Etridge defeats Galway’s Joe Lyons in Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Open

English golfer Tom Etridge spoke of his pride after he claimed a thrilling play-off victory over Joe Lyons (Galway) for the Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Open Championship.

The eventual winner carded a closing 70 to join Lyons on the top of the leaderboard and bring the drama to a play-off in Hermitage Golf Club.

The play-off continued into a second hole and when Lyons missed a four-foot putt, the 51-year-old Sunningdale star tapped in to seal a famous win.

“Much like the rest of my round, I didn’t hit the ball that well in the play-off but I managed to get it around,” said Etridge.

“I’m lucky, Joe didn’t hit a very good putt there and he will be disappointed. I’m sorry for him because he played well today. Unfortunately, that’s golf sometimes.

“I’m hugely proud to win. It’s a super event to get across the line. Just delighted, it was great fun. This is the first thing I’ve won this year. I won a couple of things last year but nothing like this. I’m very proud.”

Etridge was red hot with his putter all day and he needed it down the home stretch of his third round. 16 was the highlight when he had to chip out sideways onto the fairway after an errant tee shot, only to get up and down from 144 yards.

He holed crucial putts on 17 and 18 too to tie with Lyons on level par and send it to a play-off. Lyons shot six birdies in his round with his birdie on 18 securing a 68 and the clubhouse lead, only for Etridge to hold his nerve when the pressure came on.

The players halved their first play-off hole and when Lyons missed his short putt it was left for Etridge to seal the win.

“I just wanted to play my game and give myself a chance,” said Etridge.

“I didn’t start with a very good first round. I had five birdies and then a bunch of bogeys and started with a 74. So I knew yesterday I had to play well and get back into contention. I had a 69 which I thought would get me a little closer but didn’t expect to be one shot back which was lucky because some of the leaders didn’t have a great day.

“It gave me a decent chance and here I am on the last day. I didn’t hit the ball well but I managed to get up and down and got it around and that’s golf.”

