Law rolls back the years to seal memorable win in Cork
Jason Law (East Cork) wins the Munster Men's Amateur Open Championship at Cork Golf Club. Photo: Thos Caffrey / Golffile
Cork native and former professional Jason Law says he will play more competitive golf after a phenomenal 3&2 win over Harry Gillivan in the final of the Munster Men’s Amateur Open Championship.
The 48-year-old East Cork clubman was in fine form all weekend at Cork Golf Club and he brought that into the final where he got the better of the St Anne’s man on Bank Holiday Monday.
Back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16 were enough to seal an inspiring victory for Law and it will push him up the Bridgestone Order of Merit rankings while he will be eligible to play seniors golf next year.
“I’m delighted, for someone like me to win one of these it’s all a bit silly,” said Law.
“I didn’t enter a competition for about 13 years and Covid came and I said I will go back as an amateur if I get it straight away I’ll play and I did.
“I play a little bit, I played one event last year that’s all, that was last October and this is my first competition this year. It’s all a bit silly.
“September next year I will actually be a senior golfer. I played in these events 30 years ago it’s just crazy.
“It’s a fascinating game, I like the ins and outs of it. I work at them and even though I don’t compete very often I will compete more.”
Law secured a 4&3 win over John Cunningham (Carton House) in the morning’s semi-finals. He was 6up after eight holes and never looked back despite a late resurgence.
In the other semi-final it went down the wire between Gillivan and Jake Whelan (Grange). The reigning champion led early but Gillivan assumed control until Whelan tied things up on 15. However, Gillivan won the next hole and held his nerve to land a spot in the decider.
In the afternoon, Gillivan did take the lead on the second hole, capitalising when Law missed the green with his approach. But he gave that back on 3 and Law took charge after an errant tee shot on 4. They exchanged holes on 7 and 8 and Law took a narrow 1up lead into the back nine.
Gillivan birdied 11 to tie things up again but Law got back in front and doubled his lead by 15. He eventually sealed a memorable win when he sank his putt for birdie on the 16th green.
“I hung in there for a while but Jason was very good,” said Gillivan.
“It was all square with five or six holes to go but Jason’s two birdies coming in clutched it for him.”