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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Doyle thrills the crowds at Baltray to book quarter-final spot
If John Doyle felt any nerves standing on County Louth's 18th green then he didn't show them. The Fota Island star calmly rolled his eight-foot birdie putt into the hole to defeat Germany's Tim Brohl one up and make it through to the quarter finals of the R&A Boys' Amateur Championship. No pressure despite a gallery of approximately 100 people willing the ball to go in – and hoping the boy from Cork goes on to break a 39-year Irish drought in the premier under-18 event. You have to go back to 1986 to find an Irish winner of the Boys' Amateur. Doyle is the last Irish player in the draw following Adam Fahey's second round defeat. The former County Louth member lost at the 19th hole to Czech Republic player Mikulas Vojtesek despite holding a three-hole advantage at one stage of the match. Brohl proved more than an adequate opponent against Doyle. There was never more than one hole separating the pair. The German teenager held a one-hole lead from the 12th to the 15th holes before dropping a shot at the 16th to go back to all-square. They halved the 17th before Doyle stole the show on the last. 'The match was nip and tuck the whole time,' Doyle said. 'He's a good player and I didn't feel totally confident with my irons. I just battled, did my best and stuck to my routine. I was expecting extra holes to be honest. So was the sizeable gallery. Their relief on the last was almost palpable when Doyle's ball found the bottom of the cup. He added: 'I like having a crowd, to be honest. It's nice when you're playing well. It's not so great if you're not. They were fair to Tim as well so that was grand. I've played in front of a few crowds this year so I'm getting used to it and adapting to it. 'There was obviously more expectation today. I could feel it but at least I fulfilled it today and I'll try to do my best tomorrow as well.' Doyle can attain an Irish double if he does go on to win the title. He won the Irish Boys' Amateur Open Championship in April. He won the Munster Men's Amateur Open the following week and in June lost in a play-off to Scotland's Cameron Adam for the St Andrews Links Trophy. 'I had a poor enough year last year, but I've just improved my game in every area a little bit this season and that seems to have made a big difference,' he said. 'My mental routine has been especially good. I have to thank Leanne Sharpe and my swing coach Michael Collins for that. 'They've been fantastic. Leanne's the psychologist for the Irish Boys' team and I've spent a lot of time with her on my routine and simple mental things that have added up to some good golf this year.' Doyle now faces Spaniard Yago Horno in the last eight. Kuan Zhuo can still bring the Boys' Amateur trophy back to the United States of America for the first time since fellow American Stuart Scheftel achieved that honour in 1928. Zhuo earned his quarter-final spot with a 3&1 win over England's Spencer Davies. Zhuo's last-eight hopes didn't look too good when the Wallasey Golf Club member was three up through six holes. 'I just thought to myself that if I could get back to two down that I'd have a chance on the back nine,' Zhou said. He did that when he won the par-3 7th hole with a par when Davies hit his tee shot through the green and couldn't get up and down. 'I then got a bit of a lucky break on 10 when he missed a short putt and then I just played steady golf after that,' Zhou added. He plays Bruno Frontero in the quarter-finals, one of two Italians through to the last eight along with Alessio Brunella. Callixte Alzas of France remains on course to finish as leading qualifier and go on to win the title. He defeated India's Kartik Singh 2&1 and now plays Sweden's Oscar Stendahl. Long-time DP World Tour fans might recognise the name Lafeber in the quarter-final draw. Guus Lafeber from the Netherlands is the son of 2003 Dutch Open winner Maarten Lafeber and will play Brunella in the last eight. Kris Kim's dream of becoming the first player since 1964 to repeat as Boys' Amateur winner ended in the second round. The 2023 Champion lost 2&1 to Frontero.
