Amateur golfBrian KeoghIrish Amateur Close, Quentin Carew, Jake Foley, Jamie Butler, Sam Murphy, Paul Conroy, Andrew Hickey, Ryan Symington, Simon Walker, Matt McClean, Sean Keeling, Peter O'Keeffe, Annraoi Collins, Max Kennedy, Hugh Foley, Richard Knightly, James Byrne

AIG Irish Close: History beckons for host of candidates at Headfort

Amateur golfBrian KeoghIrish Amateur Close, Quentin Carew, Jake Foley, Jamie Butler, Sam Murphy, Paul Conroy, Andrew Hickey, Ryan Symington, Simon Walker, Matt McClean, Sean Keeling, Peter O'Keeffe, Annraoi Collins, Max Kennedy, Hugh Foley, Richard Knightly, James Byrne
AIG Irish Close: History beckons for host of candidates at Headfort

Hugh Foley in action in the AIG Irish Amateur Close at Headfort. Photo: Thos Caffrey/Golffile.

History beckons at Headfort, but who will be the man (or boy) to make it?

Peter O'Keeffe remains on course to match Rory McIlroy and become the first player since the Holywood star to retain the AIG Irish Amateur Close Championship.

Hugh Foley is trying to become the first man since Darren Clarke in 1990 to win the Close, South and North of Ireland titles in the same year.

Then you have the likes of Matthew McClean, one of our three Eisenhower Trophy representatives, seeking his first "Major" alongside a host of other experienced players who've come close before and come up short.

Add to that mix a host of young guns from 15-year-old Roganstown tyro Sean Keeling to 21-year-old Roscommon talent Simon Walker and the likes of 64th seed Quentin Carew, who moved to a new level when he knocked out the top seed, leading qualifier Alex Maguire from Laytown and Bettystown in the first round.

There's a lot a stake, including the Bridgestone Order of Merit, where Foley is just one win away from making his non-selection for the World Amateur Team Championships look even more puzzling.

It's just a shame it's all happening with no other reward on the line bar the trophy, as all teams have now been selected, and the Home Internationals (now bastardised by the R&A's insistence on inclusivity at any cost) lost.

O'Keeffe won a strokeplay edition of the Close at Tullamore last year (the fourth strokeplay edition in 11 years after 109 years of matchplay), but while he also has two wins in the Flogas Irish Amateur Open, he's never won a matchplay title, and he knows he will need his best stuff to achieve that goal this week as he's found himself in the toughest half of what looks like a bottom-heavy draw.

He beat Edmondstown's Liam Abom 3&2 in showery conditions in the first round yesterday before covering the 16 holes in five-under to beat West of Ireland champion Alan Fahy from Bray by the same margin in the afternoon to set up a last 16 clash with Laytown and Bettystown's Annraoi Collins.

"I was very solid," said O'Keeffe, who reduced the par-five 16th to a drive, an eight-iron and 15-foot putt to close out Fahy in the afternoon. "My swing is getting better every round. For some reason, I am playing well later in the season again this year."

As for matching McIlroy, who won the Close in 2005 and 2006, O'Keeffe is excited to have a chance.

"I'd love to do that," he admitted. "I prefer strokeplay events, but it would be nice to win this again. I have never won a matchplay event, so this would tick a lot of boxes."

The day began with a shock defeat for leading qualifier Maguire from Laytown and Bettystown, who shot a course record 65 in the second round to pip Matt McClean for the silver medal but fell 2&1 to the 64th seed, Tallaght-based Garda Quentin Carew from Castleknock Golf Club.

A native of Allenwood in Kildare and still a member of Edenderry Golf Club, 31-year-old Carew beat Faithlegg's up-and-coming Rory Milne by one hole to set up a last-16 clash with Elm Park teenager Jake Foley.

"It's my best showing in the Close," said a delighted Carew, who only edged out Roscommon's Allan Hill for 64th and last place in the draw by virtue of his better back nine on Sunday. "It's the first time I've got a couple of wins under my belt. I've been playing well the last couple of days and I played well today. I didn't make any major mistakes."

Second in the Irish Mid-Amateur Open last year, Carew knew he had nothing to lose against the reigning East of Ireland champion.

"After sneaking in at the last minute last night when a few lads fell back, I went out with the attitude that whatever happens, you're lucky to be here, so make the most of it. I played solid, and just a few putts didn't drop for Alex. I birdied the fourth to go one up, and I was up all the way then. It went from a couple up to one up but then I won 16 to go two up when Alex got into trouble and had to take a penalty drop after going through the back. I chipped up to seven or eight feet and didn't have to putt. Then I had two putts from 15 feet on 17, and I took them.

"I knew I would have to play well to win against Alex and I would be up against it. Then this afternoon, I played well again against Rory, who has a good future ahead of him. He was throwing birdies at me early on and I was down for a good part of the front nine before I won 11 and 12 to go one up. He holed a few good putts to stay in it, but 16 was the big one. I put it in to 16 feet for eagle, and he three-putted, so I went 2-up.

