John Doyle picked up his second championship win in as many weeks as the Fota Island golfer returned to Cork Golf club and claimed the C20 Group Munster Men’s Stroke Play Amateur Open Championship.
From an initial field of 75 at the Little Island course on Saturday, just 33 remained by Sunday morning and over the final two rounds it was the 17-year-old Corkonian who would battle his way to the top, taking a one-shot victory in what would be one of the tightest finishes the championship had seen for many years.
The final day began with a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard as Keith Egan (Carton House), James O’Rourke (Naas) and TJ Ford (County Sligo) led the way on -3 but with only seven shots separating the leaders from the players making the cut on the number (+4), the championship was still very much up for grabs.
By the end of the morning session, Eoin Murphy would have taken over the lead, a third round 69 putting the Dundalk golfer at -5, one shot clear of Stuart Grehan (Co Louth).
Doyle would finish his third-round level par for the tournament, rounds of 72, 71 and 73 leaving him in a tie for sixth as the final round got underway, but as shown by his victory at the Flogas Irish Boys’ Championship just a week earlier, the young star knew he could go low once again.
“I knew a score was out there, but I just hadn’t done it yet”, said Doyle.
“I was thinking just to try and go low and just make my fair share of birdies and just play aggressive.”
The aggressive play certainly paid off as birdies dropped on four of his opening six holes before a double bogey on eight threatened to throw Doyle out of the race but again, showing his mental toughness and sticking to his gameplan, he rallied with birdies on 11, 12, 13 and 17 to help card an impressive six under round of 66.
It was a nervous wait as Ross Latimer (Knock), Murphy, Ford and a resurgent Egan came chasing for the lead but, in the end, for the second time this season, silverware would be heading to the Doyle household as John’s proud parents Catherine and Barry watched on.
“I’m delighted with it to be fair. I feel like I have a good chance when I come here but I still have to do it. I did not put myself in a great spot heading into the final round, but I’m just delighted I did what I did this afternoon”, said Doyle.
“They were both there for the final round, which was nice, just to have them both there, cheering me on. I was just delighted to win with them there. It feels good.”
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