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Two Rorys and how the West was won
This weekend, Westport plays host to the Irish Amateur Close Championship where 20 years ago, Banbridge golfer Rory Leonard would watch a young Rory McIlroy light up the fairways on his way to the AIG Irish Men's Amateur Close Championship. McIlroy had already won the Ulster Boys', Irish Boys' and Irish Youth's championships and the West of Ireland — but the title he would win in Westport was even more special. The 16-year-old defeated Eddie McCormack in the final after wins over Connor Doran and Sean McTernan. Indeed, McTernan was another one of the talking points that week, following a record-breaking 61. McIlroy only had one hole to spare over the Co Sligo golfer in the quarter-finals, the same narrow margin when McTernan defeated Banbridge hopeful, Rory Leonard, in the third round. 'Sean had shot a course record in the qualifying and he beat me on the last. Rory beat him in the quarter-finals by one hole after that,' said Leonard. Leonard is a former Ulster teammate of McIlroy, who now works as championships manager with Golf Ireland. And a few months previous to Westport, Leonard was in Co Sligo to witness the first part of a historic double as McIlroy got his hands on the West of Ireland. The young protege, then just 15, completed the first leg before he finally matched Garth McGimpsey's efforts from 1988 by adding the Amateur Close Championship. Unfortunately for Leonard, he was on the receiving end when the duo faced off in the semi-finals at Rosses' Point that year — only losing to McIlroy by one hole in a thriller. 'I played unbelievably well. I made seven birdies and he birdied the last to beat me. 'Even then everybody knew how good he was and where he was heading. It was unbelievable to see him playing at that level,' said Leonard. 'I had got to the semi-final and was playing really well. I played great and he beat me. 'I played him again in the West a couple of years later and I knew I wasn't playing as well, I needed to keep the score down. He beat me comfortably that time. Tee to green, the way he hit the ball, it just made a different sound, it was so impressive. The crowds that came to see him play. 'Last year they had the Centenary event for the West and lots of people were talking about what they remember, seeing him and how he played. 'You got to the top of the hill in Sligo, on the fifth, where you look at the whole course below and immediately you could pick out where Rory was because you could spot the crowd. It was special. I remember playing him in that semi-final and thinking this is crazy, the amount of people that are there to see him. 'How good he was, there was so much hype and coverage, even back then. 'That was the start, he won the West and went on to win the Close in Westport a few weeks later. Then he won them both again the following year. It was crazy how good he was and the profile he had.' Leonard had his own prolific career at amateur level, 2010 was the highlight when he took home the Munster Stroke Play and West of Ireland crowns. That win in the final at Rosses' Point also came at the expense of McCormack, who later remarked that he was sick of losing to Rorys in championship finals. Leonard also reached the decider at the AIG Irish Men's Amateur Close Championship in 2010, losing out to Castle's Dara Lernihan. His life is steeped in golf and he has the sport to thank for some of his closest friendships, having played for the first time alongside Barry Tumilty, and his two brothers Lee and Mark. The former would go on to be Leonard's best man at his wedding. Leonard hails from Banbridge, where he grew up on the opposite side of the town to the golf course. His grandfather, Philip Leonard, was a keen golfer and introduced him to the game. He joined Banbridge when he was nine and continued to play alongside the Tumilty brothers for years to come. Lee and Mark Tumilty went on to play international hockey, while Barry was a semi-professional footballer in the Irish League. Mark is now head coach of the Irish men's hockey team. However, golf was always the main sport for Leonard, and he would come up against Gerry McIlroy, father of Rory. Between the Senior Cup and Belfast & District Cup, Banbridge and Holywood were regularly in opposition. And there was one standout memory from the final of the Belfast & District Cup in 2001. 'We went on to win and it was our club's first time doing that. I was the captain of the team and Rory was about 10 or 11, he caddied for Gerry in the final,' said Leonard. 'I beat Gerry on the 17th and nothing would do Rory only that he got to hit a shot down the last himself. Even then people were talking about him, he had won Underage World Championships. 