There’s not much rest for Tennant who flies to England tomorrow to prepare for the R&A Senior Amateur Championship at Staunton, where she will look to complete a hat-trick of wins across GB&I, and heads there in a buoyant mood.
“I’m feeling great, I never expected to win the Irish Amateur, so this is a bonus”
Meanwhile the 2024 Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Close Championship was also settled by a playoff, with Kinsale’s Shane Kenneally coming out on top after three additional trips to the closing hole on the Faldo Course at Lough Erne.
As was the case with the women, there were three golfers through to the playoff as Kenneally was joined by Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay) and Alan Duffy (Royal Tara), all ending the day on three-over par.
On their first visit to 18, Kenneally and McCormack secured their pars but Duffy failed to convert his second putt and so it was left to Kenneally and McCormack to battle it out.
The pair couldn’t be separated on their second attempt with the hole halved in par, but it was third time lucky for Kenneally, who’s long two-putt par was enough to secure the victory on the third playoff hole, as heavy rain began to fall in Fermanagh.
Speaking in the aftermath, the Kinsale golfer couldn’t hide his delight at getting his hands on the trophy.
“Ecstatic, happy, hasn’t quite sunk in, probably because I’m feeling a bit cold and wet from the rain. It’ll sink in on the way home in the car I think. There’ll be a few whoops in the car!”
Talking about that pressure-filled par putt, the Corkman described how he took confidence from his putting over the week as he stepped up to the twelve-footer that ultimately won him the championship.
“Be positive, and make sure you get the pace right. I was fairly happy generally over the three days, anything eight to ten/twelve feet I was fairly good at. I didn’t miss anything short over the three days, it was just pace. Keep the pace and don’t leave it short. “
The other title winners on the day were Castlerock’s David Mulholland (Men’s 55-59), East Sussex National’s Steven Graham (Men’s 60-64), Laytown & Bettystown’s Frank Flynn (Men’s 65-69), Birr’s William Donlon (70+), Weston Golf & Country Club’s Terrill Samuel (Women’s 60+), and The Island’s Gertie McMullen (Women’s Net).