Gary Collins said the support of the home crowd was a huge factor in pushing him towards Irish Mid-Amateur Men’s Open Championship victory at his home course, Rosslare Golf Links, on Sunday afternoon.

The 33-year-old also claimed the Best Overall Gross prize, while another local Rosslare member, Mark Mullen, secured the Men’s Over-40s title.

In the Women’s Championship, Shannon Burke continued her remarkable season as the Ballinrobe golfer overturned a two-shot overnight deficit to claim her fourth championship of the year and be crowned Irish Mid-Amateur Women’s Open Champion.

By his own admission, Collins began his week slowly, carding an opening round 71. But he found his spark in round two, signing for a bogey-free 68 highlighted by a closing eagle on the par-five 18th.

“First round 71 could have been anything and I kept it together. I usually start off slow, just said keep it around level par and I’ll be in with a chance,” said Collins.

“Yesterday I actually played class and shot four under with ease, should have had a few more but that’s the way it goes.”

Collins began the final round at five under par, in a share of second place alongside Allan Kiernan (Forrest Little) and Gerard Dunne (County Louth), the trio sitting one shot behind overnight leader John Corbett (Thurles).

Buoyed by his finish the previous day, Collins got off to a solid start with birdies on six and seven before bogeys on eight, ten and eleven threatened to halt his momentum.

Birdies on 12 and 13 steadied the ship and saw him take a two-shot lead down the stretch, but a bogey on 17 cut the margin to one with just the 18th to play.

With a sizeable home crowd following, Collins struck his drive down the centre of the fairway, leaving a short iron into the green. He rolled his eagle putt to tap-in range and sealed a one-shot victory to the delight of the Rosslare faithful.

“I had a good yardage and Jamie (Doyle) was with me all week on the bag, he’s kept me positive and we both said nine iron straight away and we knew straight away that it was the perfect club and just make a good swing, get it on the green and give myself a chance and that’s what I did, which was good,” said Collins.

“I had everyone. I had my little lads, I had my granddad, they’re all out. Aunties, uncles, brothers the whole lot, it’s always good to have them around.”

Burke also began her final round with ground to make up as she teed off two shots behind defending champion Aideen Walsh (Lahinch).

That deficit quickly disappeared however when Walsh ran into trouble at the par-three third, carding a seven to hand Burke the advantage, which she duly capitalised on.

The Mayo native went on to reel off seven birdies across her round and, despite a determined fightback from Walsh, she held her nerve to hole the winning birdie putt on the 18th and secure her first Irish Mid-Amateur title.

“Absolutely thrilled, had a great battle out there with Aideen so happy to come out on the right side,” said Burke.

“I had actually said to myself if I could get to five under for the day, eight under total, I knew it would give me a decent chance so stuck to the game plan, hit it really well so happy enough.”

“Anytime you win something you haven’t won before it’s really satisfying”

View the final scores here