Gleeson claims Leinster Youths after playoff drama
Alex Gleeson (Castle) winner of the Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship 2014. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
Castle's Alex Gleeson birdied the fourth extra hole of dramatic playoff to beat Milltown's Liam Harnett and capture the Sigma Wireless sponsored Leinster Youths Amateur Open at Esker Hills.
Leading by four shots going into the final round, Gleeson shot a 76 to encourage the chasing pack and was caught by Harnett, who fired a 72 to match his four over par total of 288.
After a three-hole playoff, there was still nothing between them and it took a birdie from Gleeson on the first sudden death hole to clinch the title.
A third round of 66 by Cairndhu's Stephen Watts, which including a hole-in-one at the 13th, helped him secure third place on 292.
Alex Gleeson (Castle) on the 10th tee during round three of the Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship at Esker Hills. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
Local favourite Alan Lowry from host club Esker Hills, closed with a fine 68 to secure fourth spot, also on 292.
Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship 2014, Esker Hills Golf Club (Par 71)
Sponsored by Sigma Wireless
288 Alex Gleeson (Castle) 73 68 71 76 (after four extra holes)
288 Liam Harnett (Milltown) 74 70 72 72
292 Stephen Watts (Cairndhu) 78 72 66 76, Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 72 78 74 68
294 Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu) 76 76 71 71, Marc Nolan (Delgany) 75 73 69 77
296 Rob Brazill (Naas) 82 70 71 73, Robbie Pierse (Grange) 77 76 74 69, Gary Ward (Kinsale) 76 73 74 73, Ryan McKinstry (Cairndhu) 73 72 78 73
297 Dominic Pollock (Belvoir Park) 80 74 71 72, Matthew Kane (Whitehead) 74 73 72 78, Conor Coyne (Youghal) 71 76 73 77
298 Tommy O'Driscoll (Ring Of Kerry) 76 75 72 75, Iain Collins (Bray) 75 78 73 72, Ross Dutton (Tandragee) 75 77 72 74, Matthew McClean (Balmoral) 69 74 83 72
299 Stephen Kinch (Hollystown) 74 75 73 77
300 Kieran Lynch (Skibbereen & West Carbery) 77 76 72 75, Lee O'Meara (Castle Barna) 76 77 70 77, Paul McCarthy (Mallow) 75 73 73 79, Jake Whelan (Newlands) 70 74 77 79
301 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 77 77 73 74, Keagan Cummings (Elm Park) 77 76 75 73
304 David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 77 75 79 73, Ryan Long (Cairndhu) 76 72 76 80
306 Niall Foley (The Island) 77 75 84 70, Dan Hinds (City of Derry) 76 75 73 82
307 Eoin Kelly (Co. Meath) 77 76 82 72
308 Jack Blake (Forrest Little.) 77 77 77 77, Paul Kelly (Glasson) 77 75 76 80
309 Evan Farrell (Ardee) 80 73 80 76, Daniel Cosgrove (Kilcock) 76 73 84 76
310 Cameron Raymond (Newlands) 75 79 77 79
311 Michael Abram (Cairndhu) 81 74 75 81
312 Eoghan O'Donovan (Craddockstown) 79 75 83 75, Marc Boucher (Carton House) 74 80 79 79, Ronan Mullarney (Galway) 74 77 79 82
313 Harry Scott (Castle) 81 72 78 82
