Lowry takes Irish Close title

Shane Lowry secured the the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close title with a convincing 4 & 3 win over Niall Turner in this afternoon's final at Cork.

The Esker Hills player, who overcame Jonathan Caldwell in this morning's semi-finals, hit the front with a birdie on the second but was pegged back when Turner drove the green at the par four and his eagle putt for two was conceded.

Lowry regained the lead at the fourth with a par but took a bogey at the par five fifth as Turner made par to again tie the match.

But Lowry was back in front at the sixth with a  birdie three. The seventh was halved in par threes and the eighth in bogey fives, while Turner made a par three at the ninth to Lowry's bogey four to tie the match.

While both made par at the 386 metres tenth hole Lowry regained the lead with a birdie four against Turner's par five at the 11th hole, and at the 12th his par four won the hole to put him two up. The 13th was halved in par threes.

Lowry increased his lead to three up when he holed from ten feet to win the 13th with a birdie three, and the match ended at the 15th when Lowry holed another birdie putt from six feet.

Turner had defeated Cian Curley from Newlands by 2 and 1 in the last four.

Final
Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) bt Niall Turner (Muskerry) 4/3

Semi-finals
Niall Turner (Muskerry) bt Cian Curley (Newlands) 2/1
Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) bt Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye) 2/1