Walker snatches Leinster Boys title
Simon Walker (Roscommon) with the Leinster Boys Trophy. Photo: Ronan Quinlan/Cashman Photography
Roscommon’s Simon Walker produced a flawless back nine performance to claim the Leinster Boys Amateur Open Championship at Waterford Golf Club.
Tied for the lead with Seapoint’s Dylan Keating heading into the final round, he found himself a shot behind t Josh Mackin through nine holes and ended up in a back nine battle with the Dundalk star to claim the title at the death.
Mackin played brilliantly all day and was three-under for his round and leading as they headed to the 18th only to run up a triple bogey seven following a wayward drive.
As Keating failed to get anything going and shot 77 to finish fifth, Walker was out in three-over 37 to Mackin’s 34 before he birdied the 10th, 11th and 12th to nip a shot ahead. Mackin birdied the 11th and 12th to lead again, then followed a bogey at the 16th with a birdie at the 17th only to fall at the finish.
Walker, on the other hand, following that birdie hat-trick with six pars to win by two strokes on three-under 210 from Mackin as Lisburn’s Jack Shellard finished in third place on one-over with a best-of-the-day 68.
Muskerry's Fionn Hickey was fourth, claiming the U17 Tom Bishop Perpetual Trophy with a score of 215.
Leinster Boys Amateur Open Championship, Waterford GC (Par 71)
Sponsored by Titleist Footjoy Ireland
Final
210 S Walker (Roscommon) 69 70 71;
212 J Mackin (Dundalk) 69 72 71;
214 J Shellard (Lisburn) 71 75 68;
215 F Hickey (Muskerry) 71 74 70;
216 D Keating (Seapoint) 70 69 77;
217 J Rooney (Co. Armagh) 73 71 73;
220 M Deasy (Lee Valley) 74 73 73, D Marshall (Naas) 73 76 71, L Abom (Edmondstown) 71 80 69;
222 O Maguire (Slieve Russell) 76 74 72;
223 L Keyes (Dun Laoghaire) 70 78 75;
224 R Carvill (Warrenpoint) 73 75 76, R Fives (Faithlegg) 72 76 76;
225 A Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown) 78 71 76, M O Sullivan (Ballyneety) 76 72 77, K McCarthy (Lee Valley) 74 73 78, R Walsh Jnr (Kinsale) 74 73 78, K Morrison (Holywood) 73 72 80;
226 A Smith (Mullingar) 78 73 75, J Butler (Naas) 75 75 76, S Doyle (Black Bush) 73 73 80;
227 D O Sullivan (Mallow) 73 80 74;
228 C Feeney (Enniscrone) 76 77 75, E Shipp (Headfort) 73 77 78, A Collins (Laytown & Bettystown) 73 77 78, S Downes (Royal Dublin) 68 78 82;
229 P Byrne (Ballybunion) 79 74 76, N O'Callaghan (Greenore) 79 74 76, S Clince (Craddockstown) 75 76 78, D Connolly (Castle Dargan) 73 79 77, C O'Sullivan (Killiney) 73 75 81, A Quigley (Woodbrook) 70 76 83;
232 A Byrne (Waterford) 72 78 82;
233 A King (Faithlegg) 76 77 80, L Walsh (Tralee) 76 73 84;
234 D Muldowney (Carton House) 76 75 83, O Reilly (Newlands) 74 79 81;
238 J Keane (Carrick-on-Suir) 77 75 86;
RTD S Irwin (Killeen) 70 75 Rtd.
