Not much happened Stateside for Laytown and Bettystown’s Alex Maguire this year but successive fourth place finishes at the Conference Championship and Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship have given him a confidence boost as he enters the bulk of the amateur season.
There is plenty still on Maguire’s agenda who will look to springboard into the rearview mirror of Walker Cup selectors and try to defend his East of Ireland Championship title which he won in such thrilling fashion last year.
“The Irish Amateur was a real positive, I didn’t know what to expect going into it,” said Maguire. “I didn’t have my best stuff over in American but a fourth place in conference gave me some confidence going into the summer season. I was very solid in the Island if I got a few putts to drop on the Sunday it might have been better.
“Four of the next fives weeks I am playing so the Irish Amateur was a great confidence boost going forward it’s a very positive start to the season so I want to push on straight away, starting with the Brabazon Trophy.
Maguire was part of the eight-man Irish panel announced to compete at Sunningdale this week as he begins a hectic schedule which will also include the St Andrews Links Trophy and Amateur Championship.
The Mornington native adores links golf and after a fourth place finish at the Island earlier this month the St Andrews and Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale dates will be key if he is to reignite a GB&I Walker cup bid.
“I grew up up on links golf so I love it. I like how tricky it can be and it can punish you or you can play great and reap the rewards and when you get a good feeling it makes it easier to play well.
“I haven’t heard much about the proposed Baltray changes but I am in love with that course. If the changes make the course better, I don’t see why not. But there are very few bad holes at Baltray.”
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