Maybin Makes Muirfield Open

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Gareth Maybin will tee up in the British Open at Muirfield next month after two rounds in the international final qualifying at Sunningdale.

The 32-year-old former World Cup player, who completed a scholarship at the University of South Alabama before turning professional in 2005, posted a 36-hole total of 136 over the Old and New courses with rounds of 67 and 69.

That put the Northern Irishman from Donagh, Co Fermanagh in a tie for third place behind American Brooks Koepka and England's Oliver Fisher.

In a tense situation, Maybin kept his nerve over the closing holes on the New Course, finishing with two birdies and four pars.

Michael Hoey – with whom Maybin played for Ireland in the 2007 World Cup in China, missed out after recording 140 with scores of 71 and 69 to put him outside the top 20.

Meanwhile, Dubliner Neil O'Briain took a step towards booking a place in The Open Championship by making final qualifying in Scotland next week, when he topped the six going through from yesterday's regional qualifier over the Island course.

The former Waterford College graduate, now attached to the Old Conna Club was third in the 2011 Irish PGA Club Pros Championship and yesterday fired a 70 – one below the standard scratch score – to finish well clear of his rivals.

Bushfort-based David Jones and Derry's 35-year-old Michael McGeady, the 2008 Swalec Welsh Challenge Tour event winner, both went through with scores of 73.

Local man David Ramaluk, Brendon McConnell and Killarney's Daniel Sugrue also overcame the regional qualifying hurdle.

However, Royal Portrush amateur Matthew McAlpine, who qualified for the match play stages of the British Amateur Championship in Kent last week, fell by the wayside with a 77.

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• Meadow Tames Ballybunion

Meadow Tames Ballybunion

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Stephanie Meadow battled the wind and rain at Ballybunion to lead the qualifiers into the match play stage of the Irish women's close championship.

The 21-year-old 2012 British Ladies champion, and star member of the Alabama University team, fired a six- under-par 67 in her second round on one of Ireland's toughest links courses.

That gave her a 36-hole aggregate of 139, all of 10 strokes fewer than Slieve Russell teenager Leona Maguire, who beat her in last year's Irish final. 

Leona's twin sister Lisa had a disastrous opening round of 86, but a second-round 77 for an aggregate of 163 gave Lisa a spot among the 32 qualifiers.

Maria Dunne, who was disqualified from last week's British Amateur Open for using a distance-measuring device, also made it through.

McGlynn Kearney and Dunne Through

Shane McGlynn qualified for the last 64 in the matchplay stage of the British Amateur Championship over the Royal Cinque Ports course on Wednesday, with Matthew McAlpin and Richard Bridges losing out in their matches.

East of Ireland champion Paul Dunne and Castlerock’s Aaron Kearney are also both through to the last 32. However Irish Close champion Cormac Sharvin failed to make it through the second round at the Kent links.
England’s Nick Marsh knocked out the highest ranked player in the field to reach the second match play round of the 118th Amateur Championship at Royal Cinque Ports.

After a delayed start due to thunder and lightning on the Kent coast, the preliminary round got under way shortly after 10am.

Marsh, from Huddersfield, mounted a strong finish, with birdies at the 15th, 16th and 17th, to eliminate Frenchman Julien Brun, who is ranked fifth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, 4&2.

Fellow Englishman, Ben Stow enjoyed a convincing 5&4 win over Mathias Eggenberger. The University of Kentucky student took charge straight away against his Swiss opponent and was 5up at the turn. The 22-year-old from Rushmore clinched the win with five straight pars on the back nine.

Paul Kinnear notched up an impressive 3&2 win in an all-England clash against Daniel Brown. A close match was settled in the Formby player’s favour when he won the 14th, 15th and 16th holes, with a birdie on the 15th the highlight.

Young Spaniard Pep Angles defeated his compatriot Mario Galiano 4&2. The Central Arkansas Sophomore was never behind in the match. Three birdies on the front nine set him on his way and the match was decided with a birdie three on the 16th.

He was joined in the second round by Italian Riccardo Michelini, American AJ McInerney, Shane McGlynn and England’s Toby Crisp.