Up until last month you could be forgiven for having not heard of Millicent’s Brian Doran. Now he can’t get enough of the spotlight and once again he finds himself right in the thick of it at the business end of a championship.
A runner-up in the South of Ireland after an unlikely run to the final in Lahinch, Doran proved to be no fluke as he won the Mullingar Scratch Trophy for his first major title.
Now, at 28 years of age he will feel like a veteran in the final group of the AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championship alongside Seán Keeling (17) and Thomas Abom (19) in Dun Laoghaire as he looks to clinch one of Ireland’s big six titles on Sunday.
A part time amateur with a job working in Pfizer, Doran has certainly found the formula for success this summer.
There is plenty to play for on Sunday for Doran who is chasing top spot in the Bridgestone Order of Merit which could pave the way for an Ireland cap next year and while he is new to the spotlight, the feeling of being in the mix is proving the perfect drug.
“Oh it will never get boring anyway! You can’t beat the buzz of it. The front nine this afternoon was nearly playing myself out of contention and got my groove on the back nine but yeah, I love it,” said Doran who was also runner-up in the Munster Strokeplay.
Doran has been an integral part of Millicent’s Barton Shield team who won the club’s first ever pennant this year while his individual performances wee also rewarded by a call up to the victorious Leinster Interprovincial team.
Doran trails Keeling by four shots heading into the final 36 holes on Sunday after an eventful second round of 70 lifted him into a share of second on five-under-par.
His trusty PING putter was like a wand as he kept himself alive with crucial pars on his front nine and three successive birdies on the back which catapulted him into the final group.
“A few putts on video are captured but there are a few shaving the hole but I got a new Scotty yesterday and frightened the PING one a bit but I think I will stick to the PING one tomorrow.”