By DARAGH SMALL
Roganstown teenager Mark Cadden said it was dream come true as he claimed the Connolly Motor Group West of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship following a thrilling 1up victory over Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint).
The powerful 6ft5 19-year-old showed his class all day in County Sligo but he was unable to wriggle free of last year’s beaten finalist. Campbell won the 17th to force the match down the last.
And there were two extra holes before Cadden sunk a 15-foot putt to scenes of jubilation, with his parents Paula and Michael along with more family and friends from Roganstown and beyond, as the celebrations began on the 20th green.
“It’s pretty emotional now,” said Cadden.
“Just put so much time and effort into it and to finally get something in return it’s just unbelievable. My dad and mam, just the support they give me is unbelievable, all my family.
“My sister was watching that match the whole time in Australia, it’s about 2.30am there now. She was in tears on the phone. It was emotional.
“Played great all day really, Colm just holed so many putts in the first eight holes and then a few coming in. He just wouldn’t back off, 17 he made some par, every time he had the putter in his hands I was expecting him to make it.
“I knew I was due a putt and thankfully it just went my way.”
Cadden continued his impressive week with a 3&1 win over fellow teenage prospect Alex Kerins (Carton House). The two 19-year-olds battled it out and Cadden assumed a 2up lead when he birdied the sixth. He was unable to pull away down the back nine but when Kerins stumbled on 15 it left the door open, and Cadden advanced.
Campbell was made to work hard for his place in the final by Cian Harkin (The Island). The Donegal native took a 1up lead on the 5th but Campbell bounced back. He went 1up after the turn and although Harkin clawed the deficit back again on 12, Campbell went in front on 16, and moved on.
In the ISPS Handa G4D at The West, Paul O’Kelly (Portmarnock) signed for a second round 86 to hold on for a narrow one-shot victory over Fiona Gray (St Patrick’s). A closing par was crucial as he claimed the Standing 2 Category.
“Didn’t play as well as I did yesterday but I managed to do enough and hold on in tough conditions again,” said O’Kelly.
“Just keeping the ball in front of me, keeping it low when it was needed and avoiding the big mistakes. That was the plan for the two days and managed to do it for the most part.”
Killarney’s Tom Doherty won the Standing 1 Category after he finished eight shots ahead of his nearest challenger, Chris Faloon (Galgorm Castle). James McParland (Roganstown) won the Standing 3 Category. He earned a narrow three-shot win, just ahead of Conal Flynn (Athenry).
Faloon finished on top of the Net Stroke Play leaderboard on +5, while Gray finished runner-up again (+11) and Flynn was back in third (+12).
Meanwhile, one of the highlights of the closing round was when Ballinrobe golfer Jarlath King landed his first hole-in-one on the Par 3 13th.
View the scoring from the West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship here
View the scoring from the ISPS Handa G4D @ The West here
