The kids are alright.
The 2025 Irish amateur season has seen young starlets come to the fore with teenagers Dylan Holmes, John Doyle and Olivia Costello scooping titles in the early weeks of the campaign and Lewis Gowdy (Bangor) and Caelan Coleman (Galway Bay) are hoping to outscore a stacked leaderboard over the weekend at the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship.
Gowdy, made the biggest move of the day, rising 38 places into seventh place on seven-under, just three shots behind Gerard Dunne, Matthew McClean and Lewy Hayward with a superb Friday morning round of 65 where he threatened to equal McClean’s course record 64 from the day before.
An Ulster Interprovincial player, Gowdy opened with three straight birdies as he took advantage of the generous morning conditions and further birdies on 18, 1, 5 and 8 saw him drive into contention.
“Pretty happy with that, hit a lot of good iron shots and a lot of good wedge shots so pretty happy with that, a lot better than yesterday,” said the Bangor man.
“I think the morning conditions with not a lot of wind I knew I had to get off to a good start especially starting on the back nine.
A solid performer in men’s championships, he has top-17 finishes in each of his last four majors but the next 36 holes will be uncharted territory for him as he looks to make a name for himself.
“I don’t think I have ever been this far up the leaderboard to be honest, it will be a new experience. It’s one of the more forgiving links, I’d say so, it frees you up a bit.”
Coleman, aged just 16 backed up an opening 66 with a well fought 73 which only improved throughout the afternoon. Once eight back of McClean, the Galway Bay man is just five shots off the pace on five-under as he looks to become the youngest winner of this event.
“This is the biggest men’s championship in Ireland. Dad on the bag keeps me composed, but just trying to take every shot one at a time. Holing the putts when I need to,” he said.
It’s been the year of the youth so far with Holmes (18) at the West, Doyle (17) at the Munster Strokeplay and Costello (16) in Woodbrook.
So many Irish players both male and female have entered the pro ranks over the last two seasons. Can Gowdy and Coleman become the latest young guns to break through as the next generation of Irish amateur golf?
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