Published July 17, 2008 on June 23, 2019

James Sugrue Wins The 124th Amateur Championship at Portmarnock

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James Sugrue savoured success on home soil to win The 124^th Amateur Championship at Portmarnock.

The Irishman thrilled around 3,000 spectators at the renowned links near Dublin to defeat Scotland’s Euan Walker in an exciting 36-hole final. Sugrue was five up after nine holes but was forced to survive Walker’s sterling comeback to all square before clinching a one-hole win on the final green.

Played in glorious weather, Sugrue’s fast start and sharp short game skills proved key as the Mallow member became the first Irish player to win the famous title since Alan Dunbar in 2012.

By virtue of his triumph, the 22-year-old gained exemptions into The 148^th Open at Royal Portrush next month, the 2020 US Open at Winged Foot and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament.

Ranked 231^st on the World Amateur Golf Ranking™, Sugrue was never behind against Walker as he came out on top of the 288-player international field who assembled at Portmarnock for only the club’s second ever staging of the championship.

Buoyed by the home crowds, Sugrue made a superb start in the sunshine against his fellow Walker Cup squad member. A birdie at the 2^nd was sandwiched between two bogeys from Walker, 23, as the Irishman won the first three holes.

After Walker three-putted the short 7^th Sugrue moved four ahead and arrowed his approach to a foot at the 9^th to extend his lead to five after playing the front nine in three under par. The Scot’s birdie at the 10^th saw him win his first hole of the day before the reigning African Amateur champion further reduced the deficit to three with another birdie at the par-5 13^th.

The Kilmarnock (Barassie) player, ranked 71^st in the world, remained three down after the morning session, but after Sugrue went four up at the 20^th the Scot launched his fightback after winning the next two holes.

Sugrue, who has enjoyed five top-20 finishes this year, claimed the 24^th but his advantage was cut to just one hole after Walker’s birdie at the 26^th. The Irishman responded with a birdie at the 28^th to go two ahead again, but the battling Scot refused to go away. He won the 31^st with a birdie and then squared the contest at the 33^rd after Sugrue’s bogey. However, willed on by the home fans, Sugrue won the 35^th with a par after Walker found trouble off the tee and sealed victory at the last when his opponent again pushed his tee shot right and failed with two putts from the back of the green.

Sugrue is the eighth Irish winner of The Amateur and joins a list of past champions that include major winners José María Olazábal, Sergio Garcia and, more recently, Matteo Manassero and Romain Langasque.

The 125^th Amateur Championship will be played at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire in England from 15 – 20 June 2020.