Stuart Grehan fought hard but couldn’t overturn a five-stroke deficit to Austrian Christopf Kogl in the final round of the European Mid-Amateur Championship at Quinta do Peru in Portugal.
The Tullamore native who represents County Louth Golf Club carded a final-round 72 for a -2 overall tally to finish three shots shy of the Austrian, and will be disappointed not to have been closer after a pair of early birdies, combined with two early dropped shots from Kogl, got him to within a shot of the lead after five.
Three bogeys over the final four holes on the front effectively put paid to Grehan’s chances, but he continued to fight and birdies on 10, 14 and 17 with a bogey on 11 saw him reach the final hole three shots in arrears and still in with a slender chance.
A closing bogey would ultimately see him fall from a share of second, but it was yet another impressive showing and one that will have done his Walker Cup chances no harm whatsoever.
Rosslare’s Mark Shanahan was next best of the Irish in a share of 21st, and he finished tied for fifth in the Men’s 40+ category where victory went to Sweden’s Jonas Wallmo.
Carton House’s Darragh Flynn ended the week in a share of 28th, and County Louth man Evan Farrell completed the Irish interest finishing tied for 36th.
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