“But he rolled in a 20-footer on 17 for birdie, so we went down 18, and while he hit the green and then left it dead, I missed the green, back left and had a very quick little chip that came off nicely, and I had a nervy two-footer to win. But I was delighted. I was feeling it for the last nine holes in my legs and my back after some back trouble after being in a crash last year. But with my brother Dougie caddying for me it was great. He keeps me going. He bigs me up too!"

Jake makes his mark

Carew now faces 17-year-old Jake Foley, who beat Dylan Keating 3&2 before coming back from three down after six holes to beat The Island's Jack Blake by the same margin.

"I won seven, eight, nine, 10 and 11 with three birdies and two pars to go 2-up, then I birdied 13 to go 3-up," said Foley, who would love a US golf scholarship when he leaves school next year. "If not, I'd like to take a gap year and play golf."

Malone's Matthew McClean at Headfort. Photo: Thos Caffrey/Golffile.

Killeen and Naas Golf Club's Jamie Butler (20) beat Tralee's Mark Gazi 4&3 before defeating Galgorm Castle's Jordan Hood 3&2.

"I played much better this morning, but this afternoon I made the pars and got up and down when I had to," said Butler, who is at the University of Toledo and looking to make his first big run in a senior championship having won the Leinster Under 16 and played in the Boys interpros. "It's nice having a run here, and I enjoy matchplay, so hopefully I can continue the run."

He faces a tough last 16 clash with Portumna's Sam Murphy, who has had to overcome two ankle surgeries over the past year.

Winner of the Irish Boys by eight shots in 2020, Murphy is going into his sophomore year at Grand Canyon University and he didn't hang around yesterday, beating The Island's Conor Murtagh 3&2 and Roscommon's Thomas Higgins 7&6.

Enniscorthy's Paul Conroy (University of Chattanooga) looks strong in the second quarter and after his 6&4 win over Forrest Little's Allan Kiernan, he now takes on Ballyhaunis' Andrew Hickey for a place in the quarter-finals.

The winner of that one faces Lisburn's Ryan Symington or Roscommon's Walker (21), who was five-under after he birdied the 20th to beat Portmarnock's Brandon St John, a joint runner-up in the Mullingar Scratch Trophy, in a high-quality affair.

"We played out of our skins," said Walker, a Paddy Harrington scholarship student at Maynooth University who was third in this year's Connacht Stroke Play and Fred Daly Trophy winner with Roscommon three years ago.

The bottom half of the draw looks immensely strong with McClean, who was runner-up in the Irish Amateur Open and the North, coming back from three down through five but came back to beat Letterkenny's Cian Harkin by one hole before outlasting Co Louth's Gerard Dunne 2&1 to keep alive his hopes of a maiden "Major" win before he competes in the Eisenhower Trophy with Robert Moran and Mark Power in Paris later this month.

"It was very tough against Cian," said McClean, who was three-under to Harkin's two-under. "I was three-up after 12 against Gerard, and he birdied 15 and 16 and hit a nice shot to 17 to 15 feet but followed him in to three or four feet, which was nice, and after he shaved the edge, I holed.

"So I have Séan (Keeling) now tomorrow and we will see how it goes. I didn't play last week, so I am not too tired."

"I've got nothing to lose, so all the pressure is on him” - Sean Keeling

Boys international Keeling beat Carton House's David Muldowney 3&2 before defeating a fellow 15-year-old in Fota Island's John Doyle 2&1 in a quality second-round match.

"I didn't putt well in the strokeplay, but I definitely got the putter going today, which was a big help," said Keeling, who was five under and two-under for his first and second round matches, respectively. "I played really well from tee to green against David and took advantage of my chances and then against John, he never went away until I birdied 15 and 16 to go two up and closed it out with a par on 17."

Boys international Keeling was a giant killer at No 1 for Roganstown in last year's AIG Senior Cup win and McClean will have his work cut out.

"I've got nothing to lose, so all the pressure is on him," the reigning Connacht Boys champion said. "I will just go out and give it a good go."

The winner of Keeling and McClean will face O'Keeffe or Collins, but it looks equally interesting in the bottom quarter.

Clutch

Foley made a 12-footer for birdie at the 18th to stay alive before seeing off Portmarnock's Sean Flanagan, who had an eight-footer for the match at the 17th and then failed to get close with a wedge to the last, with a par at the 19th in the first round.

The Co Sligo man drove under trees on the first extra hole and after a bunt forward, missed the green with a wedge.

Foley faced International teammate Jack McDonnell in the afternoon, but while he was three-up after 12 holes, the Forrest Little man is a tough customer to put away.

"He holed a 20-footer on 14th, a 30-footer on 15, we both parred 16, then holed a seven-footer on the 17th," said Foley, who made a seven-footer for a winning par at the last after McDonnell drove left and then flew the green by 20 yards before failing to get his third inside 40 feet. "Two tough matches with solid golf and another tough one with Max tomorrow."

