McElhinney wins Willie Gill Award - 29th Jul 2004

Reigning Irish Amateur Close Champion, Brian McElhinney (North West) has won the Willie Gill Order of Merit Award for 2004.

In a very close finish, McElhinney tied with Mark Campbell (Stackstown) on 115 points. But McElhinney, by virtue of his victory in the Irish Amateur Close Championship at Donegal in June, topped the Order of Merit table.

This is the first time that McElhinney has won the Willie Gill Award, having finished with the same number of points as Noel Fox last year but lost out to the Portmarnock golfer who won the Irish Amateur Open Championship in 2003.

Mark Campbell had the opportunity to win the Willie Gill Award at the South of Ireland Championship. Following the defeat of McElhinney in the third round, Campbell needed to win his fifth round match to score points in the order of merit table, but he lost out to the eventual defeated finalist Greg Bowden of Hermitage.

McElhinney, who will defend his European Individual Championship title in Skodve, Sweden next month, is a member of the Walker Cup squad selected to visit Chicago from August 8-12 for a training session at Chicago Golf Club, the venue for the 2005 match. The 14-strong party will be accompanied by Walker Cup captain Garth McGimpsey and Peter McEvoy, Chairman of The R&A Selection Committee.

Irish Amateur Open Champion Sean McTernan (Co. Sligo) finished in third place in the Order of Merit table on 100 points, followed by Greg Bowden (Hermitage) with 80 points and Alistair McKinley (Shandon Park) on 70 points.

Previous winners of the Willie Gill Award are: Noel Fox (2003 & 2000), Colm Moriarty (2002), Stephen Browne (2001), Ciaran McMonagle (1999), Eddie Power and Michael Hoey (tied 1998), Andrew McCormick (1997), Peter Lawrie (1996), Padraig Harrington (1995 & 1994), Garth McGimpsey (1993, 1988 & 1984), Ken Kearney (1992), Niall Goulding (1991), Darren Clarke (1990 & 1989), Paul Rayfus (1987), John McHenry (1986), Declan Branigan (1985, 1981 & 1976), Adrian Morrow (1983), Philip Walton (1982), Arthur Pierse (1980), Mark Gannon (1979), Michael Morris (1978) and Liam McNamara (1977).

WILLIE GILL PERPETUAL AWARD 2004

Final Standings
*Brian McElhinney is deemed winner of the Order of Merit by virtue of his victory in the
Irish Amateur Close Championship as per conditions

NAME AND CLUB
West
Open
East
Close
North
South
Total

B McElhinney (North West)*
0
35
10
60
10
0
115

M Campbell (UCD/Stackstown)
0
0
50
25
30
10
115

S McTernan (Co Sligo)
0
70
30
0
0
0
100

G Bowden (Hermitage)
40
0
0
0
0
40
80

A McKinley (Shandon Park)
0
25
10
35
0
0
70

A McCormick (Scrabo)
0
35
0
25
0
0
60

M McGeady (North West)
0
15
0
45
0
0
60

M Shanahan (West Waterford)
0
25
0
15
0
20
60

R Kilpatrick (Banbridge)
0
0
0
0
30
30
60

G Maybin (Ballyclare)
0
0
20
35
0
0
55

P McDonald (UCD/Woodbrook)
50
0
0
0
0
0
50

R Forsythe (Ballyclare)
0
0
40
0
10
0
50

D Crowe (Dunmurry)
0
15
0
25
10
0
50

T Coulter (Massereene)
0
0
0
0
50
0
50

J Foster (Ballyclare)
20
0
0
0
0
30
50

C McNamara (Limerick)
0
0
0
0
0
50
50

K Bornemann (Douglas)
0
45
0
0
0
0
45

R Leonard (Banbridge)
0
0
0
0
40
0
40

M Sinclair (Knock)
10
0
10
15
0
0
35

S Moloney (Castletroy)
30
0
0
0
0
0
30

C Doran (Banbridge)
20
0
10
0
0
0
30

R McIlroy (Holywood)
10
0
20
0
0
0
30

G Carew (Edenderry)
0
0
30
0
0
0
30

H Diamond (Holywood)
0
15
0
15
0
0
30

K McGarry (Bandon)
0
0
0
0
20
10
30

P Murray (Limerick)
0
0
10
0
0
20
30

D Ryan (Grange)
0
25
0
0
0
0
25

B McCarroll (Ballyliffin)
0
25
0
0
0
0
25

J McGinn (Laytown & Bettystown)
0
0
0
25
0
0
25

E O’Sullivan (The Island)
20
0
0
0
0
0
20

C O’Malley (Westport)
10
0
10
0
0
0
20

P O’Keefe (Douglas)
0
0
20
0
0
0
20

J Morris Junior (Portmarnock)
0
0
20
0
0
0
20

B Fitzsimons (Downpatrick)
0
0
0
0
20
0
20

J Turner (Royal Portrush)
0
0
0
0
20
0
20

J Crangle (Fortwilliam)
0
0
0
0
20
0
20

M O’Sullivan (Galway)
0
0
0
0
10
10
20

P Lyons (Cork)
0
0
0
0
0
20
20

D Morgan (Mullingar)
0
0
0
0
0
20
20

N Grant (Clandeboye)
0
15
0
0
0
0
15

M Brett (Portmarnock)
0
15
0
0
0
0
15

K Crowley (Lee Valley)
0
15
0
0
0
0
15

C McAleavey (Banbridge)
0
15
0
0
0
0
15

B Trainor (Warrenpoint)
0
15
0
0
0
0
15

A Considine (Ennis)
0
0
0
15
0
0
15

C Bowe (Tramore)
0
0
0
15
0
0
15

N Fox (Portmarnock)
0
0
0
15
0
0
15

R McCarthy (The Island)
0
0
0
15
0
0
15

S McMonagle (Dunfanaghy)
0
0
0
15
0
0
15

R Williams (Baltinglass)
10
0
0
0
0
0
10

G Nugent (Kilkenny)
10
0
0
0
0
0
10

D Kelleher (Portmarnock)
10
0
0
0
0
0
10

C Cassidy (Portmarnock)
10
0
0
0
0
0
10

A Dowling (Hermitage)
0
0
10
0
0
0
10

N Beirth (Co Louth)
0
0
10
0

0
10

T McClements (Holywood)
0
0
0
0
10
0
10

T Spence (Clandeboye)
0
0
0
0
10
0
10

J Caldwell (Clandeboye)
0
0
0
0
10
0
10

T Kearney (Ballyliffin)
0
0
0
0
10
0
10

M Horan (Birr)
0
0
0
0
0
10
10

P O’Hanlon (Curragh)
0
0
0
0
0
10
10

W Telford (Rathmore)
0
0
0
0
0
10
10

D Conway (Portmarnock)
0
0
0
0
0
10
10

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