Gough wins British Boys, Irish parents thrilled
Conor Gough with the trophy after winning the 92nd Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush.
Conor Gough gave his Irish-born parents a thrill when he defeated Jose Luis Ballester to win the 92nd Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush.
Gough, who becomes the first Englishman to lift the trophy since Matthew Fitzpatrick’s victory at Notts (Hollinwell) in 2012. will now play in The 124th Amateur Championship at Portmarnock and The Island, and gains an exemption into Final Qualifying for The 148th Open, also at Royal Portrush, as a result of his victory.
“The family are really enjoying this," Gough (15) said. "They couldn’t have picked a better place for me to win so they will be buzzing for me."
He teed off for the second round of the final 2 up over Ballester after a closely contested opening 18 holes of high-quality golf.
Neither player had more than a one-hole lead until the par three 16th where Ballester, at 1-down, faltered with a bogey.
Gough went further ahead thanks to a birdie at the 17th but the Spaniard hit back on the next to reduce his opponent’s lead to two holes heading into the break.
Gough stumbled in the early stages of the afternoon round with a double bogey at the 20th and a bogey on the 21st which enabled Ballester to square the match once more. The lead continued to swing to-and-fro on the front nine with neither player able to build a commanding lead.
With the crowds building, the key moment came at the par-four 29th. Having watched Ballester roll in a 20ft putt for birdie, Gough stood over his own which rested around 15ft from the pin. Under pressure, he read the line brilliantly and used the break off the left to find the hole.
On the next, both players found the bottom of a steep embankment with their approach shots to the green. Ballester showed his touch to pitch close to the pin from the heavy rough but Gough went one better as he delighted the crowd by chipping in for eagle and a one-hole lead.
Gough, who already has two wins under his belt this season having claimed the McGregor Trophy in July and the boys’ title at the Fairhaven Trophy earlier in the year, never looked back from that point and grew in confidence as the match neared its conclusion.
He carded another birdie at the par four 32nd to double his lead and required just a half for victory at the 35th.
When Ballester’s tee shot landed in a gorse bush to the left of the fairway he deemed the ball unplayable and took a drop under penalty of one stroke. Sadly, the young Spaniard’s approach fell just short and found a greenside bunker at which point he conceded the hole and the match to the Englishman who completed a memorable 3&1 victory.
"I feel incredible," Gough said. "It’s a dream come true. I never thought it would have happened this year. I knew I was playing well but I didn’t quite think I’d go this far. Now I’m here the winner so I’m really happy with myself.
“The turning moment was 11. I made a 15ft putt birdie to stay all-square and then 12 was big for eagle. I parred 13 and then made another really important birdie on 14.
“Jose was really good. He gave me a very good game and he impressed me quite a lot with his irons – he was hitting it close.
“I thought I may be picked for the Jacques Léglise Trophy before but I’m hoping now this has really secured it.
“I have had an incredible season. I don’t think I have finished outside the top 12 in any competition this year so I am just playing really well and I’ve managed to keep the form going.
“Matt Fitzpatrick (the 2012 Boys Amateur Champion and last English winner) is a very good person to follow. If I can keep on following in his footsteps I won’t be doing too bad.
On getting into Final Qualifying for The 148th Open at Royal Portrush, he added: "If I get into The Open, especially here at Royal Portrush, that would be a real dream come true.”
Ballester said: “I am very happy to be in the Final I am a little bit sad because I lost but I played very good so I’ve got to be happy with my golf. I have to say congratulations to Conor.
“It was amazing to play in front of the crowd. I was feeling like a pro.”
The 93rd Boys Amateur Championship will be played at Saunton, East and West courses, from 13 – 18 August 2019.
