The East of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship returns this weekend to the historic County Louth Golf Club, and few players in the field will know the layout better than local Baltray member Gavin Tiernan.
Originally from Dublin, Tiernan has called the Louth links his home club since he was eight years old. Now at 19, he recently completed a successful freshman year at East Tennessee State University and returns home hoping that both form and familiarity will make him a top contender for the title.
“I’ve had some pretty good finishes so having that confidence that you’ve played and beat some really good players and knowing as well that the game is there,” said Tiernan.
“When you’re playing and you see yourself shooting the scores and beating some guys in the top 50 on WAGR, in some really big events it just gives you that confidence.”
Having returned home two weeks ago, Tiernan wasted no time getting competitive rounds under his belt, finishing third at the Dundalk Scratch Cup just one day after landing back on Irish soil.
“I got back on Saturday and then then played in Dundalk on Sunday. I could feel that I was starting to yawn coming into the second round, so the jet lag was hitting me there, but it was nice,” said Tiernan.
“I love competing, whether it’s against my mates or in the Irish Am or the East or whatever it is.”
Tiernan won’t be the only Louth based golfer with high hopes this weekend, with reigning champion Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk), Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Champion Stuart Grehan (Co Louth) and Gerard Dunne (Co Louth) also in the field, there is no shortage of talent from “the wee county” on display.
“Everyone’s going to be up for it, it’s just going to be, let the best player win,” said Tiernan.
Tiernan is set to be one of the early starters on Friday morning beginning his opening round alongside Simon Walker (Roscommon) and Ryan Murray (Balmoral) at 7.52am.
This year’s championship also carries extra emotional significance for Tiernan as his late grandfather Eddie Kelly, a long time County Louth member, introduced him to the game and he is hoping that both the memory of his grandfather, and the support of his family will give him that extra push this weekend.
“It’s the one I’ve been coming to since I was 8 years old, since I picked up a golf club. My granddad’s been a member of Baltray since I’ve been alive, that’s how I got into the game through him,” said Tiernan.
“It would be huge for us in our family for me to get it done this week. I’m taking it like any other tournament, but when it comes down the stretch, might just have that extra gear, to get it done, hopefully. It would be huge.”
The East of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship tees off at 7.30am tomorrow morning as Caolan Rafferty gets his title defence underway alongside Stuart Grehan and Gavin O’Neill (Malahide).
View first round tee times here
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