Patrick Keeling birdied the 72nd hole to clinch the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship in dramatic fashion as he held off David Howard by a shot to capture his maiden major title.
Keeling put all of his belief in God before the week began and he received some divine intervention when he needed it most as his second shot to 18 kicked off the dunes and onto the flat at the left of the green. He cosied a putt to twelve feet and moments later he drained the biggest putt of his life to a bellowing roar as he closed with a 70 for an eleven-under-par total.
“It’s hard to comprehend,” said Keeling who smashed the course record with a 62 on Friday. “I was in such a flow, calm state of mind all day. I talked about that, faith in Christ is so central to my life. The Bible talks about a peace that transcends all understanding. I couldn’t understand why that calmness came down on me, I knew it wasn’t me so that doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to win, but win or lose I had already won this week with everything that is going on because of what Christ did for me too so that’s a big part of it.
“I am lost for words, still in that performance mode of what you are trying to do out there to keep the heart rate down so I am sure it will sink in soon.”
The Roganstown star teed off with the lead but had relinquished his advantage after a birdie on the 5th was cancelled out by dropped shots on the 4th and par-5 8th. At one stage there was a five-way tie for the lead but he managed to break free of the pack with back to back birdies on the 10th and 11th. He seemed ice cool at that stage and moved two shots clear with a kick in birdie on 14 to reach 11-under.
“I couldn’t understand what the calmness was I just knew it was up above from Jesus. Since putting my faith in him it hasn’t been easy or perfect. Another part of scripture – I love reading about it – Jesus says ‘I am the vine and you are the fruit when you remain in me I remain in you’ I felt like I could stay in that state of peace.
Up ahead Howard, the East of Ireland winner at neighbouring Baltray, put on a barnstorming finish with birdies on 17 and 18 for a closing 66 to set the clubhouse target at ten-under. County Louth man Gerard Dunne missed a golden chance on the last to join Howard on that target as he finished on nine-under alongside Stuart Grehan after yet another great run here.
Keeling played a superb pitch shot from the left rough to six-feet on the 16th to set up a birdie which would have restored his two shot advantage. But winning championships is hard and he flinched for the first time, missing that putt then bogeying the difficult par-3 17th to drop into a tie for the lead with Howard.
The 21-year-old gathered his composure to split the 18th fairway before tugging a 4-iron left towards the gallery. When he found his ball he was pleasantly surprised to see it sitting pretty just off the back left of the green. After two misreads, he hit the winning putt with conviction and looked to the heavens as it disappeared.
Golf hasn’t been easy for Keeling since moving to Louisville in 2024 but his frustration turned to elation today.
“It’s one week, the best week I have ever had golf wise by a mile, just to do it here in front of family and friends, staying at home it’s just so, so special. We have the North of Ireland next week so I plan to go tomorrow. Don’t really know what’s ahead just going to try and soak this in and enjoy this win.”
Greg Holmes of Royal Birkdale claimed a share of 5th place on eight-under after a 68 alongside Thomas Abom who salvaged a 72 while Ryan Griddin and Darragh Flynn were seven-under.
Howard’s low round of the day was matched by John Doyle and Eoin Murphy who finished six-under alongside Conor Stapleton and Liam Abom.
But the day belonged to Keeling and if it’s good enough for Scottie Scheffler it’s good enough for him.
Scoring HERE
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