Late bogeys torpedo McMonagle’s title hopes

. The pride of Dunfanaghy Golf Club in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, finished with bogeys at the par-3 17th and the par-5 18th to finish one stroke behind Kieran Staunton and Paul Curry, who settled matters in a playoff to Staunton’s advantage. McMonagle shot 206 (70-66-70) for the tournament. Despite four bogeys in the second round, he managed six birdies and an eagle.
Tim Rice tied for 13th place at 213 (74-68-71), Bryan Smyth tied for 33rd place at 217 (76-67-74), and Eamonn Brady tied for 41st place at 219 (68-73-78) in this Europro Tour event.

NATIONWIDE TOUR
Another nice effort by Richard Coughlan, this time in the Scholarship America Showdown at Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, Wis. Coughlan, who has now made six consecutive cuts, tied for 21st place at three-under-par 277 (70-70-68-69). He earned $4,781. A four-way tie at 269 resulted in a playoff, which was won by Kevin Stadler.

CHAMPIONS TOUR
Mark McNulty played steady golf over 72 holes to earn a share of ninth place in the Ford Senior Players Championship at TPC of Michigan in Dearborn. He finished seven under par at 281 (69-72-69-71), which was six strokes behind the victorious Mark James. Eamonn Darcy had a fighting chance after 36 holes, but found the weekend?s going tougher and backslid to a 39th-place tie at 289 (70-70-74-75). Des Smyth did a Jekyll and Hyde turn en route to his 292 (78-67-74-73), which got him a piece of 51st position. McNulty earned $62,500, while Darcy’s cut came to $12,000 and Smyth collected $6,750.

EUROPEAN TOUR
Graeme McDowell tied for 27th place in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond Golf Club in Glasgow. He was five under par at 279 (72-65-70-72). Peter Lawrie, tied for 56th place at 283 (71-71-70-71) and Damien McGrane, tied for 74th place at 290 (69-71-70-80), also went the distance. Gary Murphy (68-75) and Paul McGinley (73-70), both missed the cut by a stroke at 143. One shot behind them was Darren Clarke at 144 (71-73). Thomas Levet shot 269 to claim the title.

EUROPEAN SENIORS
Paul Leonard began the third and final round of the Nigel Mansell Sunseeker International Classic two strokes off the lead, but endured a rocky patch that saw him record two double bogeys and two bogeys over a five-hole stretch that dropped him into a tie for 12th place. Leonard’s cards totaled 213 (71-68-74), 10 strokes off the number recorded by medallist Seiji Ebihara. Also on the course at Woodbury Park in England were Denis O’Sullivan, tied for 34th place at 217 (70-76-71), Eddie Polland, tied for 48th place at 220 (70-77-73), John Curtis, tied for 65th place at 228 (73-73-82), and Liam Higgins in 72nd place at 233 (73-80-80).

CHALLENGE TOUR
Michael Hoey shared 30th place in the Open des Volcans at Golf des Volcans Clermont in Ferrand, France. He shot 291 (76-74-68-73), which left him 11 strokes behind Johan Axgren, the victor. Stephen Browne, at 151 (76-75), missed the cut by a stroke. Gavin McNeill carded 157 (83-74) for 36 holes.