Kelly and Costello progress at Boys' and Girls' Amateur
New Forest’s Adam Kelly and Roscommon’s Olivia Costello were the only Irish players to progress in the Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur Championship at Carnoustie.
Kelly beat Australia’s Joseph Buttress 2&1 in the first round and now faces Louis Anceau of France, a 22nd hole winner over Malahide’s Gavin O’Neill in the morning, in the second round while in the Girls’ Championship, Roscommon talent Costello beat Norway’s Sofie Bindner Engeseth 2&1 to reach the last 16 where she faces Wales’ Emily James.
“The course is really nice and it’s been less windy than I expected,” Kelly said. “I’m holing putts from everywhere so looking forward to it tomorrow. Putting is key out here. If you can get the ball in the hole, you win matches.
“We play many links courses in Ireland so coming over here to Carnoustie is a great feeling. This is my last year for the Boys’ Amateur but it doesn’t add pressure. Each day I take it as it comes and enjoy the moment.”
Roganstown’s Charlie Kelly fell 4&3 to Sweden’s Albert Hansson, Greenore’s Matthew Giles lost 3&1 to England’s Morgan Blythe while Ballyneety’s Morgan O’Sullivan fell at the 20th to Italy’s Eugenio Bernardi.
For the first time, the match play stages of the Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur are being played simultaneously at one venue over the famous links.
The second round of match play in the Girls’ Amateur Championship took place in the morning with Spain’s Paula Francisco defeating Clandeboye’s Rebekah Gardner 6&4 as Costello progressed