English born Frank Kennedy survived an early wobble to win the 57th Lytham Trophy by two shots at Royal Lytham & St Annes after a thrilling 36-holes on Sunday afternoon.
Kennedy who plays out of Trump National Jupiter and had legendary caddie Fanny Sunesson on his bag carded a stress-free 68 on Sunday morning before a two-over 72 gave him a two-under total.
Kennedy birdied 13 and 16 and carded sixteen pars in the morning but saw his healthy lead evaporate after he opened his final round with three bogeys in seven holes.
However, he recovered well with birdies on 8 and 9 and one further dropped shot on 15.
Wales’ James Ashfield strengthened his Walker Cup aspirations with a level-par 70 to share second with Spain’s Luis Masaveu on level-par.
Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley carded Sunday rounds of 71 and 69 to finish the day where he started, on two-over and settle for a share of fourth.
Foley carded eleven successive pars on Sunday afternoon before making a move with back-to-back birdies.
Bogeys on 15 and 17 either side of a birdie hampered his charge late on but it was a shrewd effort as he finished as top Irishman.
Castle’s Robert Moran also did his Walker Cup chances no harm with a share of eight place on eight-over after rounds of 72, 72, 73 and 71.
The 23-year-old made just two birdies across both of his rounds on Sunday but made it back-to-back top-8 finishes at Lytham.
Galgorm’s Joshua Hill finished in a share of 13th place on his debut with a ten-over total.
Hill co-led after day one with Douglas teenager Jack Murphy and the latter shared 26th place on thirteen-over.
Tough starts cost Robert Brazill over the course of the week but the Naas native settled for 31st on +15 with Matthew McClean sixteen-over and Athenry’s David Kitt plus eighteen.
Debutant Brandon St John was 39th on +22.
Scoring HERE
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