While most of Ireland’s elite amateurs have touched back down on Irish shores after a semester of college golf in the United States, there were a few stragglers hanging around for the prestigious South Beach International Amateur.
Alex Maguire, Jack Hearn, Paul Conroy and Seán Keeling will make it home in time for the festivities after rounding off their 2022 seasons in the States.
Laytown & Bettystown’s Maguire led the Irish charge with a share of 40th place after rounds of 69, 69, 70 and 72 for a three-under total while Tramore’s Hearn was the next best on one-over after a disappointing 75 followed rounds of 70, 67 and 72.
Luke Clanton and Henry Guan finished tied at the top on seventeen-under-par.
Clanton was in sole possession of the lead with one to play and thought he had done enough with a par and a round of 66 but Guan stole a share of the spoils with a closing birdie and a 69.
Hole-in-one man from a few weeks back, Conroy missed the cut as did the globetrotting Roganstown talent Keeling who has taken in stints in Bahrain and Spain before this week.
It rounds off a good year for all four players with Maguire winning the East of Ireland title and progressing to the semi-finals of the Amateur Championship in Royal Lytham.
Hearn claimed the Ulster Strokeplay as well as picking up a win at the Craft Farms Intercollegiate.
Conroy also tasted victory in the States at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate.
Keeling added the Ulster and Connacht Boys titles to his glittering CV and he also lead the Open Championship Regional Qualifying at Baltray in the summer.
The teenager has impressed on the Toro Tour in Spain with successive runner-up finishes.
- Scoring Here
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