Foley now faces Royal Dublin clubmate Max Kennedy for a place in this afternoon's quarter-finals, where he could face another clubman in Richard Knightly, whose brilliant up and down to beat Carton House's Keith Egan at the 18th set up a clash with Baltinglass' Joseph Byrne, another former Boys star.

Kennedy, who was tied second with St John behind Mullingar Scratch Trophy winner Joshua Hill, was happy with his game.

"I kept it tight and chipped and putted very well," said the University of Louisville man, who followed a 4&3 win over Edmondstown's Thomas Abom with a 6&4 victory over Slieve Russell's Seamus Óg O'Neill. "It will be a nice game with Hugh, but I have to stick to my guns. I am playing well."

Knightly has been playing great golf for 18 months, and he showed he's got the stomach for battle in a tight affair with the dogged Egan, playing an exquisite pitch from the left rough to two feet at the 18th to close out victory.

A former South of Ireland semi-finalist, Knightly will be tested by Baltinglass’s Joseph Byrne, another former Boys international, who showed his mettle with a 2&1 win over Portmarnock's James Fox.

AIG Irish Men's Amateur Close, Headfort GC (New Course)

First round

Q Carew (Castleknock) bt A Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown) 2&1;

R Milne (Faithlegg) bt A Challoner (Galway Bay) 3&2;

J Blake (The Island) bt J McCabe (Roganstown) 20th;

J Foley (Elm Park) bt D Keating (Seapoint) 3&2;

J Hood (Galgorm Castle) bt N Hearns (Mountrath) 7&6;

J Butler (Killeen) bt M Gazi (Tralee) 4&3;

T Higgins (Roscommon) bt D Reddan Jnr (Nenagh) 1 h;

S Murphy (Portumna) bt C Murtagh (The Island) 3&2;

P Conroy (Enniscorthy) bt D Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 5&3;

A Kiernan (Forrest Little) bt C Butler (Kinsale) 5&3;

C Moulds (Lisburn) bt C Mooney (Ballinasloe) 1 h;

A Hickey (Ballyhaunis) bt J Rackard (Enniscorthy) 4&2;

R Latimer (Clandeboye) bt P Coughlan (Castleknock) 6&4;

R Symington (Lisburn) bt M Deasy (Douglas) 19th;

B St John (Portmarnock) bt Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) 1 h;

S Walker (Roscommon) bt S McGlynn (Portmarnock) 1 h;

M McClean (Malone) bt C Harkin (Letterkenny) 1 h;

G Dunne (Co. Louth) bt R Hynes (Royal Dublin) 2&1;

J Doyle (Fota Island) bt D Kitt (Athenry) 4&3;

S Keeling (Roganstown) bt D Muldowney (Carton House) 3&2;

P O'Keeffe (Douglas) bt L Abom (Edmondstown) 3&2;

A Fahy (Bray) bt P Keeling (Roganstown) 2&1;

A Collins (Laytown & Bettystown) bt M Shiel (Galway Bay) 2&1;

S O'Brien (Nenagh) bt R Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire) 19th;

M Kennedy (Royal Dublin) bt T Abom (Edmondstown) 4&3;

S Og O'Neill (Slieve Russell) bt J Boles (Charleville) 19th;

H Foley (Royal Dublin) bt S Flanagan (Portmarnock) 19th;

J McDonnell (Forrest Little) bt J Cleary (Elm Park) 8&7;

K Egan (Carton House) bt C Denvir (Elm Park) 2&1;

R Knightly (Royal Dublin) bt T Dowdall (Woodbrook) 7&6;

J Byrne (Baltinglass) bt J Whelan (Grange) 2&1;

J Fox (Portmarnock) bt S O'Connor (Castlebar) 2 holes.

Second round

Q Carew bt R Milne 1 h;

J Foley bt J Blake 3&2;

J Butler bt J Hood 2&1;

S Murphy bt T Higgins 7&6;

P Conroy bt A Kiernan 6&4;

A Hickey bt C Moulds 1 h;

R Symington bt R Latimer 1 h;

S Walker bt B St John 20th;

M McClean bt G Dunne 2&1;

S Keeling bt J Doyle 2&1;

P O'Keeffe bt A Fahy 3&2;

A Collins bt S O'Brien 1 h;

M Kennedy bt S Og O'Neill 6&4;

H Foley bt J McDonnell 1 h;

R Knightly bt K Egan 1 h;

J Byrne bt J Fox 2&1.

Today - Third round - LIVE SCORING

  • 08:00 Carew v J Foley;

  • 08:10 Butler v Murphy;

  • 08:20 Conroy v Hickey;

  • 08:30 Symington v Walker;

  • 08:40 McClean v Keeling;

  • 08:50 O'Keeffe v Collins;

  • 09:00 Kennedy v H Foley;

  • 09:10 Knightly v Byrne.