The Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Open Championship tees up this week at Naas Golf Club, where defending champion Stephen Browne will aim to replicate his triumphant return to top-level amateur golf 12 months ago.
The Hermitage golfer made the perfect start to his senior career when capturing this title last year, with his win at Moyvalley marking not only his over 50’s debut but also his first championship outing in 13 years.
“I remember feeling the nerves again and haven’t felt them in quite a while, because I was just 50 and it was my first event that I played as a senior. I felt going into it that I didn’t know how I would react if I did get into contention. It was nice to be able to play with nerves and come through”, said Browne.
“A nice way to come back and then it’s nice when you’re the baby as well in the event. That obviously hadn’t happened in a long time.”
This week promises to be fiercely competitive once again, with top contenders spread throughout the 132-strong field, no more so than in Browne’s own group, which includes former Irish Senior International Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion) and Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Close Champion Shane Kenneally (Kinsale).
“I know it’s a good standard and we would have got into the East of Ireland easily, all three of us”, said Browne.
“I’m more aware now of how good the standard is nearly than I was last year, I think, too so I know I’m going to have to play very, very well, and my whole game is going to have to be sharp.”
The Lucan native knows a “very different test” lies ahead for the competitors this year, with the pristine tree lined fairways of Naas Golf Club set to reward careful course management and strong all-round play over the three rounds of stroke play.
“I think the best player that week will come out in stroke play and on a very fair test like Naas as well, and a good test. It will produce the best player on the week”, said Browne.
“You want to do as well as you did the previous year, you do want to get yourself in contention and then hopefully be able to finish it off. I think, saying anything else wouldn’t be true. I’m actually just very excited about being under pressure.”
The Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Open Championship gets underway on Wednesday morning with Simon Lewis (Sutton), Thomas Burley (Burnham & Berrow) and Darry Lowans (Dun Laoghaire) set to get round one underway at 8.00am.
View the first-round tee times here
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