Stuart Grehan is through to the quarter final of the Amateur Championship at Hoylake after he beat Spain’s Sergio Jimenez Romero on the 20th hole.
Grehan, looking to become the first Irishman to win the title since James Sugrue in 2019, was down since the opening hole of the match, found himself 2DN with six to play but rallied with a par to win the 12th, a birdie to halve the 16th and a par to draw level on 17 before he pipped the Spaniard on the 20th with a birdie.
“I’m very relieved,” said the East of Ireland champion. “It was a really tough match against Sergio. I think the only time I was up was on the last hole there, the 20th. So very happy. It was a hard-fought win; a few clutch putts coming in from both of us. Yeah, look, absolutely delighted.
“To be honest, he was kind of up all day. He played really well at the start of the game. I think he was maybe three or four-under and I just couldn’t get a hold on him. But I think the biggest turning point was maybe around 10. I had probably about a 15-footer for a half to stay two-down.
“I got a little momentum off that and got him back to one-down on 13, and then I won the 17th as well. We holed two good putts on 18 to kind of bring it down to extra holes, and then luckily I was probably going birdie the 20th, and unfortunately he was in a bit of trouble.”
Grehan has been excellent since returning from the pro ranks to the amateur game last year and the 2025 Walker Cup player, aided by his father in law as a caddie, had to rely on all of his experience.
“I just kind of relied on experience I guess. I wasn’t in the best form I would say through 10 or 11 holes, so I have to credit my caddie and father-in-law, Dan. He was excellent. He kept me in it.”
Grehan will now play England’s Edward Featherstone, who was a 3&1 winner over Malan Potgieter of South Africa.
Matthew McClean lost his last-32 tie on the 18th.
Leave a comment