John Doyle take five shot lead into final round of Irish Boy's Amateur Open Championship

Irish Examiner

24-04-2025

John Doyle will carry a sizeable five-shot lead into the final round of the Flogas Irish Boys' Amateur Open Championship at Cork Golf Club, after the Fota Island golfer produced impressive back-to-back under-par rounds in vastly contrasting conditions.
90 of the best up and coming golfers, including eight international players from countries such as France, Norway, Germany, and the USA, teed it up on the south coast this week all vying for the coveted trophy.
It was the former Irish Boys' Close Champion, Doyle that made a near faultless start to his campaign on Wednesday. A birdie at the second, quickly followed by a chip in eagle at the third setting him on his way. The momentum kept rolling going on the back nine as another eagle rolled in at the 11th, before Doyle closed out with birdies on 15, 16 and 18 to card a superb seven-under-par 65.
'The first round was good, first round hit it really well so happy enough with that', said Doyle.
''Eagled the third and the eleventh and they were good, chipping in on three and 11 was pretty gettable, but it's still a good eagle.' Doyle though would not have the overnight lead all to himself however, as John William Burke (Ballyhaunis) would also sign for a seven under par round of 65 to share the number one spot heading into round two.
While Wednesday's conditions were relatively benign, Thursday presented a sterner challenge with persistent rain and patches of mist hitting the Little Island course, and while some struggled to make headway as the weather worsened, Doyle continued to shine bright, picking up where he left off the day before. Birdies on the third, sixth and sixteenth helped the 17-year-old on his way to a two under par round of 70 to take a five-shot buffer into the final round.
'It was tough, just raining the whole time, got a bit windy and foggy as well but I'm happy enough how I played to be fair especially the back nine. I was pretty consistent. I had one bogey on four and it was good apart from that so happy enough', said Doyle.
'You just have to be really concentrated; you can't have a lapse at all. I missed one or two putts on the back nine but apart from that it was pretty solid so happy enough.' Joining Doyle in the final group tomorrow will be William O'Riordan (Greystones), who followed up an opening round 69 with a 71, and John William Burke, both sitting at four-under-par and tied for second.
The final round is set to get underway at 8.00am with the leading group teeing off at 1.05pm.