Ireland’s Liam Nolan finally got over the line to win a big one on a remarkable final day at the English Men’s Amateur Open Stroke Play – The Brabazon Trophy.
FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
The Galway player beat Zach Little at the third extra hole at Sunningdale this afternoon, the English teenager coming from ten back thanks to an extraordinary closing 63. The recent Hertfordshire Bowl winner birdied six of his opening eight holes to haul himself into contention.
And with overnight leader Sean Keeling struggling badly on the front nine, for a long time it looked like the West Herts player was going to pull of the most unexpected of victories.
However Nolan, who last year finished 3rd in the South of Ireland Open, 4th in the North of Ireland Open and 2nd in the West of Ireland Open, birdied two of the last four holes to match Little and then a par at the 18th was enough to win it after both men missed the green with their approaches.
Nolan, who came out on top in the South American Amateur, said: “It’s still pretty hard to express my emotions because it’s all new but I’m just delighted to have this trophy. I’m about to look at some of the names on it now and I know I’m going to be pleased to be putting my name there as well.
“The name and the history of Sunningdale Golf Club makes it one of the coolest places to win a golf tournament. There have been a lot of really good winners here in the past and to put my name on this trophy is amazing.
“To share a moment with people who have been with you through thick and thin, espcially my mum and dad, they’ve seen all the ups and downs so we’ll definitely treasure this moment for a long time.
“The Golf Ireland guys are my best friends so it’s special to have them here this week and to have them following me for most of the round today and cheering me on through good and bad shots was amazing.
“I’m going to Spain next week for a bit of a break before we have a long schedule of tournaments coming up so I’m just going to relax, play a bit of golf and think about what I’ve achieved this week.”
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The Irishman, having bogeyed 14 and then got it back at the next, made his way up the 18th fairway knowing that only a birdie was good enough to force a play-off and his second shot on the par five left him at the back of the green on a slight slope.
Nolan judged his pitch to perfection though and left himself a comfortable putt for birdie, much to the delight of an expectant crowd who knew they were about to see a terrific play-off between two in-form players.
Little and Nolan didn’t disappoint and, having both found the back of the green on the first play-off hole, they agonisingly missed birdie putts by a matter of inches to ensure another was needed.
Nolan repeated his trick from his regulation round as he chipped beautifully from the back of the green to within inches of the hole, forcing Little to sink a pressure putt from eight feet to extend the contest.
At the first two play-off holes Little had found the fairway but third time around he missed way right while his approach came up just a few feet short, trickling down back the slope. Meanwhile Nolan, having used iron off the tee, had found the semi rough but then just missed the putting surface with his second.
However the Irishman pitched to a couple of feet while Little’s attempt came up six feet short and the 18-year-old’s birdie putt lipped out.
Earlier in the day, having started the day in the pack on four over – the 16-year-old Irish player Keeling was six under – Little reeled off five birdies in a row, starting at the fourth. He had also birdied the second so was suddenly a force and a further birdie on 13 saw him close right up as long-time leader Keeling opened with three bogeys and then endured a miserable run around the turn.
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While Little was charging, England international James Claridge was also making major ground up thanks to four birdies on the first ten holes. Unfortunately for the Enville player a double bogey on 11 left him with too much to do and he would eventually miss out by one stroke.
It also looked like Nolan had blown it as he bogeyed 14 after missing the green long and in the end he did well to secure a two-putt bogey from 40 feet.
However he sank a long one just when he needed it on 15 to get within one of Little and lagged up his birdie putt superbly on 16 to secure a vital par.
Nolan also found the green on 17 but did not threaten the hole with his birdie attempt before he did get one on 18. After just missing the green to the left, he chipped up to three feet before sinking the putt to force the play-off.