IRISH AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP:THE aficionados who turned out at Royal Dublin to watch the final two rounds of the Irish Amateur Open were treated to a sublime duel in the sun between a pair of Scots who will almost certainly play a major role in September's Walker Cup in the United States.
Just six months ago, Gavin Dear and Wallace Booth joined forces with Callum Macaulay to help Scotland claim its first Eisenhower Trophy with a nine-stroke victory in the World Amateur Team Championship at Royal Adelaide.
Yesterday, the glory was Dear’s alone and he was a deserving champion (the third Scottish winner in five years) as he came home in a scintillating four-under par 33 for a closing one under par 71 and a two-stroke victory.
The 24-year old from Perthshire finished with a one-over par aggregate of 289 on a day when the 40 mph gales that marred the opening day and the 25 mph southwester that separated the field on Saturday were replaced by a gentle northerly breeze and brilliant sunshine.
One stroke clear of the field on two over par following Saturday’s second round, Dear maintained that advantage by carding a level par 72 in the morning round to top the leaderboard on two-over par from Booth (70) and Knock’s Nicky Grant (72).
The title challenge of Royal Dublin’s talented Walker Cup prospect, Niall Kearney, came unstuck when he posted a 78 in the morning round to slip hopelessly out of the picture on 11-over par.
But the home crowd were still treated to a highly entertaining two-horse race for the title as Ulster interprovincial Grant bravely battled stomach cramps but valiantly carded a closing 76 to finish alone in third place on three-over par 291.
Dear started well with a birdie at the fourth but bogeyed four holes in a row from the sixth and found himself three shots adrift with nine to play as Booth – playing in the group in front – birdied the fourth and par-five 11th to get to one-over par.
But Dear moved up a gear over the closing stretch, racking up birdies on the 10th and 11th to close the gap to two shots before finding himself just one behind when his rival three-putted from the front of the short 12th.
Dear then saved a brilliant par from sand at the 15th, birdied the 16th to draw level and then rolled in a six footer at the 17th to edge in front as Booth bogeyed the last.
“It’s very satisfying,” said Dear, who credited a wind-blown, Wednesday practice round at Royal County Down as playing a major role in preparing him for the wild weather that blew many of the field away on Friday.
“I competed very well over the first two days when it was blowing hard. To come back in 33 down the stretch on the back nine is really satisfying. I know Wallace is a quality player and I knew he was going to make birdies.
“The course was to be had coming downwind and I thought if I could make four or five birdies I might get a tie or sneak it by one. II am very happy.”
Ireland’s top amateur, Shane Lowry, tied for fifth on 10-over after closing rounds of 71 and 72 and heads to this week’s 3 Irish Open at Baltray in high spirits.
