John Doyle’s victory at the Munster Men’s Stroke Play Amateur Open Championship last weekend has catapulted the young Fota Island golfer into the top five of this year’s Men’s Bridgestone Order of Merit.
It has been a blistering start to the season for the 17-year-old, as he claimed the Flogas Irish Boys’ Championship on 25 April before returning to Cork to claim his first men’s crown, and first Order of Merit points of the season.
The 180 points earned on the south coast have put Doyle straight into fifth position on the Men’s Bridgestone Order of Merit leaderboard, just 93 points behind reigning West of Ireland champion Dylan Holmes (Greystones).
Following his sensational win at County Sligo Golf Club, Holmes immediately took the early Men’s Order of Merit lead, which he would go on to bolster further following a T12 finish at the Munster Men’s Stroke Play.
The chasing pack are in hot pursuit however as Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth), Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Keith Egan (Carton House) and Doyle are all within touching distance. Grehan sits closest of all following his run to the West semi-final and seventh place finish in Cork.
The men do not have long to wait until their next opportunity to add to their tallies, as the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship tees up in Seapoint Golf Club from May 7.
On the Women’s side, another teenage talent has risen to the top of the Women’s Bridgestone Order of Merit as Olivia Costello’s victory in the Woodbrook Scratch Cup has seen the Roscommon golfer take the number one spot.
Jessica Ross (Clandeboye) and Zoe McLean-Tattan (Romford) are Costellos closest challengers, both sitting just 32 points behind in second.
The Ulster Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Open Championship is next up, as the event tees up in Shandon Park on 26 May.
View the latest Bridgestone Order of Merit standings here
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