Holywood's Tony McClements ground out a hard-fought victory at the Irish Mid-Amateur Open Championship in testing conditions at the spectacular New Forest Golf Club, writes the GUI.

One shot behind overnight leader Joe Lyons (Galway), McClements made the best start of all the prospective challengers, reaching the turn in level par before succumbing to the conditions on the back nine.

His nearest challenger on the day turned out to be Slievenamon's Michael Barrett, but after birdying the 17th, McClements had a three-shot lead.

He missed the fairway left off the 18th tee, and played back onto the fairway before pitching to 20 feet.

Barrett made a regulation four, leaving McClements with three putts to win, which he duly took.

Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) and Alan Condren (Greystones) finished a shot further back from Barrett on 12 over in tied third position, ahead of Lyons, who finished fifth on 13 over, two shots ahead of Dave O'Donovan (Muskerry) and Paul Flynn (Tramore).

Irish Mid-Amateur Open Championship, New Forest Golf Club (Par 72)

Hole-by-hole scores

Final

226 Tony McClements (Holywood) 75 72 79

227 Michael Barrett (Slievenamon Golf Club) 73 74 80

228 Alan Condren (Greystones) 75 77 76, Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) 71 80 77

229 Joe Lyons (Galway) 70 76 83

231 Dave O'Donovan (Muskerry) 75 75 81, Paul Flynn (Tramore) 74 84 73, Peter Kirby (Dun Laoghaire) 71 77 83

232 Simon Miskelly (Knock) 76 77 79, Joe Crangle (Fortwilliam) 75 77 80

233 Ronan Maher (Mullingar) 74 81 78, Fergal Kennedy (The Island) 73 82 78

235 Ciaran Campbell (Carton House) 87 71 77, Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion) 83 71 81, Declan McInerney (Lahinch) 75 81 79, Gus Fitzpatrick (Naas) 75 78 82

236 Dara Bruen (Castlerea) 77 77 82, John O'Brien (Castlemartyr) 75 76 85, Keith Daniels (Loughrea) 72 78 86

238 Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club) 78 79 81

239 Joe Bernie (Athenry) 80 80 79

240 Derek Ronan (New Ross) 81 78 81, Paul Reilly (Co. Louth) 77 80 83

241 Paul O'Connor (Malahide) 75 81 85

242 Mark Clifford (Lucan) 84 79 79, Barry Forsyth (Corballis Links Golf Club) 83 79 80, Peter McNeill (Woodbrook) 78 78 86

243 Aidan Maguire (Headfort) 82 79 82, Trevor Dooley (Forrest Little.) 80 81 82, Thomas Hogan (Headfort) 79 82 82

244 Damien O'Driscoll (Newlands) 80 76 88, Frank Flynn (Laytown & Bettystown) 78 81 85, Darragh Smith (Malahide) 76 84 84

245 Barry Wilde (Balbriggan) 80 79 86

249 Shane Corr (Mannan Castle) 83 80 86

251 Brian Murphy (Delgany) 78 85 88

NR Paul Burke (Mullingar) 74 85 NR, Kevin Condren (Greystones) 77 83 NR, Diarmuid Linehan (Muskerry) 86 77 NR

Missed Cut

164 David Scully (Galway) 83 81, Johnny Ward (Banbridge) 77 87 

165 Lewy Halpin (Shannon) 86 79, Michael McCormick (England) 85 80, Colin Rayfus (Knightsbrook) 84 81 

166 Donal O'Brien (Laytown & Bettystown) 87 79 

167 Enda Brady (Headfort) 87 80 

168 Paul Bray (New Forest) 86 82 

171 Marcus Taglienti (Wicklow Golf Club) 89 82 

172 George Armstrong (Carrickfergus) 86 86 

176 Daniel McGrath (Tuam) 85 91 

NR/WD Colin Wilton (Banbridge) 77 NR, Alan Thomas (Dungarvan) 78 NR, Russell Durnin (Laytown & Bettystown) NR 80, Lloyd O’Rourke (Naas) 81 NR, Colin Cunningham (Carton House) 81 NR, Alan Doherty (Corrstown) 81 NR, Michael Power (Moate) 83 NR, John Healy (Delvin Castle Golf Club) 83 NR, Michael Eaton (Holywood) 84 NR, Ian Smyth (Clandeboye) 84 NR, Morgan Pierse (Grange) 86 NR, John Bodkin (Tuam) NR NR, Colm McIlroy (Holywood) NR WD, Kevin Canavan (Corballis Links Golf Club) WD WD, Rory Leonard (Banbridge) WD WD 84 Mark Somers (Smurfit) 84 NR 

CSS​

• Round 1: 74
• Round 2: 76
• Round 3: 76 (R/O)