Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) pictured receiving the Irish Youths Amateur Close Trophy from Michael Connaughton (Chairman, Connacht Branch GUI), flanked by proud parents John and Helen
31 August 2012
Grehan claims Irish Youths
Stuart Grehan is the Irish Youths Amateur Close Champion after he defeated Conor Coyne (Youghal) in a three-hole playoff for the title in Loughrea.
The Tullamore man lost a ball off his tee-shot on the first hole in the final round, but recovered well and when he birdied the16th and parred the last two holes, he found himself in a playoff against Coyne, who had a marvellous final day in which he shot rounds of 67 and 70 to surge through the field.
After both finished on one-under 283, Coyne and Grehan competed in a three-hole playoff, the decisive turn at which came at the second (the par-three fourth), where Coyne took five to Grehan's four (both players having made par-fours at the first).
A solid par at the difficult par-four fifth sealed victory for Grehan after Coyne found trouble in the trees on the right.
Like Coyne, Grehan had earlier made his decisive moves in the third round with a pair of 67s - the former adding a 70 in round 4 while Grehan finished with a 72.
Shaun Carter (Stackstown) finished just outside the playoff mark with a 73 for 285, while Eugene Smith (Ardee) left his charge too late with a final round 68 giving him a total of 286 (two over), the same total as Skibbereen's Kieran Lynch.
For final round scores, click here.