'He hit a shot down the 18th with his dad's driver, that was the same size as him, and I was just going this is unbelievable, how good this guy is and how many people are talking about him.' McIlroy would join Leonard on the Ulster men's teams from 2004, there the future Masters champion formed a wonderful partnership with Jonathan Caldwell that would extend to a Walker Cup team. And while he watched his progression through the ranks and onto the Tour, Leonard also got the opportunity to play with and against some of the other stars of Irish professional golf. During the same tournament in Westport in 2005, Leonard defeated a young Seamus Power on the final hole in the first round. 'I didn't know Seamus then and he was very young, probably still a boy in terms of golf, and beating him, it was more looking back now and saying once upon a time I beat this guy who has won a few Tour events,' said Leonard. 'But back then he was really good, one of the up and coming young players.' For Leonard, despite all of his success, the elusive national championship still gnaws away, but he turns 50 next year and will then set his sights on the seniors game and potentially taking home that silverware at last. 'The Close is our national championship, the Irish Amateur Open is a big event too but obviously it includes overseas players too,' said Leonard. 'The winner this week (in the Irish Amateur Close Championship) is the Irish Champion. In all of the golf that I have played from when I was a kid until now, I won a championship or an event in every province but I never won a national event. 'I lost in that final, I was runner-up in the Irish Boys', I won the Irish Universities but that is slightly different. 'I haven't played any this year because of different things with family and work, this year could be the first year I haven't played in either a GUI or Golf Ireland Championship since I was about 17. 'It's just the way it fits in. But I have a big birthday next year and then that's the chance to play a bit more competitive golf.'.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Rory Leonard remembers Rory McIlroy in Westport
Rory McIlroy had already won the Ulster Boys', Irish Boys' and Irish Youth's Championships and the West of Ireland but this title in Westport was even more special. It's 20 years since the future World No 1 lit up the fairways in Mayo to claim the AIG Irish Men's Amateur Close Championship. The 16-year-old defeated Eddie McCormack in the final after wins over Connor Doran and Sean McTernan. Indeed, McTernan was another one of the talking points that week, following a record breaking 61. McIlroy only had one hole to spare over the Co Sligo golfer in the quarter-finals, the same narrow margin when McTernan defeated Banbridge hopeful, Rory Leonard, in the third round. 'Sean had shot a course record in the qualifying and he beat me on the last. Rory beat him in the quarter-finals by one hole after that,' said Leonard. Leonard is a former Ulster teammate of McIlroy, who now works as Championships Manager with Golf Ireland. And a few months previous to Westport, Leonard was in Co Sligo to witness the first part of an historic double. McIlroy, who was then just 15, completed the first leg before he finally matched Garth McGimpsey's efforts from 1988. Unfortunately for Leonard, he was on the receiving end when the duo faced off in the semi-finals at Rosses' Point that year – only losing to McIlroy by one hole in a thriller. 'I played unbelievably well. I made seven birdies and he birdied the last to beat me. Even then everybody knew how good he was and where he was heading. It was unbelievable to see him playing at that level,' said Leonard. 'I had got to the semi-final and was playing really well. I played great and he beat me. I played him again in the West a couple of years later and I knew I wasn't playing as well, I needed to keep the score down. He beat me comfortably that time. 'Tee to green, the way he hit the ball, it just made a different sound, it was so impressive. The crowds that came to see him play. Last year they had the Centenary event for the West and lots of people were talking about what they remember, seeing him and how he played. 'You got to the top of the hill in Sligo, on the fifth, where you look at the whole course below and immediately you could pick out where Rory was because you could spot the crowd. It was special. 'I remember playing him in that semi-final and thinking this is crazy, the amount of people that are there to see him. How good he was, there was so much hype and coverage, even back then. 'That was the start, he won the West and went on to win the Close in Westport a few weeks later. Then he won them both again the following year. It was crazy how good he was and the profile he had.' Leonard had his own prolific career at amateur level, 2010 was the highlight when he took home the Munster Stroke Play and West of Ireland crowns. That win in the final at Rosses' Point also came at the expense of McCormack, who later remarked that he was sick of losing to Rory's in championship finals. Leonard also reached the decider at the AIG Irish Men's Amateur Close Championship in 2010, losing out to Castle's Dara Lernihan. His life is steeped in golf and he has the sport to thank for some of his closest friendships, having played for the first time alongside Barry Tumilty, and his two brothers Lee and Mark. The former would go on to