Kelly fifth as Lutz wins Seniors Amateur Championship in playoff
Chip Lutz. Picture credit: The R&A.
Naas’ Maurice finished a brilliant tied fifth as Chip Lutz won his third Seniors Amateur Championship in dramatic fashion at Formby.
The American holed a 25-foot birdie putt at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off after he tied with fellow American Brady Exber and Scotland’s Graham Bell on a four-over-par 220.
Lutz had shot 75, Exber 74 and Bell 73 but in the play-off on the 18th, Lutz won the title in style with the long putt as Bell drove into a bunker and took five and Exber left his birdie putt short.
It was heartbreak for Exber, the 2014 champion. He thought he had to birdie the 18th in regulation play to have a chance but in fact he was one ahead and a three-putt bogey - he missed from inside three feet - cost him dear.
Kelly closed with a 72 to finish three shots outside the playoff on seven over 223 with Portmarnock’s Adrian Morrow five off the pace after a 78.
Tom Cleary (23rd), Arthur Pierse (29th), Barry O’Leary (34th) and Liam Halpin (34th) completed the Irish challenge.
The Seniors Amateur Championship, Formby Golf Club (Par 72)
- T5 KELLY, Maurice Naas 79 72 72 223
- T10 MORROW, Adrian Portmarnock 75 72 78 225
- T23 CLEARY, Tom Cork 74 79 76 229
- T29 PIERSE, Arthur Tipperary 74 80 77 231
- T34 O’LEARY, Barry Greystones 78 75 79 232
- T34 HALPIN, Liam Westport 76 75 81 232
