Grehan targets AIG history at top Mayo golf course
County Louth golfer Stuart Grehan holds a narrow two-shot lead going into the final day of the AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championship as he looks to make history in Westport, writes Daragh Small.
The reigning Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Champion will aim to become the first golfer since Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) in 2021 to do the double.
The Tullamore native shot a second round 73 on Saturday to follow up his brilliant 65 on Friday, and he lies on eight under, two ahead of Benjamin Oberholzer (Clandeboye). Jack McDonnell (Royal Dublin) is one shot further in arrears, with Mark Gazi (Tralee) rounding out the top four on four under.
Grehan made an eagle on the second and birdied the fifth but despite getting to 11 under early in his round on Saturday, he couldn’t push on and dropped shots on the 10th and 12th.
And while no golfer had done the Open and Close double since Padraig Harrington (1995) before O’Keeffe’s success four years ago, Grehan will take it in his stride with 36 holes remaining today (Sunday).
“It’d be cool,” said Grehan. “I kind of set a goal at the start of the year to try to get two or three wins, so it’d be nice to do that. My game is good, I’m happy enough with everything. Two-shot lead – I would have taken that at the start of the week.
“I played lovely the front nine (Saturday), then the back nine, just hit one bad shot in on 10 and from there I was fighting my game the whole way through. Not very happy, to be honest, but two-shot lead, so hopefully it comes out tomorrow.
“Just went through a bit of a lull. That always happens in every tournament. It's going to be a long day, so I’ll be ready.”
Oberholzer held the clubhouse lead for much of the day, with back-to-back rounds of 70 helping him to a six under total. McDonnell was one of the late finishers and he needed a birdie on the last to equal his Clandeboye counterpart but had to settle for par.
Aodhagan Brady (County Sligo) had the low round of the day, with a brilliant 69 dragging him back into contention and away from the cut mark on one-under.
Westport’s Conor Stapleton made it through on level par, while fellow Mayo golfer Cormac Ó Muirithe (Belmullet) also made it safely through to today.
However, Oberholzer is likely to be Grehan’s biggest challenger early in the third round this morning.
“It was a pretty solid second round, a lot less stressful, only one bogey. Just kept it out of trouble and when the birdies came, they came,” said Oberholzer.
“Bogeyed the 10th but then got a few birdies after that, hit it close on 13, made birdie there, and then took a few birdies off.
“This is the first time (playing Westport) but really liking it. Really like the back nine. The back nine is tougher but if you hit good shots there are birdie opportunities out there.”
Like Grehan, Oberholzer is looking forward to the final round today. “If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. I’ve done all the practise beforehand so if it happens it’s good. But if not, just keep practising.”