be Leonard's best man at his wedding. Leonard hails from Banbridge, where he grew up on the opposite side of the town to the golf course. His grandfather, Philip Leonard, was a keen golfer and introduced him to the game. He joined Banbridge when he was nine and continued to play alongside the Tumilty brothers for years to come. Lee and Mark Tumilty went on to play international hockey, while Barry was a semi-professional footballer in the Irish League. Mark is now head coach of the Irish Men's Hockey team. However, golf was always the main sport for Leonard, and he would come up against Gerry McIlroy, father of Rory. Between the Senior Cup and Belfast & District Cup, Banbridge and Holywood were regularly in opposition. And there was one standout memory from the final of the Belfast & District Cup in 2001. Rory Leonard (back left) and Rory McIlroy (front right) representing Ulster. 'We went on to win and it was our club's first time doing that. I was the captain of the team and Rory was about ten or 11, he caddied for Gerry in the final,' said Leonard. 'I beat Gerry on the 17th and nothing would do Rory only that he got to hit a shot down the last himself. Even then people were talking about him, he had won Underage World Championships. 'He hit a shot down the 18th with his Dad's driver, that was the same size as him, and I was just going that this is unbelievable, how good this guy is and how many people are talking about him.' McIlroy would join Leonard on the Ulster men's teams from 2004, there the future Masters champion formed a wonderful partnership with Jonathan Caldwell, that would extend to a Walker Cup team. And while he watched his progression through the ranks and onto the Tour, Leonard also got the opportunity to play with and against some of the other stars of Irish professional golf. During the same tournament in Westport in 2005, Leonard defeated a young Seamus Power on the final hole in the first round. Rory Leonard with his wife Mairead and two sons Daniel and Matthew at The Open in Royal Portrush. 'I didn't know Seamus then and he was very young, probably still a boy in terms of golf, and beating him, it was more looking back now and saying once upon a time I beat this guy who has won a few Tour events,' said Leonard. 'But back then he was really good, one of the up and coming young players.' For Leonard, despite all of his success, the elusive national championship still gnaws away, but he turns 50 next year and will then set his sights on the seniors game and potentially taking home that silverware at last. 'The Close is our national championship, the Irish amateur open is a big event too but obviously it includes overseas players too,' said Leonard. 'The winner this week is the Irish Champion. In all of the golf that I have played from when I was a kid until now, I won a championship or an event in every province but I never won a national event. 'I lost in that final, I was runner-up in the Irish Boys', I won the Irish Universities but that is slightly different. 'I haven't played any this year because of different things with family and work, this year could be the first year I haven't played in either a GUI or Golf Ireland Championship since I was about 17. 'It's just the way it fits in. But I have a big birthday next year and then that's the chance to play a bit more competitive golf.'
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish golfer on playing against 15-year-old Rory McIlroy: "It was special"
Rory McIlroy had already won the Ulster Boys', Irish Boys' and Irish Youth's Championships and the West of Ireland but this title in Westport was even more special. It's 20 years since the future World No 1 lit up the fairways in Mayo to claim the AIG Irish Men's Amateur Close Championship. The 16-year-old defeated Eddie McCormack in the final after wins over Connor Doran and Sean McTernan. Indeed, McTernan was another one of the talking points that week, following a record breaking 61. McIlroy only had 1 hole to spare over the Co Sligo golfer in the quarter-finals, the same narrow margin when McTernan defeated Banbridge hopeful, Rory Leonard, in the third round. 'Sean had shot a course record in the qualifying and he beat me on the last. Rory beat him in the quarter-finals by one hole after that,' said Leonard. Leonard is a former Ulster teammate of McIlroy, who now works as Championships Manager with Golf Ireland. And a few months previous to Westport, Leonard was in Co Sligo to witness the first part of an historic double. McIlroy, who was then just 15, completed the first leg before he finally matched Garth McGimpsey's efforts from 1988. Unfortunately for Leonard, he was on the receiving end when the duo faced off in the semi-finals at Rosses' Point that year – only losing to McIlroy by 1 hole in a thriller. 'I played unbelievably well. I made seven birdies and he birdied the last to beat me. Even then everybody knew how good he was and where he was heading. It was unbelievable to see him playing at that level,' said Leonard. 