Matthew McClean rounded off an excellent week with a three-under 68 to scoop third place at the Brabazon Trophy in Saunton.
The Malone golfer finished with an eight-under total, six shots behind runaway winner Christiaan Maas of South Africa.
Conditions over the course of the week were tough with just eight players finishing under par after 72 holes but there was also a top-10 for Galway’s Liam Nolan who shot a three-over 74 to finish on that mark.
McClean has been in great form recently, winning the Portrush Scratch Cup and finishing second in the Irish Amateur Championship last week. The Irish international roared out of the traps with a brace of birdies on the second and third before dropping a shot on 6.
McClean opened his back nine with successive birdies before a second bogey of the day arrived on the 14th. Birdies came on 15 and 18 either side of a bogey on 17 as he came home in 33 for a 68.
Meanwhile, Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley and Castle’s Robert Moran finished in a share of 22nd on six-over after rounds of 73 and 77 respectively while Jack McDonnell was nine-over and TJ Ford was plus fourteen.
Springbok Maas (-14) wasn’t for catching and he cruised to the title with a three-under 68 and a five-shot win over Arron Edwards-Hill.
The Pretoria native took control of the final round with four birdies in a thunderous opening six holes while Chelmsford’s Edwards-Hill couldn’t put much pressure on as he closed with a one-over 72 and a nine-under total.
Defending champion Sam Bairstow claimed fourth place on six-under after a two-over 73 while Swiss duo Maximilien Sturdza and Nicola Gerhardsen shared fifth on four-under.
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