Double up for Portumna as McLoughlin wins Irish Mid-Amateur by two
James McLoughlin (Portumna) playing his second shot to the 18th greenin the final round of the 2020 Irish Mid Amateur Open Championship at Nenagh Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman
James McLoughlin gave Portumna its second national title this year when he closed with a level par 72 at Nenagh Golf Club to win the Irish Mid-Amateur Championship on level par.
Nearly two months after clubmate Sam Murphy won the Irish Boys title by eight shots at Thurles., McLoughlin (41) secured his first Irish title when he carded rounds of 70, 74 and 72 win by two shots from Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell.
"I never expected this," said McLoughlin shortly after holing out on the final green. "Every time I play golf I play to be the best that I can be, but to win a National title, I couldn’t even dream of it. I’m chuffed."
Playing in the penultimate group, McLoughlin slipped to two-over-par after eight holes but rallied with two birdies on his back 9 in blustery conditions.
"I thought I had blown it at that stage but I was then told that level par was leading so I realised I wasn’t too far back.
"I’d a good back nine, I birdied 10, I’d a nice birdie on 13 and had a good chance on 14 after not catching my drive, really happy with how I played."
It’s the second title for Portumna this season after Murphy won the Irish Boys Championship in August.
"It’s unbelievable for the club, what a great year," said McLoughlin. "Sam did fantastically well down in Thurles, so it’s a good part of the country for us!"
McLoughlin, captain of the club in 2019, admits he will have to celebrate in some way this evening.
"We’ll have some sort of celebrations this evening, but nothing too serious with the restrictions and work tomorrow. I really am just chuffed, it will take a while to sink in I’m sure."
It was a second consecutive runner-up for Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) at the event but he remains adamant that his best days aren’t behind him.
"The field for this event is getting better and better, which is great to see. We’re all obviously getting a little bit older but you’re still here to win – you still have that winning mentality and want to get yourself into the mix."
Campbell was three-under for his final 36 holes and, despite a bogey to finish his final round, is content with how he played overall.
"I missed a couple of short ones to start today, and made a bad bogey on 13 with a wedge in my hand but I got up and down a few times coming in to keep momentum going. After a poor enough first-round yesterday I got myself back into contention after three rounds so I’m pretty happy with that."
Irish Mid-Amateur Championship, Nenagh Golf Club
Final
216 J McLoughlin (Portumna) 70 74 72
218 C Campbell (Warrenpoint) 77 69 72
219 I Bohane (Lee Valley) 72 70 77, E O'Donnell (Tralee) 69 77 73
220 I Lynch (Rosslare) 71 73 76
221 J Lyons (Galway) 76 69 76, G Dunne (Co. Louth) 71 73 77
223 C Dunphy (Killeen Castle) 79 70 74, E Marsden (Tullamore) 78 70 75, S Hogan (Nenagh) 72 75 76, P Kirby (Dun Laoghaire) 72 70 81
224 G Lenehan (Portmarnock) 78 72 74, C Ryan (Killeen Castle) 75 72 77
225 B Best (Rathmore) 78 73 74, D Shiel (Powerscourt) 76 74 75, K Bornemann (Douglas) 75 73 77, A O'Callaghan (Tralee) 73 76 76, E McCormack (Galway) 73 75 77
226 T Cleary (Woodstock) 78 69 79, F Kennedy (The Island) 76 69 81, R Leonard (Banbridge) 75 77 74, J Greene (Portmarnock) 72 77 77, S McGlynn (Portmarnock) 72 76 78, M Flanagan (Portumna) 71 81 74
227 P Murray (Clontarf) 79 73 75, J Kehoe (Limerick) 74 74 79
228 K Murray (Arklow) 73 79 76
229 T O'Connor (Athlone) 74 77 78, T Neenan (Lahinch) 74 76 79, P Buckley (Cork) 74 74 81
230 K Stack (Dungarvan) 77 75 78, R Gribben (Warrenpoint) 74 75 81, K McCarthy (Kinsale) 74 73 83
231 C O'Connor (Corrstown) 75 77 79, M Kelly (Naas) 74 76 81, G Callaghan (Co. Louth) 72 78 81
232 J Murray (Lee Valley) 77 75 80, B Shally (Dromoland) 77 74 81
234 J Bernie-Jnr (Athenry) 79 73 82
235 D King (Powerscourt) 76 74 85