'I had got to the semi-final and was playing really well. I played great and he beat me. I played him again in the West a couple of years later and I knew I wasn't playing as well, I needed to keep the score down. He beat me comfortably that time. 'Tee to green, the way he hit the ball, it just made a different sound, it was so impressive. The crowds that came to see him play. Last year they had the Centenary event for the West and lots of people were talking about what they remember, seeing him and how he played. Rory Leonard and family (Image: Golf Ireland) 'You got to the top of the hill in Sligo, on the fifth, where you look at the whole course below and immediately you could pick out where Rory was because you could spot the crowd. It was special. 'I remember playing him in that semi-final and thinking this is crazy, the amount of people that are there to see him. How good he was, there was so much hype and coverage, even back then. 'That was the start, he won the West and went on to win the Close in Westport a few weeks later. Then he won them both again the following year. It was crazy how good he was and the profile he had.' Leonard had his own prolific career at amateur level, 2010 was the highlight when he took home the Munster Stroke Play and West of Ireland crowns. That win in the final at Rosses' Point also came at the expense of McCormack, who later remarked that he was sick of losing to Rory's in championship finals. Leonard also reached the decider at the AIG Irish Men's Amateur Close Championship in 2010, losing out to Castle's Dara Lernihan. His life is steeped in golf and he has the sport to thank for some of his closest friendships, having played for the first time alongside Barry Tumilty, and his two brothers Lee and Mark. The former would go on to be Leonard's best man at his wedding. Leonard hails from Banbridge, where he grew up on the opposite side of the town to the golf course. His grandfather, Philip Leonard, was a keen golfer and introduced him to the game. He joined Banbridge when he was nine and continued to play alongside the Tumilty brothers for years to come. Lee and Mark Tumilty went on to play international hockey, while Barry was a semi-professional footballer in the Irish League. Mark is now head coach of the Irish Men's Hockey team. However, golf was always the main sport for Leonard, and he would come up against Gerry McIlroy, father of Rory. Between the Senior Cup and Belfast & District Cup, Banbridge and Holywood were regularly in opposition. And there was one standout memory from the final of the Belfast & District Cup in 2001. We went on to win and it was our club's first time doing that. I was the captain of the team and Rory was about ten or 11, he caddied for Gerry in the final,' said Leonard. 'I beat Gerry on the 17th and nothing would do Rory only that he got to hit a shot down the last himself. Even then people were talking about him, he had won Underage World Championships. 'He hit a shot down the 18th with his Dad's driver, that was the same size as him, and I was just going that this is unbelievable, how good this guy is and how many people are talking about him.' McIlroy would join Leonard on the Ulster men's teams from 2004, there the future Masters champion formed a wonderful partnership with Jonathan Caldwell, that would extend to a Walker Cup team. And while he watched his progression through the ranks and onto the Tour, Leonard also got the opportunity to play with and against some of the other stars of Irish professional golf. During the same tournament in Westport in 2005, Leonard defeated a young Seamus Power on the final hole in the first round. 'I didn't know Seamus then and he was very young, probably still a boy in terms of golf, and beating him, it was more looking back now and saying once upon a time I beat this guy who has won a few Tour events,' said Leonard. 'But back then he was really good, one of the up and coming young players.' For Leonard, despite all of his success, the elusive national championship still gnaws away, but he turns 50 next year and will then set his sights on the seniors game and potentially taking home that silverware at last. 'The Close is our national championship, the Irish amateur open is a big event too but obviously it includes overseas players too,' said Leonard. 'The winner this week is the Irish Champion. In all of the golf that I have played from when I was a kid until now, I won a championship or an event in every province but I never won a national event. 'I lost in that final, I was runner-up in the Irish Boys', I won the Irish Universities but that is slightly different. 'I haven't played any this year because of different things with family and work, this year could be the first year I haven't played in either a GUI or Golf Ireland Championship since I was about 17. 'It's just the way it fits in. But I have a big birthday next year and then that's the chance to play a bit more competitive golf.'
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Irish Examiner
John Doyle take five shot lead into final round of Irish Boy's Amateur Open Championship
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.
