Roganstown’s Seán Keeling will be bidding to become the youngest AIG Irish Amateur Close winner since Rory McIlroy in 2006
when he takes a four-stroke lead into the final two rounds at Dun Laoghaire on Sunday.
With his game shaper than ever following an unbeaten performance in Ireland’s Home Internationals win in Scotland,
the Dubliner (17) is looking to head off to Texas Tech on a scholarship next week with his first Irish senior title under his belt.
The reigning Flogas Irish Boys’ Amateur Open champion backed up his brilliant opening 66
with a 69 to lead by four shots from Millicent’s Brian Doran and Edmondstown’s Thomas Abom on nine-under.
“It just brings a lot of positivity. When you win as a team, it almost feels a little bit better; you are on such a high,” Keeling said. “It was nice coming into this week with that.
“I have played a lot of good golf this year, but I haven’t been able to score as well, so it’s nice this week to keep playing pretty good. My putting was a lot better than it has been, so I’m happy with that.
“There is a long way to go so just keep the head down and play and see where that leads us tomorrow.”
Abom followed his first-round 66 with a 73 to share second place with recently crowned Mullingar Scratch Trophy winner Doran, who shot a 70.
“Mullingar still hasn’t sunk in at all because every event is coming up one after another,” said Doran, runner-up to American Patrick Adler in the South of Ireland at Lahinch before winning in Mullingar the following week.
“It just shows, after winning that, even when you are not playing your greatest and you can scramble and keep yourself in it, the good holes will come.
“We all want one of the big six. It’s nice to win anywhere, but one of the Majors would be great to have on the CV.”
Slieve Russell’s Shane McDermott is five behind Keeling after a 73, but there is a lot of quality in red figures and 36 holes to play.
Former winner Hugh Foley from Royal Dublin, the ever-improving Gerard Dunne from County Louth and Dun Laoghaire’s Richard Sykes are lurking just six shots behind Keeling on three-under.
“Major” winners TJ Ford and Colm Campbell are just a shot further back with former West of Ireland winner Alan Fahy, international David Shiel, and the up-and-coming Malahide star Gavin O’Neill tied for eighth on one-under.
McIlroy won the Irish Close at age 16 at Westport in 2005 before retaining the title at 17 at The European Club in 2006.
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Source: New York Post
