Former European Tour player Stephen Browne was a two-shot winner in the Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Open Championship at Moyvalley.
The Hermitage golfer covered his final 28 holes in eight-under, closing with a four under 68 to win by two strokes from Kinsale’s Shane Kenneally and overnight leader Alan Condren from Greystones on four-under.
Condren and Italy’s Gianluca Bolla were joint-top of the standings heading into Friday’s action but Browne had six birdies on his way to his first Senior title.
“It feels great to be out here playing at my age,” said Browne. “I am absolutely thrilled to be back playing competitive golf. I was happy with how I handled it then when I felt the pressure a little bit.
“I came down this week without any expectations at all. Just hoping to play well and enjoy it and meet a few people that I hadn’t met in a long time. Trying to remember names and faces.
“I didn’t think I could win, I’d be sharp enough or anything. But really happy the way I played and I stuck at it. When I got my game going I kept it going and I was thrilled with that.”
Browne opened his week with a 74 on Wednesday and four birdies from the ninth onwards ensured he left himself right in contention after yesterday’s round.
He had three birdies on his front nine today and despite a short missed putt on nine, he bounced back with three more birdies on his back nine to seal the win.
“I found my game and found my rhythm,” said Browne.
“I got used to the greens. They were a little slower than, I just play in my home club all the time. So you get a bit used to one pace. They were a little bit slower than what I am used to and it took me a couple of days to get used to that. Once I did I got into it and the game started to flow from there.
“It was nice. I holed a couple of putts and hit a couple of close ones. I hit a couple of Par 5s in two as well. It just flowed for me. I probably missed the shortest putt I have ever missed in my life as well on the ninth. I went to tap one in from no more than nine inches and I missed it.
“I said, Jesus, that could cost you now, but it didn’t in the end, thankfully. I had to get my head back on after that. And I did and made a really nice birdie on 12 and 13 as well so that got me going as well.”
Moyvalley’s Des Egan won the 70+ age category, Bolla won the 65+ category, Steven Graham (England) the 60+ category, and Condren the 55+ category.