Amateur golfAmateur newsMay 20, 2019Irish Amateur Open, James Newton, Conor Purcell, Charlie Strickland, Arron Edwards-Hill, Ronan Mullarney, County Sligo GC

Newton wins Flogas Irish Amateur Open by five

Amateur golfAmateur newsMay 20, 2019Irish Amateur Open, James Newton, Conor Purcell, Charlie Strickland, Arron Edwards-Hill, Ronan Mullarney, County Sligo GC

Winner James Newton (England) with the 2019 Flogas Irish Amateur Open Championship trophy after his victory at County Sligo Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Not even a late triple bogey could derail England's James Newton on his march to victory at the Flogas Irish Amateur Open in Co Sligo.

Five clear at the start of play, Newton ended the round as he had begun: five strokes better than the rest and more than worthy to finish as the week's best. His closest challenger, Portmarnock's Conor Purcell, conceded that the championship had turned into a battle to be runner up.

"I was always playing for second really," said Purcell. "He [Newton] was comfortable after nine. To shoot the score he did with the lead he had was pretty impressive."

Newton recovered from an early wobble and survived a late scare to capture his first major championship. The 24 year old from Macclesfield kept the field at bay throughout a difficult final round. He closed with 74 to finish at nine under par.

"I knew that I could win," said Newton. "One of my goals was to win a 72 hole event. I've ticked that off quite early. I need to go back and re-evaluate my goals now."

Newton began with three bogeys but quickly recovered and although he tripled the 16th coming home, he had enough shots in hand to withstand the blow.

"It's nice to have a win early on in the season," Newton reflected. "And I know that I can do it again this year so I just need to go and do it."

At the start of the week, Newton's name was not among the list of favourites. He travelled by ferry from Holyhead with precious few credentials. Over the past four seasons, he has hurtled down the world rankings, from top 50 to obscurity.

"I changed coach last October and moved to Peter Barber at Didsbury Golf Club," Newton explained. "The good has always been good enough and he [Barber] has made the bad a lot better."

Two rounds of 66 testified to the quality of his game. Two ahead at the halfway stage, Newton punched in 69 after round three to bolster his lead. In the end, he succeeded by a distance.

After a rocky start, he recalibrated at the fourth. Newton coughed up three bogeys but a welcome birdie on number four changed his demeanour. Another followed at the fifth, where he got up and down for his four, and he continued on a steady course from there.

A lank, lithe figure Newton has a background in martial arts. At the age of 10, he had a black belt in karate. His athletic ability was evident off the tee. With the driver, he had up to 40 yards on his playing partners and he provided a forceful demonstration on number eight, which played as the hardest hole on the course. He powered his way to a rare birdie three with a four iron to the green.

Hopes of a home success quickly dwindled amid the wind and rain at Rosses Point. First round leader, Ronan Mullarney, lying second overnight, endured a dismal day. Mullarney carded a course record 62 in Thursday's opening round but parted with 78, which left him nine shots off the pace in fifth place.