T1	3	Tom Etridge Sunningdale Golf Club	E	F	-1	74	69	70	213
T1	9	Joe Lyons Galway	E	F	-3	71	74	68	213
3	2	Eddie McCormack Galway Bay	+4	F	+4	70	72	75	217
T4	4	Alan Condren Greystones	+5	F	+3	73	71	74	218
T4	5	Jim Carvill Banbridge	+5	F	+3	69	75	74	218
T4	8	Alan Dowling Hermitage gc	+5	F	+2	68	77	73	218
T4	2	Jody Fanagan Milltown	+5	F	+4	68	75	75	218
T4	3	Stephen Jensen Clandon Regis	+5	F	+4	68	75	75	218
9	4	Michael Crowley Naas	+6	F	+2	74	72	73	219
T10	5	David Mulholland Castlerock	+7	F	+6	73	70	77	220
T10	6	Noel Crawford Mourne	+7	F	+2	70	77	73	220
T10	8	Steven Graham East Sussex National	+7	F	+7	69	73	78	220
T13	2	David Kinneen Galway Bay Golf Resort	+8	F	+3	71	76	74	221
T13	2	Karl Fitzsimons Killeen	+8	F	+5	69	76	76	221
15	12	Shane Kenneally Kinsale Golf Club	+9	F	+9	68	74	80	222
T16	3	Derek Basquill Enniscrone	+11	F	+5	75	73	76	224
T16	2	Colin Cunningham Carton House Golf Club	+11	F	+7	73	73	78	224
T16	13	Rupert Kellock Sunningdale	+11	F	+3	72	78	74	224
T19	17	Christopher O’Connor Corrstown g.c	+12	F	+2	77	75	73	225
T19	1	Jim Knoll Rooster Run	+12	F	+6	75	73	77	225
T21	26	John O’Brien Castlemartyr	+13	F	+1	78	76	72	226
T21	14	Alan Doherty Corrstown gc	+13	F	+3	78	74	74	226
T21	4	Adrian Morrow Portmarnock golf club	+13	F	+7	77	71	78	226
T21	4	John Mitchell Tramore	+13	F	+5	76	74	76	226
T21	–	Barry Hobson Malone	+13	F	+6	75	74	77	226
T26	1	Paul Wharton Woodhall Spa	+14	F	+6	75	75	77	227
T26	6	Donal Hogan Newlands GC	+14	F	+8	74	74	79	227
T26	2	Peter Sheehan Ballybunion	+14	F	+7	73	76	78	227
T26	3	Tony Cleary Woodstock	+14	F	+7	73	76	78	227
T26	20	Declan O’Neill Grange	+14	F	+3	72	81	74	227
T31	22	Barry Forsyth Castlewarden Golf club	+16	F	+4	76	78	75	229
T31	–	Walker Taylor Cape Fear CC	+16	F	+7	76	75	78	229
T31	1	Patrick Madigan Tramore	+16	F	+7	76	75	78	229
T31	14	David Hannis Fairhaven	+16	F	+5	75	78	76	229
T31	6	Mark Clifford Lucan	+16	F	+6	75	77	77	229
T31	2	Darragh Smith Malahide	+16	F	+7	72	79	78	229
T37	7	Allan Cameron Royal Dornoch	+17	F	+8	78	73	79	230
T37	9	Michael McCormick West Middlesex Golf Club	+17	F	+9	72	78	80	230
T39	–	Mark Duffy Naas	+18	F	+7	79	74	78	231
T39	4	Pat Lyons Cork golf club	+18	F	+7	77	76	78	231
T39	11	Kieran McCarthy Kinsale	+18	F	+6	76	78	77	231
T39	17	John McGinn Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club	+18	F	+11	74	75	82	231
T39	1	Richard Guilfoyle Kilkenny	+18	F	+8	71	81	79	231
44	10	Darryn Lowans Dun Laoghaire	+19	F	+9	78	74	80	232
T45	4	John O’Sullivan Fota island	+20	F	+8	77	77	79	233
T45	7	Tony Brannock Newlands	+20	F	+8	76	78	79	233
T47	7	Oscar O’Herlihy Basingstoke	+21	F	+10	78	75	81	234
T47	7	Alan McCabe Hermitage	+21	F	+9	76	78	80	234
T47	3	Alan Moran Tuam	+21	F	+10	76	77	81	234
T50	9	Frank Flynn Laytown and Bettystown	+22	F	+11	77	76	82	235
T50	8	Tom Griffin Crews hill	+22	F	+11	77	76	82	235
T50	5	Philip Davidson Knock Golf Club	+22	F	+10	75	79	81	235
T53	27	Gerard O Sullivan Tralee	+27	F	+19	76	74	90	240
T53	3	Shane Magee Lurgan	+27	F	+15	74	80	86	240
WD	–	Michael Mercier Jupiter Hills	–	–	–	77	77	WD	154
WD	–	Edward Ryan Hermitage	–	–	–	76	78	WD	154
CUT	–	David Grainger Hollywood Lakes Golf Club	+13		–	78	77		–
CUT	–	Leo Connolly Wexford	+13		–	78	77		–
CUT	–	George Nish Portmarnock Golf Club	+13		–	76	79		–
CUT	–	Dara O Neill Wilmington NC	+14		–	80	76		–
CUT	–	Enda Brady Headfort	+14		–	78	78		–
