Max Kennedy misses out on The Open after playoff agony in European Amateur Championship
Royal Dublin's Max Kennedy in action in the 2024 European Amateur Championship at The Scandiinavian in Denmark. Picture © EGA
Royal Dublin’s Max Kennedy agonisingly missed out on a place in The Open when he lost out in a three-hole aggregate playoff for the European Amateur Championship in Denmark.
Bidding to became the fifth Irishman to win the title and a place in The Open at Royal Troon next month, the former University of Louisville star went into the final round tied for seventh with Galway’s Liam Nolan, two shots behind leader Preston Summerhays of the US.
The Dubliner then stormed through the field and carded a bogey-free, five-under 67 to claim a share of the clubhouse lead with eventual winner Tommy Morrison of the US on nine-under.
They looked set to be pipped by Germany’s Tim Wiedemeyer, who birdied the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th to get to 10-under.
But needing a par to take the lead, the Munich golfer put three balls in the water at the par-five 18th and made a quadruple bogey nine to sign for a 71 that relegated him to tied fifth on six-under.
Overnight leader Summerhays was the only threat remaining on the course and he duly birdied the 15th, 16th and 18th to join Kennedy and Morrison on nine-under after a 69
The USA's Tommy Morrison birdies 18th and wins the European Amateur and a spot in The Open. Great effort from Max Kennedy but heartbreaking at the same time. https://t.co/OunJHBVpiU pic.twitter.com/touiydm4Em
— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) June 29, 2024
In a three-hole aggregate playoff for the title over the ninth, 10th and 18th holes, all three parred the ninth before Summerhays bogeyed the 10th and Kennedy and Morrison made birdies.
At the par-five 18th, Kennedy had an 18-footer for birdie but missed and watched Morrison, who had three-putted the 18th for a bogey six when he had the title in his sights in regulation, made birdie to become the first American winner of the title.
Nolan closed with a level par 72 to finish 11th on four-under while Roganstown’s Sean Keeling was tied 36th on two-over after a 71 and Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley 68th on 11-over after an 80.
Kennedy was hoping to become the fifth Irish winner of the title after Warrenpoint’s Paddy Gribben (1998), Hermitage’s Stephen Browne (2001), North West’s Brian McElhinney (2003) and Holywood’s Rory McIlroy (2006).
Scotland’s Calum Scott, who finished two shots outside the playoff in solo fourth after a closing 68, joins Morrison in The Open at Royal Troon after he won The Open Amateur Series order of merit following his performances in the St Andrews Links Trophy, the Amateur Championship and the European Amateur Championship.
