EUROPEAN STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP 2011

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Ireland's Ian Farrelly, the man who has won more International Pitch and Putt opens than anybody else, clinched the inaugural European Strokeplay championship at Imjelt, Norway. Farrelly closed with a final round of 49 to beat fellow Irishmen John Ross Crangle and John Walsh by a single shot. Farrelly, who hails from Co. Meath in the Emerald Isle birdied the final hole with a superb putt to shoot 145 for the 54 holes and just hold off John Ross Crangle, who was unlucky with his final green birdie effort. Crangle, whose reputation grows with every tournament closed with a brilliant 46 (the best of the week around the superb Imjelt course) and that eight under par effort meant the Loughlinstown, Dublin player just edged out John Walsh for runners-up slot on the tiebreaker.

Ireland's No. 1 ranked player, John Walsh from the Collins club in Cork, has been third in the World Strokeplay and the European Strokeplay championships. Holland's Rolf Kwant was fourth on -13. Ireland's Frank Dineen was fifth on 151 (-11). Best senior (over 55) was Norway's Frank Kristiansen who carded an impressive 154 for sixth place overall. Dolors Palahi (Catalonia) shot 177 to be best lady. Best Junior (under 16) was Carl Axel Moserud (Norway) with 169.

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Ian Farrelly led into the final day of the inaugural European Strokeplay championship. He carded rounds of 49 and 47 at Imjelt, Norway for a 12 under par 36 hole aggregate of 96. Ian Farrelly led by two Ireland's John Walsh who was on 98. John Walsh fired eight birdies in his opening 47 to lead by two after the first round. John Ross Crangle (Ireland) was on eight under while former Irish Strokeplay champion and 2010 Irish Open winner Frank Dineen shot 7 under after a brilliant second round 47. Rolf Kwant, reigning Dutch Open champion, was the leading non-Irish player, alongside Dineen on 7 under. The top ten overnight was completed by leading Norwegian Frank Kristiansen (102), Catalan coach Xavi Ponsdemench (103), plus another couple of Catalans, Xavier Lopez and Jordi Serra, who were bracketed with Ireland's Alan Hanlon on 104.

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It was an Irish 1-2-3 after Round 1. John Walsh (47) led John Ross Crangle and Ian Farrelly, who both shot 49.

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