Thomas Higgins may not have played his last amateur event after his sudden-death win over Dylan Holmes in the AIG Irish Amateur Close at Portumna kept his hopes of a surprise Walker Cup call-up alive.
The Roscommon talent looked to have kissed goodbye to his chances of playing at Lahinch from September 5-6 when he fell in the quarter-finals of last month’s South of Ireland Championship at the Walker Cup venue.
But having claimed the winning point for Ireland in the European Amateur Team Championships and played well in the Home Internationals at Woodbrook before going on to claim the “Close” at Portumna, he may again be a serious consideration for Great Britain and Ireland captain Dean Robertson, who names his 10-man team early next week.
The 23-year-old defeated Holmes with a par-five on the third extra hole (the 17th) after they had tied on seven-under par 281.
“It’s just a brilliant way to cap off the amateur career; I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted to get it done,” said Higgins, who shot a third round 71 in the morning to go final round four shots behind 54-hole leader Harry McArdle from Warrenpoint.
He closed with a 68 to tie with Holmes, who also shot 68, on seven-under, one better than McArdle, Carton House’s Darragh Flynn and halfway leader Dylan Keating from Seapoint.
They parred the par-three 18th twice in sudden-death before Higgins played a great escape from the trees at the par-five 17th, found the green in three and went on to two-putt from long range for par and victory as Holmes three-putted from around 25 feet.
“Main thing is my coach just told me to go out there and enjoy it,” said Higgins, who plans to turn professional in the coming weeks. “It is my last ever amateur championship round and so I go out there and have fun and enjoy it.
“It was unreal to have everyone here; most of my family are here, so it was unreal to have them see me win and have them here to celebrate as well. It was an amazing experience.”
As for the Walker Cup, Higgins looks to have edged ahead of Fota Island’s David Howard—tied sixth in Portumna— in the selection stakes.
With England’s Jack Whaley reaching the final of the US Amateur at Merion today, where a win would make him an automatic choice, Robertson may look seriously at Higgins, Josh Hill or South of Ireland runner-up Tomi Bowen of Wales to fill out his team.
AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close, Portumna GC (Par 72)
Final
281 Thomas Higgins (Roscommon) 69 73 71 68, Dylan Holmes (Greystones) 69 71 73 68
Higgins won with a par at the third hole of a sudden-death playoff — 18th (Par 3), 18th (Par 3), 17th (Par 5)
Higgins 3 3 5; Holmes 3 3 6
282 Darragh Flynn (Carton House) 70 72 72 68, Harry McArdle (Warrenpoint) 73 69 67 73, Dylan Keating (Seapoint) 66 73 74 69;
283 David Howard (Fota Island) 69 74 70 70, Paul O'Hanlon (Carton House) 73 68 71 71;
284 Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) 70 74 73 67, Liam Abom (Edmondstown) 68 74 72 70, Conor McCarthy (Headfort) 70 71 70 73, Conor Hickey (Dooks) 68 72 74 70;
286 Charlie Mooney (Ballinasloe) 71 72 74 69, William Walshe (Delgany) 72 70 73 71, Jonathan Yates (Kilkenny) 72 75 67 72, Darcy Hogg (Belvoir Park) 70 72 72 72;
287 William O’Riordan (Greystones) 74 67 70 76;
288 David Kitt (Athenry) 72 72 75 69, Conor Clarke (Balmoral) 74 67 72 75;
289 Jordan Boles (Carton House) 68 74 72 75, Mark Gazi (Tralee) 71 73 73 72;
290 Morgan Cain (Fota) 72 75 71 72, Keith Egan (Carton House) 71 72 70 77, Patrick Tuffy (Strandhill) 76 69 75 70;
291 Joe O'Neill (Berehaven) 76 70 73 72, Ross Latimer (Clandeboye) 74 71 72 74, David Lally (Blainroe) 75 69 73 74;
292 Paraic McGrath (Galway Bay) 73 73 73 73;
293 Cian O’Connor (Roscommon) 73 73 73 74, Barry Howlin (The Heritage) 74 68 76 75, James O’Rourke (Naas) 70 71 74 78;
294 Charlie McDonnell (Concra Wood) 71 75 71 77, Aaron Kearney (Roepark) 71 71 75 77;
295 David Shiel (Enniscrone) 71 73 76 75, Cormac Ó Muirithe (Belmullet) 75 72 73 75;
296 Luke Cunningham (Galway Bay) 73 74 73 76, Aaron Ryan (Thurles) 72 73 75 76;
297 Brendan Mulgrew (Galgorm Castle) 72 75 76 74;
298 Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock) 73 71 79 75, Evan Farrell (Co. Louth) 72 72 79 75;
299 Gavin Duffy (Edenderry) 73 72 73 81;
301 Rory Gallagher (Galway Bay) 75 72 78 76;
303 James Fox (Portmarnock) 72 75 76 80;
304 Evan Shipp (Headfort) 74 72 78 80, Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) 72 74 79 79;
306 Jamal Sabir (Moate) 71 75 79 81.
After 54 holes
209 Harry McArdle (Warrenpoint) 73 69 67;
211 William O’Riordan (Greystones) 74 67 70, Conor McCarthy (Headfort) 70 71 70;
212 Paul O'Hanlon (Carton House) 73 68 71;
213 David Howard (Fota Island) 69 74 70, Keith Egan (Carton House) 71 72 70, Thomas Higgins (Roscommon) 69 73 71, Conor Clarke (Balmoral) 74 67 72, Dylan Holmes (Greystones) 69 71 73, Dylan Keating (Seapoint) 66 73 74;
214 Jonathan Yates (Kilkenny) 72 75 67, Jordan Boles (Carton House) 68 74 72, Liam Abom (Edmondstown) 68 74 72, Darcy Hogg (Belvoir Park) 70 72 72, Darragh Flynn (Carton House) 70 72 72, Conor Hickey (Dooks) 68 72 74;
215 William Walshe (Delgany) 72 70 73, James O’Rourke (Naas) 70 71 74;
217 Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) 70 74 73, Charlie Mooney (Ballinasloe) 71 72 74, Charlie McDonnell (Concra Wood) 71 75 71, Aaron Kearney (Roepark) 71 71 75, Ross Latimer (Clandeboye) 74 71 72, Mark Gazi (Tralee) 71 73 73, David Lally (Blainroe) 75 69 73;
218 Morgan Cain (Fota) 72 75 71, Barry Howlin (The Heritage) 74 68 76, Gavin Duffy (Edenderry) 73 72 73;
219 David Kitt (Athenry) 72 72 75, Paraic McGrath (Galway Bay) 73 73 73, Cian O’Connor (Roscommon) 73 73 73, Joe O'Neill (Berehaven) 76 70 73;
220 David Shiel (Enniscrone) 71 73 76, Cormac Ó Muirithe (Belmullet) 75 72 73, Luke Cunningham (Galway Bay) 73 74 73, Aaron Ryan (Thurles) 72 73 75, Patrick Tuffy (Strandhill) 76 69 75;
223 Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock) 73 71 79, Brendan Mulgrew (Galgorm Castle) 72 75 76, James Fox (Portmarnock) 72 75 76, Evan Farrell (Co. Louth) 72 72 79;
224 Evan Shipp (Headfort) 74 72 78;
225 Rory Gallagher (Galway Bay) 75 72 78, Jamal Sabir (Moate) 71 75 79, Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) 72 74 79.
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