CUT	–	Robin Clark Walton Heath Golf Club	+14		–	77	79		–
CUT	–	David Brabazon Balbriggan	+14		–	76	80		–
CUT	–	David Walsh Lisburn Golf Club	+14		–	75	81		–
CUT	–	Donal Casey Hermitage	+14		–	74	82		–
CUT	–	Matthew Davey Mourne	+15		–	81	76		–
CUT	–	Eddie Lonergan Greystones	+15		–	79	78		–
CUT	–	Peter McNeill Woodbrook	+15		–	78	79		–
CUT	–	Mark Collins Killeencastle	+15		–	78	79		–
CUT	–	Alan Duffy Royal Tara	+15		–	77	80		–
CUT	–	Brendan Healy Ardee	+15		–	77	80		–
CUT	–	Eoin McCormack Naas Golf Club	+15		–	77	80		–
CUT	–	Michael Chambers Royal Dublin	+15		–	76	81		–
CUT	–	Ronan Culligan Saucon Valley Country Club	+16		–	81	77		–
CUT	–	William Donlon Birr	+16		–	81	77		–
CUT	–	Jerry Crean Kinsale golf club	+16		–	79	79		–
CUT	–	Gregg Sterritt Rockmount	+16		–	78	80		–
CUT	–	Anthony Doyle Castlerock	+16		–	78	80		–
CUT	–	William Doggart Clandeboye	+16		–	76	82		–
CUT	–	Patrick Mitchel Holywood	+17		–	81	78		–
CUT	–	Ian Smyth Clandeboye	+17		–	80	79		–
CUT	–	Bernard Lavery Belvoir Park	+17		–	80	79		–
CUT	–	Mick Ahern Skerries	+17		–	78	81		–
CUT	–	Hugh Smyth Mourne golf club	+17		–	77	82		–
CUT	–	Paul Reilly County Louth Golf Club	+17		–	77	82		–
CUT	–	Alan Lilley Ballyclare	+17		–	76	83		–
CUT	–	Roy Connolly European	+18		–	86	74		–
CUT	–	Brendan O’Driscoll Berehaven	+18		–	82	78		–
CUT	–	John Kelly Moyvalley	+18		–	81	79		–
CUT	–	Eoin Murphy Forrest Little	+18		–	81	79		–
CUT	–	Kingsley Lewis Skerries Golf Club	+18		–	80	80		–
CUT	–	Ger Lynch Portumna	+18		–	79	81		–
CUT	–	Damien Hanratty Donabate	+18		–	78	82		–
CUT	–	Andrew Norrby Lisburn	+19		–	84	77		–
CUT	–	Cathair Conneely Oughterard	+19		–	82	79		–
CUT	–	Don Coughlan Douglas	+19		–	81	80		–
CUT	–	Patrick Higgins Grange	+19		–	81	80		–
CUT	–	Alan Higgins Royal Dublin	+20		–	83	79		–
CUT	–	Chris Collins Milltown	+20		–	81	81		–
CUT	–	Mons Samuelsson Lucan GC	+20		–	81	81		–
CUT	–	olm McIlroy Holywood	+20		–	79	83		–
CUT	–	John Kelly The heath	+20		–	78	84		–
CUT	–	Peter Early Royal Dublin GC	+20		–	77	85		–
CUT	–	Con Donovan The heath	+21		–	84	79		–
CUT	–	Richard Williams Naas	+21		–	82	81		–
CUT	–	Conor McAloon County Louth	+22		–	85	79		–
CUT	–	Peter Morris Douglas	+22		–	79	85		–
CUT	–	Emmet Staunton Rosslare	+22		–	79	85		–
CUT	–	Paul Mooney Millicent	+22		–	78	86		–
CUT	–	Barry OLeary Greystones	+23		–	81	84		–
CUT	–	Brendan Ryan Naas	+24		–	84	82		–
CUT	–	Joe Kennedy Dooks	+24		–	84	82		–
CUT	–	Martin Hogan Longford	+26		–	83	85		–
CUT	–	Tim Griffin Corballis links	+27		–	87	82		–
CUT	–	Liam Doran County Louth	+27		–	84	85		–
CUT	–	John Garvey Co.louth	+28		–	87	83		–
CUT	–	Tom Hogan Headfort	+28		–	85	85		–
CUT	–	Tom Ogrady Los Altos g&cc	+28		–	82	88		–
CUT	–	Rory Timlin Galway	+29		–	85	86		–
CUT	–	Brendan McDonnell K Club	+30		–	89	83		–
CUT	–	Val Smyth Co louth	+31		–	87	86		–
CUT	–	Des Egan Moyvalley	+33		–	90	85		–
CUT	–	Dean Klatt Palmerstown House	+35		–	93	84		–
CUT	–	Keith Cooney Castleknock	+39		–	94	87		–
CUT	–	Mike Beaver Indian Valley Golf Club	+40		–	89	93		–
WD	–	Sean Alley Tramore gc	–		–	75	WD		153
WD	–	Pat Murray Tramore	–		–	76	WD		152
NR	–	Andrew Atkinson Windermere	–		–	77	NR		77
NR	–	Richard Graham Kilkeel	–		–	82	NR		82
NR	–	Kevin Knightly Royal Dublin	–		–	NR	85		85
DNF	–	Steve Donnelly Corral de tierra	–		–	DNF			–
DNF	–	John Duffy Galway Bay	–		–	DNF			–

