In the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin, Max Kennedy emerges as the lone figure representing Irish hopes, progressing to the round of last 32. A remarkably sunny and windy day saw Kennedy at the Glashedy Links, overcoming France’s Oscar Couilleau with a comfortable 3&2 victory, thus being the remaining Irish participant in the opening gameplay.
From the initial set of Irish participants, only Kennedy and Sean Keeling successfully completed the gruelling 36-hole stroke play qualification rounds. Unfortunately, Keeling met his end in the first round, suffering a 5&3 defeat to the breakthrough golfer, Lev Grinberg, who made history by becoming the first Ukrainian to enter the match play rounds. However, Kennedy remains undeterred in his pursuit to replicate the triumphant journey of his fellow Irish teammate, James Sugrue, who emerged victorious when the Amateur Championship was last hosted in Ireland in 2019, at Portmarnock. Kennedy’s eloquent short game played a pivotal role, aiding the 22-year-old Dubliner’s progress by securing a two-hole advantage in the initial half.
Keeping Couilleau at a distance, Kennedy skilfully manoeuvred tricky situations twice in the sand traps at the 9th and 10th, thereby setting up an exciting second-round face-off with Charlie Forster from England, who narrowly defeated Jose Luis Ballester Barrio, Spain’s European Amateur champion, during an additional hole at the second round.
Proud of his performance, Kennedy said, “My short game was really on point today. I just missed a five-footer after hitting a good chip at the 15th, which didn’t upset me. I’m satisfied with my exceptional overall performance.”
Meanwhile, in the day’s opening match, Connor Graham of Scotland, the top qualifier, was challenged right up to the 18th by England’s Mark Stockdale but secured his victory with a birdie putt of 25 feet on the last hole, scoring a one-hole victory. During his performance, Graham, a member of Blairgowrie club like his clubmate who won the Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush a decade ago, experienced a shaky passage around the turn and needed two attempts to free himself from the bunker at the 9th, before losing a ball at the 10th tee due to an errant drive.
The Walker Cup contender, aged 17, managed to restore his calm and subsequently emerged victorious from a tightly fought duel. The previous two Amateur Championships have been taken home by golfers from South Africa, with their prospects of a hat-trick now lying solely in the hands of Jordan Burnand, the remaining player, who just recently secured a 3&1 margin win over Pablo Alperi Lopez from Spain.
The Amateur Championship is one among the world’s most esteemed and grandiose amateur championships. For its finale this Saturday, spanning 36 holes, the champion will be granted the chance to participate in the most awaited 152nd Open at Royal Troon taking place next month, the US Open, and, will by convention receive an invitation to compete in the Masters tournament.