McLarnon claims North of Ireland amateur strokeplay title

McLarnon, playing off a +2 handicap shot 68 (4-under) around Galgorm Castle in the morning to take a one shot lead over Kealan Quigg (Northwest), Damien McCusker (Moyola Park) and Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle).

After lunch, the Massereene man bogeyed the par-5 3rd hole but steadied the ship with birdies on the 7th and 9th to turn in 1-under. A birdie 4 on the 10th was cancelled out by a 3-putt bogey on 12, but birdies on 13 and 15 followed by three solid pars to finish secured a three shot victory.

Kealan Quigg (Northwest) and Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) again matched each other’s score to finish on a total of 140 in second place.

McLarnon was delighted with the victory and is looking forward to making his European Challenge Tour debut, “I played really solid today and enjoyed the course, it was in superb condition as always and I putted great on the greens.

“I’m delighted to get the victory and can’t wait to play in the NI Open here at Galgorm in front of the big crowds in August”.

The NI Open has captured the imagination in recent years with record crowds attending Galgorm Castle to see the likes of Michael Hoey, Tournament Ambassador and five-time European Tour winner, and other household names in action.

“We are fortunate the NI Open holds a key date on the international schedule and will be looking to attract the game’s top players to Ballymena at the start of August for what promises to be another festival of tournament golf right here in Northern Ireland”, explains Gary Henry, Managing Director Galgorm Castle Estates and NI Open Tournament Director.

The Northern Ireland Open, in association with SPHERE Global and Ulster Bank takes place at Galgorm Castle Golf Club between August 6th and 9th, 2015. Once again the NI Open will be free to enter. All the general public will have to do is register online at www.niopen.co.uk to get their free tickets.