Marshall claims Irish Boys after dramatic finish
Winner Aaron Marshall (Lisburn) driving from the 7th tee in the final round of the 2019 Irish Boys Amateur Open Championship at New Forest Golf Club (28/06/2019). Picture by Pat Cashman
Lisburn golfer Aaron Marshall snuck up on the rails to snatch the Irish Boys Open Championship title by one shot from international teammate Luke O’Neill following a dramatic final day at New Forest in Co Westmeath.
Five behind O’Neill at the start of play, Marshall (18) made a crucial par at the last for a round of 74 and a one stroke victory over the Connemara talent, who signed for an 80 after an unfortunate double bogey six at the 18th.
Marshall’s total of 290, two over par, proved one better than O’Neill. The leading pair battled it out all the way to the finish and Marshall’s victory was a reward for his tenacity down the stretch.
With four holes remaining, O’Neill enjoyed a four stroke lead over his Ireland teammate, and even when Marshall birdied 16 to narrow the gap, a victory for the Ulster player seemed unlikely.
When Marshall made another birdie at 17, a straightforward up and down, the championship came to life. A three-putt bogey at the same hole reduced O’Neill’s lead to the minimum. After such a seismic shift in momentum, O’Neill found himself on the back foot.
The 54-hole leader, in need of a break, found a bunker off the final fairway. He then caught a bad lie short of the green with his second shot. From there, his ball pitched beyond the green into another bunker.
Meanwhile, Marshall composed par in regulation. O’Neill, now putting for bogey, had a four footer to keep the championship alive. His failure to convert left Marshall in the clear.
Third place went to Rian Carvill of Warrenpoint on countback. Carvill, who closed with 75, finished on four over par – the same total as Eoin Sullivan (Carton House), Fionn Hickey (Muskerry) and Josh Black (Lisburn).
Hickey won the U17 trophy on countback ahead of Black.
Irish Boys Amateur Open Championship, New Forest (Par 72)
Final
290 A Marshall (Lisburn) 69 74 73 74;
291 L O'Neill (Connemara) 68 73 70 80;
292 R Carvill (Warrenpoint) 74 72 71 75, E Sullivan (Carton House) 72 72 74 74, F Hickey (Muskerry) - U17 Winner 72 70 78 72, J Black (Lisburn) 71 73 76 72;
293 D Keating (Seapoint) 73 70 75 75, M Kennedy (Royal Dublin) 68 72 81 72;
295 M Fitzgibbon (Portmarnock) 77 69 77 72;
296 J McCabe (Roganstown) 71 79 73 73, S Walker (Roscommon) 71 74 75 76;
297 L Cunningham (Galway Bay) 75 71 80 71, S Doyle (Black Bush) 71 78 78 70, R Galligan (Elm Park) 69 79 75 74;
298 J Hill (Galgorm Castle) 74 71 80 73, D Marshall (Naas) 73 78 73 74;
300 D Leufer (Athenry) 73 76 77 74;
301 M Hopkins (ENG) 77 78 78 68, J Byrne (Baltinglass) 72 73 79 77;
302 S Murphy (Portumna) 78 76 76 72, G Leigh (ENG) 75 74 75 78, A Smith (Mullingar) 73 74 76 79;
303 R McNelis (Fintona) 80 71 78 74, J Mackin (Dundalk) 78 74 73 78, R Milne (Faithlegg) 73 71 81 78, A Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown) 72 78 75 78;
305 J Butler (Naas) 79 76 74 76, H Lord (ENG) 75 76 81 73, J Shellard (Lisburn) 74 73 81 77, J Egan (Muskerry) 71 80 75 79;
306 M Kernanet (FRA) 77 73 76 80, E Shipp (Headfort) 75 73 81 77;
307 C MacCanna (Carton House) 75 74 84 74;
308 S Downes (Royal Dublin) 73 79 79 77, M Dhaubhadel (ENG) 71 84 78 75;
309 F Hoare (Roscommon) 78 76 78 77, C French (Carton House) 75 72 79 83, K Morrison (Holywood) 72 77 83 77, L Mitchell (Knock) 69 76 84 80;
310 D Muldowney (Carton House) 80 76 74 80, R Feerick (Mallow) 75 74 80 81, E McArthur (Royal Portrush) 72 78 83 77, B Crawford (Greenacres) 72 74 86 78;
311 C Rabbette (Esker Hills) 76 79 78 78, M Deasy (Lee Valley) 76 74 80 81, R Walsh (Kinsale) 75 76 81 79, A Collins (Laytown & Bettystown) 74 74 82 81;
313 D Mulligan (The Links Portmarnock) 79 79 75 80;
314 B St John (Portmarnock) 77 74 81 82;
315 N O'Callaghan (Greenore) 78 79 76 82;
316 P Keeling (Roganstown) 74 81 76 85.