Seapoint golfer Dylan Keating will look to make history tomorrow in the AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championship at Portumna.
The 24-year-old leads by the minimum, on five-under, as he looks to add the Close to his North of Ireland title, which he claimed in Royal Portrush three months ago.
Former Open Champion, Darren Clarke, is the last golfer to complete that double back in 1990, and one week after helping Ireland to victory at the Men’s and Women’s Home Internationals in Woodbrook, Keating knows he still has a long way to go.
“Yesterday everything went well. I was on every green and hitting all fairways,” said Keating.
“Today I was scrambling a bit but fought back. I was three-over through 14 holes, and then birdied my 15th, which was the sixth, missed a short one on the seventh for birdie, birdied eight, and then parred nine.
“To get back at one-over, when you shoot it around like 66, it’s hard to follow it up. To just keep myself in it and I’m only 50 percent of the way through, there’s so much golf left.
“It’s windier today and there’s some trickier pins that are tucked, so if anyone shoots anything four or five-under today, it’s a fantastic score.”
And the golfers did struggle to go deep into the red on the scorecards with last year’s West of Ireland and recent Mullingar Scratch Trophy winner, Dylan Holmes (Greystones) alongside on four-under with Conor Hickey (Dooks).
Former winner, Paul O’Hanlon (Carton House), was one of those who also drew close to Keating following a 68 to finish up on three-under.
After back-to-back victories for Rory McIlroy in 2005 and 2006, and Shane Lowry’s subsequent success, it was O’Hanlon who was next to get his name on this trophy.
“It was in Belvoir Park and I played Dara Lernihan in the final and it went to extra holes. Really fond memories, great championship and I can’t believe I am in contention again nearly 20 years on,” said O’Hanlon.
“It would be amazing if I managed to pull it off tomorrow but sure we will see. I will think about how I played the golf course today, what I would change and just try and implement that tomorrow.”
45 golfers made it through to the weekend, while Conor Clarke (Balmoral) had shot the low round of the day, that pushed him to three-under, although his 67 was later equalled by William O’Riordan (Greystones) as 20 players finished under-par, all well in contention ahead of tomorrow’s third round.
View the standings here
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