Grimmitt snatches Irish Seniors
Winner Nick Grimmitt (Wales) reacts to a missed putt on the 12th green during the final round of the Irish Seniors Amateur Open Championship at County Tipperary Golf Club (19/05/2017). Picture by Pat Cashman
Welshman Nicholas Grimmitt came from four strokes off the lead to win the Irish Seniors Amateur Open at Co Tipperary.
The champion made four birdies in a devastating seven-hole spell on the back nine, carding a joint best of the week, one under par 71 to win by one shot from Tramore's John Mitchell.
Mitchell was cruelly denied a playoff place when his par putt lipped out at the last.
Out in two over 37, two over, Grimmitt birdied three of his last five to win by one on seven over 223.
Master and apprentice. Ian Smyth usually caddies for his pal Garth McGimpsey if he misses the cut in a seniors event. This time it was the turn of 14-time championship winner Garth to repay the favour in the final round of the 2017 Irish Seniors Amateur Open at County Tipperary. Picture Pat Cashman
Mitchell, who was at the head of affairs from day one, could have forced a playoff with a closing par but his six-footer caught the lip and stayed out.
Grimmitt made four birdies on the back nine, beginning with a four at the 11th. He then made three in four holes from the 14th, which put him in the clear. Like Mitchell, he bogeyed 18, but his was not as costly.
England's Douglas Cameron was third on nine over with Naas' Joe McWilliams tied fourth with England's Ian Attoe thanks to a closing 74.
Mourne's Hugh Smyth won the over 65s prize with Donald McCart of England the top dog amongst the over 70s.
Irish Seniors Amateur Open, Co Tipperary
223 N Grimmitt (Wales) 78, 74, 71
224 J Mitchell (Tramore), 72, 76, 76
225 D Cameron (England), 74, 76, 75
226 I Attoe (England), 77, 75, 74; J McWilliams (Naas), 76, 76, 74
227 I Clarke (England), 72, 77, 78
228 I Smyth (Clandeboye), 78, 76, 74; M Ready (England), 78, 73, 77; H Smyth (Mourne), 74, 75, 79
229 G Wilson (England), 79, 76, 74; N Evans (Wales), 78, 71, 80; J Hughes (Woodbrook), 77, 76, 76; T Tyrrell (The Heath), 77, 74, 78; G Forrest (England), 74, 82, 73; A Carman (England), 74, 74, 81; S East (England), 73, 81, 75
230 R Elmes (England), 72, 77, 81
232 T Lennon (Carlow), 79, 77, 76; P Rogers (Dundalk), 79, 77, 76; C Jones (England), 78, 77, 77; T Cleary (Cork), 78, 76, 78; J Ambridge (England), 76, 77, 79; O O'Herlihy (England), 75, 83, 74
233 T Heenan (Doneraile), 81, 76, 76; R Partridge (England), 79, 76, 78; B O'Leary (Greystones), 77, 79, 77; C Pates (England), 74, 82, 77; E Heywood (City of Derry), 74, 80, 79
234 R Clark (England), 81, 73, 80; M Quirke (Doneraile), 73, 79, 82
235 A Mew (England), 81, 76, 78; M Kelly (Naas), 79, 79, 77; A Williams (Wales), 79, 78, 78; B Florence (England), 77, 80, 78; J Crean (Kinsale), 77, 80, 78; T Patterson (Scotland), 74, 75, 86
236 N Duke (Killiney), 82, 76, 78; L Halpin (Westport), 81, 77, 78; P Bramall (England), 79, 79, 78; D Corcoran (Thurles), 76, 81, 79
237 M Stones (England), 79, 79, 79; M Ahern (Skerries), 78, 77, 82; M Gaynor (Co. Meath), 76, 75, 86; M Cooper (England), 75, 76, 86
239 D Wilson (Royal Co. Down), 78, 79, 82
240 D Weekes (Malone), 78, 79, 83
241 J Wright (England), 79, 78, 84
253 D McCart (England), 81, 83, 89
RTD D Deasy (Waterford), 76, 78; A Atkinson (England), 79, 76; S Robson (England), 83, 78
