A stunning 66 secured the East of Ireland title for Reece Black and a first senior championship for the Hilton Templepatrick teenager.
Six behind at the start of play, Black caught fire to claim a three-shot win from Robbie Pierse (Grange). Victory was made to look easy as Black sank his seventh birdie, the last shot of a superb final round.
Overnight leader Colin Woodroofe fell away, dropping five shots on the front nine, and it was Black who capitalised to claim the biggest win of his young career. Pierse pursued him throughout, and hit the front with an eagle at the sixth, but his challenge faltered on the back nine.
Black picked up three birdies in four holes from the 11th, which was to prove the decisive stretch. Four shots better than Pierse on the way home, 32 versus 36, Black proved the old adage that championships only really begin on the back nine of a final round.
In the end, the top two were well clear of the field, with long-time leader Colin Woodroofe (Dun Laoighaire) finishing in a tie for third along with Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) and Robert Moran (Castle) on plus one. Defending champion Paul O’Hanlon, lying second going into the final round, dropped outside the top 10 after a closing 78.
East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship Results
283 R Black (Hilton Templepatrick), 71, 76, 70, 66
286 R Pierse (Grange), 72, 74, 71, 69
289 S Bleakley (Shandon Park), 73, 73, 72, 71; R Moran (Castle), 71, 73, 75, 70; C Woodroofe (Dun Laoghaire), 69, 70, 72, 78
290 G Lenehan (Portmarnock), 75, 71, 70, 74; J Whelan (Newlands), 72, 77, 69, 72; G Collins (Rosslare), 72, 76, 71, 71; J Murphy (Kinsale), 72, 74, 71, 73; J Pierse (Portmarnock), 69, 73, 76, 72
291 C Rafferty (Dundalk), 74, 72, 75, 70; P O’Hanlon (Carton House ), 71, 73, 69, 78; D Morgan (Carton House), 70, 75, 76, 70
292 R Williamson (Holywood), 75, 73, 74, 70; J Sugrue (Mallow), 74, 75, 69, 74; T McLarnon (Massereene), 73, 75, 75, 69; G Lappin (Belvoir Park), 72, 78, 71, 71
293 K McCarron (North West), 75, 70, 75, 73; L Donnelly (Kilkenny), 72, 74, 76, 71; P Murray (Clontarf), 71, 75, 74, 73; M Power (Kilkenny), 71, 74, 75, 73; G O’Flaherty (Cork), 71, 72, 75, 75
296 J Greene (Portmarnock), 72, 76, 74, 74; D Holland (Castle), 70, 73, 78, 75
297 G Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick), 71, 75, 77, 74; C Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown), 70, 73, 79, 75
298 M Boucher (Carton House), 76, 74, 73, 75; M Mc Kinstry (Cairndhu), 75, 74, 74, 75; J Hickey (Cork), 70, 77, 74, 77; A Lowry (Esker Hills), 69, 76, 75, 78
299 S Healy (The Royal Dublin), 75, 71, 76, 77; A Hill (Athenry), 74, 75, 72, 78; R Kelly (Tuam), 72, 78, 73, 76; R Brazill (Naas), 72, 74, 75, 78
300 H Foley (The Royal Dublin), 78, 72, 72, 78; R Dutton (Tandragee), 74, 74, 75, 77; E Farrell (Ardee), 73, 75, 74, 78; P Kerr (Royal Portrush), 72, 79, 71, 78; C Denvir (Elm Park), 71, 77, 74, 78
301 J Mc Donnell (Forrest Little), 72, 73, 77, 79
302 C Raymond (Newlands), 77, 73, 72, 80
304 M Norton (Belvoir Park), 74, 75, 74, 81; S Sweeney (USA), 74, 72, 77, 81
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