Cormac wins North of Ireland strokeplay at Galgorm Castle

THE North of Ireland Open Strokeplay championship, played at Galgorm Castle Golf Club, proved to have another successful event despite the torrential downpours on day two.

Due to the dangerous weather conditions with electrical storms the event was reduced to 54 hole which was concluded with a very exciting play – off.

After round 1, Ciaran Molloy (Ardee), Liam Harnett (Milltown) and Patrick Small (Bangor) led the field with a fantastic score of 71. The leading Galgorm Castle Member was Michael Reid on 72 and Jordan Hood, Adrian Burns and Jamie Sutherland all on 74.

After round 2, Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass) shot into the lead with a great score of 68 giving him a total of 140 (4 under) followed by Ciaran Molloy (Ardee) and Patrick Small (Bangor) both on 141 (3 under).

Round 3 saw Shaun Carter play a fabulous round with a score of 71 putting him into 6th place on 221.

Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene), Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle), Kealan Quigg (City of Derry) and William Hewitson (Castlerock) all finished with a great score of 72 putting Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) into 3rd place overall with a score of 216. Last year’s winner Ciaran Molloy (Ardee) finished joint 6th with a score of 221.

The overnight leader Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass) scored 75 to finish in a tie for the lead with Tiarnan McLarnon on 215. Both players hit good drives on a tough first hole during the play-off.

Cormac then hit an excellent 2nd shot into the heart of the green putting the pressure onto Tiernan McLarnon who pulled his 2nd shot into the green side bunker and unfortunately for him, failed to get up and down - Cormac two putted for par and victory.

Nineteen year old Cormac Sharvin has been a member of Ardglass Golf Club since the age of 15 and is now playing off a handicap of +2.

In September this year he will join Stirling University on a golf scholarship. This is Cormac’s first big win but he intends to continue to build on this success and is looking forward to many wins in the future.

Golf is a key sport in Cormac’s family as he explains: “My uncle Brian Martin caddies on the European Tour for Peter Lawrie, we are definitely a family who love the game”.

Cormac thanked the sponsors Specsavers Ballymena and Taylormade in his winning speech and congratulated Galgorm Castle for the professionalism in hosting the event and the outstanding condition of the course.

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