Irish Senior Men’s Open – 60-64

Pos.	Move	Player	Total To Par Gross	Thru Today	To Par Gross Today	R1	R2	R3	Total Gross
1	–	Steven Graham East Sussex National	+7	F	+7	69	73	78	220
2	1	Rupert Kellock Sunningdale	+11	F	+3	72	78	74	224
3	1	Barry Hobson Malone	+13	F	+6	75	74	77	226
4	1	Paul Wharton Woodhall Spa	+14	F	+6	75	75	77	227
5	2	Gerard O Sullivan Tralee	+27	F	+19	76	74	90	240
CUT	–	David Brabazon Balbriggan	+14		–	76	80		–
CUT	–	Michael Chambers Royal Dublin	+15		–	76	81		–
CUT	–	Walker Taylor Cape Fear CC	+16	F	+7	76	75	78	–
CUT	–	David Hannis Fairhaven	+16	F	+5	75	78	76	–
CUT	–	Jerry Crean Kinsale golf club	+16		–	79	79		–
CUT	–	Pat Lyons Cork golf club	+18	F	+7	77	76	78	–
CUT	–	Tony Brannock Newlands	+20	F	+8	76	78	79	–
CUT	–	Colm McIlroy holywood	+20		–	79	83		–
CUT	–	John Kelly The heath	+20		–	78	84		–
CUT	–	Peter Early Royal Dublin GC	+20		–	77	85		–
CUT	–	Frank Flynn Laytown and Bettystown	+22	F	+11	77	76	82	–
CUT	–	Peter Morris Douglas	+22		–	79	85		–
CUT	–	Martin Hogan Longford	+26		–	83	85		–
CUT	–	Shane Magee Lurgan	+27	F	+15	74	80	86	–
CUT	–	John Garvey Co.louth	+28		–	87	83		–
NR	–	Andrew Atkinson Windermere	–		–	77	NR		77
DNF	–	Steve Donnelly Corral de tierra	–		–	DNF			–

Irish Senior Men’s Open – 65-69

Pos.	Move	Player	Total To Par Gross	Thru Today	To Par Gross Today	R1	R2	R3	Total Gross
1	–	John Mitchell Tramore	+13	F	+5	76	74	76	226
2	–	Oscar O’Herlihy Basingstoke	+21	F	+10	78	75	81	234
WD	–	Michael Mercier Jupiter Hills	–	–	–	77	77	WD	154
CUT	–	Robin Clark Walton Heath Golf Club	+14		–	77	79		–
CUT	–	Ian Smyth Clandeboye	+17		–	80	79		–
CUT	–	Mick Ahern Skerries	+17		–	78	81		–
CUT	–	Alan Lilley Ballyclare	+17		–	76	83		–
CUT	–	John Kelly Moyvalley	+18		–	81	79		–
CUT	–	Barry OLeary Greystones	+23		–	81	84		–
CUT	–	Tim Griffin Corballis links	+27		–	87	82		–
CUT	–	Liam Doran County Louth	+27		–	84	85		–
CUT	–	Brendan McDonnell K Club	+30		–	89	83		–
NR	–	Kevin Knightly Royal Dublin	–		–	NR	85		85

Irish Senior Men’s Open – 70+

Pos.	Move	Player	Total To Par Gross	Thru Today	To Par Gross Today	R1	R2	R3	Total Gross
1	1	Jim Knoll Rooster Run	+12	F	+6	75	73	77	225
2	1	Adrian Morrow Portmarnock golf club	+13	F	+7	77	71	78	226
CUT	–	William Donlon Birr	+16		–	81	77		–
CUT	–	Hugh Smyth Mourne golf club	+17		–	77	82		–
CUT	–	Patrick Higgins Grange	+19		–	81	80		–
CUT	–	Alan Higgins Royal Dublin	+20		–	83	79		–
CUT	–	Tom Ogrady Los Altos g&cc	+28		–	82	88		–
CUT	–	Rory Timlin Galway	+29		–	85	86		–
CUT	–	Val Smyth Co louth	+31		–	87	86		–
CUT	–	Des Egan Moyvalley	+33		–	90	85		–
CUT	–	Mike Beaver Indian Valley Golf Club	+40		–	89	93