NORTH OF IRELAND AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP:RATHMORE'S ALAN Dunbar is building quite a CV as he continues to add men's and youth titles to his name. Yesterday, the 20-year-old Irish Amateur Open champion added the Magners North of Ireland title at Royal Portrush to his growing list after a 3 and 1 defeat of schoolboy Dermot McIlroy.
Dunbar ably filled the shoes of his club colleague, Wayne Telford, last year’s winner, who was dethroned in the first round of matchplay, as he battled against McElroy (17) from Ballymena in an enthralling final.
The new champion, short-priced for the title, put in a finishing flourish to come from all square after 12 holes as his opponent’s luck ran out.
“I didn’t play great in the morning semi-finals, but I got off to a good start in the final and that got me going,” reflected local man Dunbar.
“I felt quite a bit of pressure in front of the crowd as there were a lot of expectations on me after Wayne winning last year. This is my first matchplay title.”
A birdie at the long second and a 35-foot putt for birdie two at the third was his bright start. He held control until the seventh, where he was short, pitched up and missed his putt as McElroy holed from off the green for par.
At the long 10th, Dunbar had to take a penalty drop out of bushes and finally conceded birdie four to McElroy to leave the game all square.
His drive for victory began at the 13th with a win in regulation four, and he went two up at Calamity Corner with another par after hitting a three-wood off the tee. McElroy missed from four feet for bogey four.
The 15th was halved in bogeys and the new champion got something of a let-off at the par-four 16th hole after driving into rough, where he could have lost the ball. “The Rathmore members, thankfully, they found the ball. I’m thankful for their help,” said Dunbar, who again got away with a half in bogey.
Bogeys were building for 17-year-old McElroy and his brave bid to be the youngest winner of the championship ended at the 17th where, again, he was in trouble. He now looks forward to the Boys’ Interprovincial Championship at Ballinrobe next week, while Dunbar looks to the men’s interpros at the same venue.
The champion also heads into a mind boggling list of events as he hopes to cement his place in next year’s Walker Cup team.
In the morning semi-finals, Dunbar was taken to the final green before pushing out Royal Dublin’s Seán Ryan, while McElroy carved out a 2 and 1 win over Connor Doran (Banbridge).
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