America as well as in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Glynn posted the low round of the Championship when he opened with a two under par 70 and in the second round he survived a blip just before the turn to return a battling 78 and finish five shots ahead of Geraghty. Sean O’Donoghue, a 3-handicapper from Portarlington, finished third in the Under-18 competition with rounds of 80 and 77 while Woolston Manor’s Charlie Day, one of only two Englishman in the field, came fourth two shots further behind.
“I am really happy to win,” said Glynn. “This is the third time I have played in the event. I went to Brazil last year for the Grand Final and it was a great experience to see the country, to play with good golfers and to meet new friends.
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to Lough Erne this September to play in the Grand Final,” he added.
“The course is amazing and it's going to be great to get the chance to meet Sir Nick Faldo again.”
Bangor’s Patrick Small was a strong favourite to win the Boys’ Under-21 event after opening with a one under par 71 but he dropped seven shots during the first nine holes of his second round before recovering his composure with a back nine of 36 to close with an 80 and claim a three shot victory over Omagh’s Nial Kearns. Eoin Doland from Grange Golf Club was a distant third on 17 over par 161.
The Boys’ Under-16 event looked set to go to the wire but that was before Kieran Lynch, a 2-handicapper from Skibbereen & West Carberry, closed with a masterful one over par 73 to secure a five shot victory over Banbridge’s Luke Woods. Jake Wheelan, from Newlands Golf Club, added a 78 to his opening 80 to claim third sport on 158.
Lynch started his second round by dropping shots on the 162-yard par-3 3rd, the 560-yard par-5 6th and the 568-yard par-5 9th to go out in three over par 40 but any thoughts that he might buckle under the pressure were dispelled when he raced home in a two under par 33 that included birdies on the 420-yard par-4 12th and the 148-yard par-3 15th.
Chloe Ryan from Castleroy claimed the Girls’ Under-16 prize after two rounds of 79 saw her finish two shots ahead of Olivia Mehaffey (Tandragee) on 14 over par 158.
Ryan was also delighted at the prospect of returning for the Grand Final. “I can’t wait to play this course again,” she said. "Everyone at Lough Erne treated us so well and the course is fantastic.
“I have competed in the Faldo Series for the last two years,” she added. “I think it’s a brilliant idea and good for golfers around the world to meet and play together.
“I’m also looking forward to meeting Sir Nick. It’s unbelievable to think I will be introduced to him and get a chance to learn from him as well.”
Results from the Faldo Series Ireland Championship at Lough Erne Resort
Boys’ Under-21
151 – Patrick Small (Bangor) 71-80
154 – Nial Kearns (Omagh) 76-78
161 – Eoin Dolan (Grange) 79-82
162 – David Graham (Knock) 78-84
165 – Warren Wallace (Carton House) 82-83
Boys’ Under-18
148 – Conor Glynn (Carton House) 70-78
153 – Cian Geraghty (Carton House) 72-81
157 – Sean O’Donoghue (Portarlington) 80-77
159 – Charlie Day (Woolston Manor) 74-85
160 – Niall Worth (The Island) 82-78
Boys’ Under-16
151 – Kieran Lynch (Skibbereen & West Carberry) 78-73
156 – Luke Woods (Banbridge) 77-79
158 – Jake Wheelan (Newlands) 80-78
160 – David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 79-81
162 – Michael Flynn (Castlebar) 78-83, Jamie Kennan (Old Conna) 84-78, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu) 80-82, Stephen Watts (Cairndhu) 80-82, Andrew Connolly (Massereene) 78-84
Girls’ Under-16
158 – Chloe Ryan (Castleroy) 79-79
160 – Olivia Mehaffey (Tandragee) 81-79