James Sugrue is the first Amateur Champion from Ireland since Brian McElhinney in 2005 after his win over Euan Walker, at Portmarnock. Picture by THE R&A
SCOTLAND’S Euan Walker admitted the occasion had got the better of him as Ireland’s James Sugrue savoured success on home soil to win The 124th Amateur Championship at Portmarnock – despite a late rally by the Kilmarnock player.
Walker revealed he found it hard to even grip the club in the first few holes, where a large part of the damage was done in the Scot’s bid to become the first Amateur Champion since Bradley Neil, in 2014 – ironically at Royal Portrush, which will host the Open next month, and where Sugrue will now play as the new Amateur Champion.
Walker, who lost the first three holes and trailed by that amount at lunch after the first 18, said: “I was pretty nervous this morning. I don’t think there is anybody in my position that wouldn’t be nervous.
“I’ve never played on such a big stage before. It was a bit tough to hold the club first thing this morning but I got over it eventually.
“James is such a good player and is playing so well at the moment. I couldn’t give him the first three holes and expect an easy comeback from there, even though it was 36 holes.
“I did play much better the back nine of the first round and then into the second round. It wasn’t the volume of the people that was a challenge, it was the match itself as James is playing so well.
“To get it back to all-square I had a chance going down the last three holes but I wasn’t very good off the tee on 17 and 18, driving off to the right.
“My coach, George Boswell, came over to support me and some friends from Troon which was great, I really appreciate that. I had loads of messages from people last night, like my friend Robert MacIntyre, which was really nice. It was a great week and I’m absolutely gutted to lose.”
MacIntyre, who is now playing on the European Tour after graduating from the Challnege Tour in 2018, knows all about the pain of having lost in the 2016 final to Hampshire’s Scott Gregory at Royal Porthcawl, and Walker will have to take comfort from the fact that both finalists are full members of the European Tour just three years later, even if the chance to play in the Open and to receive an invite to the 2020 Masters at Augusta, has gone.
Irishman Sugrue thrilled around 3,000 spectators at the renowned links near Dublin to defeat Walker in an exciting 36-hole final. Sugrue was five up after nine holes but was forced to survive Walker’s sterling comeback to all-square before clinching a one-hole win on the final green.
Played in glorious weather, Sugrue’s fast start and sharp short game skills proved key as the Mallow member became the first Irish player to win the famous title since Alan Dunbar in 2012.
By virtue of his triumph, the 22-year-old as well as gaining exemptions into The 148th Open at Royal Portrush next month, he can look forward to the 2020 US Open at Winged Foot and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters.
Ranked 231st on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), Sugrue was never behind against Walker as he came out on top of the 288-player international field who assembled at Portmarnock for only the club’s second-ever staging of the championship.
Buoyed by the home crowds, Sugrue made a superb start in the sunshine against his fellow Walker Cup squad member. A birdie at the second was sandwiched between two bogeys from Walker as the Irishman won the first three holes.
After 23-year-old Walker three-putted the short seventh Sugrue moved four ahead and arrowed his approach to a foot at the nineth to extend his lead to five after playing the front nine in three-under par.
The Scot’s birdie at the 10th saw him win his first hole of the day before the reigning African Amateur champion further reduced the deficit to three with another birdie at the par-five 13th.
The Kilmarnock (Barassie) player, ranked 71st in the world, remained three-down after the morning session, but after Sugrue went four-up at the 20th the Scot launched his fightback after winning the next two holes.
Sugrue, who has enjoyed five top-20 finishes this year, claimed the 24th but his advantage was cut to just one hole after Walker’s birdie at the 26th. The Irishman responded with a birdie at the 28th to go two ahead again, but the battling Scot refused to go away.
He won the 31st with a birdie and then squared the contest at the 33rd after Sugrue’s bogey. However, willed on by the home fans, Sugrue won the 35th with a par after Walker found trouble off the tee and sealed victory at the last when his opponent again pushed his tee shot right and failed with two putts from the back of the green.
Mallow’s James Sugrue cannot wait to play in The Open at Royal Portrush next month. Picture by THE R&A
A delighted Sugrue, who will have put his name firmly on the Walker Cup selectors’ shortlist for Hoylake, in September, said: “It is hard to believe really. It hasn’t sunk in yet. Just to think about this win is unbelievable. Everything that comes with the win and all the crowds that were out there, it’s incredible.
“I’m just kind of happy I did it for the crowds, really, as I didn’t want all those people who came out to support me to see me end up losing. It’s more relief than anything else really to get over the line, especially after being three-up going into the afternoon session. I’m just delighted to do it.
“I was very worried when it went back to all-square, very worried. Euan is just that type of player where he doesn’t really hit bad shots. He has got a beautiful swing and very rarely hits bad shots.
“I wasn’t expecting to be given holes. Sometimes you can keep plodding away against other players and they will slip up eventually, but Euan not so much. I had to create opportunities myself and thankfully it worked.”
The Mallow man can’t wait to make his Open debut at a course he knows so well, while Walker will have to hope he gets to play in the Walker Cup against America as a consolation. Sugrue added: “I can’t wait. It’s unreal. I’m really looking forward to it.
“I love Royal Portrush, it’s probably one of my favourite links courses, second favourite to Portmarnock. With the other major championship opportunities, it’s incredible to think about it and I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead.”
Sugrue is the eighth Irish winner of The Amateur – the last was Brian McElhinney in 2005. He joins a list of past champions that include major winners José María Olazábal, Sergio Garcia and, more recently, Matteo Manassero and Romain Langasque.
The 125th Amateur Championship will be played at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire, from June 15-20, 2020.
