McNamara eighth as Pugh wins Welsh Open
Rory McNamara impressed on the final day in Wales. Picture by Pat CashmanHeadfort’s Rory McNamara presented his credentials as another Irish candidate worthy of Walker Cup consideration when he finished eighth in the Welsh Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship at Royal Portcawl.
European Individual champion and former Irish Amateur Open winner Rhys Pugh kept the trophy on Welsh soil when he followed a superb morning 66 with a 70 to win by four shots from Garrick Porteous, another Walker Cup hopeful, on 11 under.
But while it was a disappointing day for Rathsallagh’s Jack Hume, Lucan’s Richie O’Donovan and Headfort’s Brisn Casey, McNamara caught fire, closing with rounds of 70 and 69 to finish inside the top 10 with Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup skipper Nigel Edwards 29th on eight over.
Hume was just a shot off the lead starting the day but while he shot rounds of 78 and 72 to finish 15th on two over, he has now contended in his last three starts.
O’Donovan was 30th on nine over after rounds of 76 and 78 with Casey (73-81) in 34th on 11 over.