Malone Golf Club’s Matthew McLean clinched the Flogas Irish Amateur Open at Co Sligo Golf Club on Sunday with a two-stroke victory.
A closing round of 69 saw the Ulsterman finish on 11-under-par, and overturn a four-shot deficit at the start of Sunday’s play to beat Galway’s Liam Nolan (0-9) by two strokes.
Nolan, who carded 10 birdies in a blistering round of 66 on Saturday, posted a final round of 75.
He had started Sundays final round with a four-stroke lead – but three dropped shots in the opening three holes saw that lead whittled away.
McClean’s steady round included just one bogey on ten and with three birdies, with two on the difficult back nine, it ensured he finished on -11 two shots clear of Nolan.
For the former US Mid-Amateur champion, who had his father Noel and girlfriend Kate there for support, this is another huge boost to his season on the back of an historic European Nations victory alongside his Irish teammates in Sotogrande recently.
He spoke to Ocean FM Sport’s Austin O’Callaghan after Sunday’s win at Co Sligo Golf Club.
“It feels great. I’ve tried for many years to get an Irish Championship, there’s multiple times where I’ve not been on the winning end,” said McClean.
“So it’s nice to hold on there. That’s obviously what most players are judged by. Whatever you do, how many seconds and thirds at the end of the day, it’s the win.”
The World Amateur Golf Ranking No 80, will now turn his attentions to another tilt at the Brabazon Trophy in Hollinwell, an event which Nolan won last year.
And for much of this week it looked like the Galway man would pick up another major title after rounds of 66, 68 and 66 gave him a -13 total after moving day.
But that lead was whittled down in the front nine with Nolan dropping three shots in his first three holes while McClean birdied the third.
Just like his inspired fightback from a double-bogey in Round 3, Nolan showed resolve and had two subsequent birdies before a bogey on nine.
It was all pars from there on in until 17 where Nolan bogeyed and following birdies on 12 and 15 McClean was in position to seal the win with a par on 18.
Further back, it was hometown golfer TJ Ford who mounted the most meaningful challenge but even a scintillating 65 was only enough to help him into third place on -6.
Tom Matthews (Oswestry) and Hugh Foley (Royal Dublin) completed the top five.
