Blainroe golfer David Lally said a recent putting lesson helped to get him on course for a famous win at the Ulster Men’s Amateur Stroke Play Open Championship.
The 21-year-old shot a stunning 66 to seal the win, just ahead of Darcy Hogg (Belvoir), who finished two shots in arrears at Shandon Park.
In the women’s event Katie Poots (Knock) held her nerve in the closing stages to register a 72 that secured a -2 total. She also finished two shots in front of her closest opponent, Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye).
The 19-year-old has St Rule to look forward to later this week, while Lally will also take plenty of confidence as he heads to the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship in County Louth.
“A lot went right for me, thankfully I had two good playing partners with me, Jordan and Simon, who made it very enjoyable out there and the putter finally got hot for the first time in a long time,” said Lally.
“I went to Gordon Smyth there in Slieve Russell (last week) and it took a bit of getting used to but I’m starting to see the benefits of it now.
“He (David’s father) has watched me hit pretty much every golf shot I have hit ever hit at a tournament in Ireland. He does a great job taxiing me around the country and I’m almost more happy to win this for him because of all the money and everything he has put in to make me a better player, it’s really rewarding to have something to show for it.
“I was close to winning a couple of tournaments over in America, I didn’t quite get over the line. On the flight home to Ireland a few weeks ago I definitely wanted to compete in some of the championships and and thankfully I have done that sooner rather than later.
“I just want to keep putting myself in position, I know it won’t happen every week, but keep putting myself in contention and hopefully I will get over the line again soon.”
Sam Allister (Belvoir Park), who equalled the course record 64 yesterday, was leading the way at the start of the day on Tuesday but he would go on to shoot 76 in the final group.
Fellow Belvoir Park golfer Darcy Hogg emerged as the biggest threat to Lally. Hogg opened with a 65 on Monday but his third round of 70 came up just short after a costly bogey on 17.
Another Belvoir Park golfer, the experienced Simon Ward, finished T3 alongside Allister after back-to-back rounds of 69.
Meanwhile, Poots and Ellen O’Shaughnessy (County Louth) were out in front on the back nine but it was the Knock youngster who came out on top.
Poots began with four bogeys inside her first six holes but she bounced back and an eagle on 11 was crucial as she cut the deficit before a birdie on 14 gave her a winning position.
Poots secured the win with four straight pars, ahead of Gardner who finished with a 69 and O’Shaughnessy, who was one shot further back in third.
“It feels amazing, it builds my confidence a lot and I’m absolutely delighted,” said Poots.
“I leave for St Rule on Thursday so just building my confidence going into the next tournament and over the summer. It got very tight, it was good playing with Ellen, and I held a few good putts that I needed to hold and just kept me going steady.
“My first round I was playing really well and then I had a seven, which wasn’t ideal, but then I fought back, and I knew going into the second round yesterday that I was playing well and putts would drop and just had to keep steady.
“It was really nice for my Mum and Dad to be able to watch and a few members from Knock came down which meant the world. It’s really nice just so close to home.
“Honestly at the minute I just want to build confidence and build my game to where I want it to be for heading to the States again in August so I would love to do well in St Rule but as long as I start seeing progression, I am happy enough.”
View the final scoring here
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