Roscommon golfer Thomas Higgins turned agony into ecstasy in Estonia this afternoon as he sunk the crucial putt to help Ireland end an 18-year wait for glory.
The 23-year-old Clemson star sunk a 20-foot putt to secure the European Amateur Team Championships on the 20th hole against hosts Estonia.
All of the pressure was on Higgins with the match tied 3-3, a year on from his heartbreaking loss against Denmark on the 20th hole in Killarney.
Royal Birkdale bound, Amateur champion Stuart Grehan (Co Louth), and Matt McClean (Malone) had already won their singles matches, following a morning foursomes victory for McClean and Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk).
And although he put his tee shot into the water, Higgins recovered brilliantly against Kevin Christopher Jegers, to seal a famous win for Damien Coyne’s side.
“It was one of the best feelings ever,” said Ireland captain Coyne.
“The lads played really well, Thomas had a chance to win on 18, and a slightly longer putt on 19 as well. He hit his tee shot really really well on 20, just too far left and in the water.
“Dropped one down, hit it to 20 feet and got to hit his putt for par before Kevin did and holed it, it put the pressure on him straight away. You saw what happened next. It was a massive feeling of joy, just a relief that it was over.
“It’s been phenomenal these last few weeks. Stuart has had an exceptional time, I said it to him coming up the ninth hole today, he was that good, if he brings that form into next week he will compete. He is going to go to Birkdale tomorrow on a real high.
“And to David Howard as well, it’s great to have two Irish amateurs in the field, and we will be all shouting for them. Hopefully they can continue on this great run of form we have been in.”
This is the first time Ireland have won this crown since 2008 when Shane Lowry was part of that side, a year after Rory McIlroy also helped them to European gold.
Ireland made a blistering start to this final, with McClean and Rafferty racing into an early lead against Jegers and Markus Varjun. That led to a comprehensive 4&3 win.
Grehan and John Doyle (Fota Island) also wrestled the advantage early against Mattias Varjun and Johan Ralf Kivi but there was a late comeback and Estonia took the second of the morning foursomes.
It was finely poised going into the afternoon singles before Grehan emphatically dispatched leading Estonia hopeful, Richard Teder, 5&4 in the first match. It was a huge boost for the Irish and McClean followed up with a 2&1 win over Markus Varjun.
Estonia had got their first point on the board through Carl Hellat at the expense of Gavin Tiernan. And while Rafferty took Mattias Varjun to extra holes, he lost out on the 20th. It all resulted in a tense final few holes but Higgins held his nerve for an historic victory.
“That was a fantastic performance from this Irish team and an historic win. To show the resilience they did, and for Thomas Higgins to come back and hole that putt under immense pressure, it says everything about the character of this group,” said Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly.
“Congratulations to Damien Coyne, the players and all involved on a truly special achievement for Irish golf.”
Spain went back-to-back in the European Ladies’ Team Championships after a stunning 5-2 win over France at PGA National Slieve Russell.
Balma Davalos Guaita sealed that win on the 17th green for an eighth European title at this level, inflicting a third straight defeat in the decider on the hapless French.
Ireland were battling it out for seventh place alongside Italy but succumbed to a narrow 3-2 defeat.
Katie Poots (Knock) and Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye) lost the opening foursomes match but Ireland bounced back with two brilliant wins for Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle), in what could be her final event as an amateur, and Kate Dillon (Oughterard).
However, further defeats for Olivia Costello (Roscommon) and Jessica Ross (Clandeboye) meant Ireland came up just short.
In the European Boys’ Team Championship Division 2, Ireland suffered a 5.5-1.5 defeat to Finland in Greece. Despite the loss Ireland’s run to a silver medal finish has won John Carroll’s team promotion back to Division one next year.
In Switzerland the Irish Girls’ team defeated Denmark in the Flight B final to finish fifth overall. Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush), Zoe McLean-Tattan (Romford) and Kayleigh Mullholland (Moyola Park) secured the all-important points in a 3-2 win for Brenda Craig’s side.
Leave a comment