Sunday 11th May 2025
Round 4
Stuart GREHAN (IRL) beat Lewy HAYWARD (ENG) on the third play-off hole to win the Flogas-sponsored Irish Amateur Open Championship at Seapoint Golf Links.
Both players finished the 72 holes on 273 (-15) after they both impressively produced bogey-free rounds under the pressure of the final day; recently reinstated amateur Grehan, who plays out of neighbouring County Louth, a 66 and Hayward a 69.
Defending champion Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) finished as he started with the low round of the day; his 65, which included eight birdies, lifting him up the leaderboard into 3rd place.
Matt ROBERTS (WAL) backed up his tied 3rd result at last week’s Lytham Trophy with a 4th place finish in Ireland.
Greg HOLMES (ENG) -11 finished in 5th and Gerry DUNNE (IRL) -11 6th on final round count back.
The average Round 4 score was 72.10 with 34 of the remaining 59 players shooting par or better.
Final Results (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)
Click here to view the – 2025 Irish Amateur Open Results
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Saturday 10th May 2025
Round 3
Lewy HAYWARD (ENG) and Gerry DUNNE (IRL) both recorded 2-under par 70’s in the third round at Seapoint to give themselves a 2-shot lead heading into tomorrow’s final round. They will both start the day on 204 (-12) after strong finishes; Hayward birdied his closing two holes whilst Dunne eagled the 18th.
Matt ROBERTS (WAL) enjoyed the second best round of the day with his 67, moving into 3rd alone on 206 (-10).
Matt Roberts’ 54 hole Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)
Archie DAVIES (WAL) and Stuart GREHAN (IRL) are tied 4th on -9 with Greg HOLMES (ENG) two shots further back in 6th place.
Overnight co-leader and defending champion Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) will start the final round in tied 7th after he shot a disappointing 76 to probably fall out of contention on -6.
The field found scoring slightly harder on Day 3 with the average score being 73.94, although more players, 51, shot par or better.
Shot of the day came from Conor HICKEY (IRL) who recorded a hole in one on the par 3 187 yard 17th.
59 players made the top 50 and ties 54 hole cut which fell at 219 (+3).
Round 3 Leaderboard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)
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Friday 9th May 2025
Round 2
Lewy HAYWARD (ENG), Gerry DUNNE (IRL) and Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) share the 36 hole lead on 134 (-10).
Hayward, alongside Lewis GOWDY (IRL), produced the joint best round of the day with a blemish free 7-under 65.
Lewy Hayward’s 36 Hole Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)
Stuart GREHAN (IRL) -9 is 4th, Archie DAVIES (WAL) & Greg HOLMES (ENG) -5 tied 5th, Lewis GOWDY (IRL) -7 6th and David HOWARD (IRL) & Colm CAMPBELL (IRL) -6 tied 8th.
The average Round 2 score was 73.71, slightly higher than yesterday, with 49 competitors shooting par or better at Seapoint Golf Links.
Round 2 Leaderboard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)
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Thursday 8th May 2025
Round 1
Defending champion Matthew MCCLEAN (IRL) produced a course record 8-under 64 at Seapoint to take the early lead in the Irish Amateur Open.
Matthew McClean’s Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)
On a low scoring day Charlie MCDONNELL (IRL) -7 is 2nd, Stuart GREHAN (IRL) & Caelan COLEMAN (IRL) -6 tied 3rd and Colm CAMPBELL (IRL), Gerry DUNNE (IRL) & Greg HOLMES (ENG) -5 tied 5th.
The average Round 1 score was 73.41 with 56 competitors shooting par or better.
Round 1 Leaderboard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)
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6th May 2025
The Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship, sponsored by Flogas, starts on Thursday 8th May 2025 at Seapoint Golf Links near Drogheda, County Louth on Ireland’s east coast.
It will be the 86th playing of this prestigious Championship but the first time it has visited Seapoint.
Seapoint’s 2nd Hole (Photo: Seaport G.C.)
Format
Organised by Golf Ireland the Irish Amateur Open is a 72-hole stroke play event played over four days.
18 holes will be played on each of the first three days before a top 50 and ties cut is made. A final 18 holes will then be played by the leading competitors on Sunday.
A tie for the Championship will be resolved by a sudden death play-off. All other ties will be resolved by a last eighteen and then last nine countback.
The Irish Amateur Open Champion Golfer is awarded a superb silver trophy (see photo below). Irish winners are allowed to take the trophy back to their Club for the year whereas overseas winners must return it to the organisers after the prize presentation.
Players
132 golfers will contest the 2025 Championship.
I expect the following players to do well (in alphabetical order): Colm CAMPBELL (IRL), Paul COUGHLAN (IRL), Brian DORAN (IRL), TJ FORD (IRL), Stuart GREHAN (IRL), Dylan HOLMES (IRL), David KITT (IRL), Matt MCCLEAN (IRL), Jack MCDONNELL (IRL), Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL), Matt ROBERTS (WAL) and Gregor TAIT (SCO).
It will also be interesting to see how Seapoint’s Dylan KEATING (IRL) gets on around his home course.
Like all events played before June the field quality isn’t helped by the large number of GB&I and European players now playing on the U.S. college circuit.
Tee Times
Click here to view the – 2025 Irish Amateur Open Tee Times
Players will tee off, from the 1st and 10th tees, between 8.00am and 2.55pm in three-balls on each of the first three days so changes in the weather and wind speeds throughout each day could play a big part in scoring.
Course
Seapoint is a modern championship links course designed by Des Smyth in the early 1990s and opened for play in June 1993.
Located adjacent to Termonfeckin Beach the course is 7,150 yards from the back tees and has a par of 72.
Over the last 30 years it has hosted a number of professional events as well as the Irish Amateur Close Championship in 2014 which was won by JR Galbraith.
Weather Forecast (as at Tuesday 6th May)
The weather forecast for this week looks very good for all four days – mainly sunny with only light winds expected.
Thu 8th May – Sunny Intervals / Wind 11 mph E / Temp. Min. 7°C / Max. 15°C.
Fri 9th May – Sunny / Wind 10 mph SE / Temp. Min. 6°C / Max. 15°C.
Sat 10th May – Sunny / Wind 10 mph SE / Temp. Min. 8°C / Max. 16°C.
Sun 11th May – Sunny / Wind 8 mph E / Temp. Min. 9°C / Max. 16°C.
The 2024 Irish Amateur Open Championship
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) won the 2024 Flogas Irish Amateur Open Championship at County Sligo G.C., his first Irish Championship.
Matt McClean (Photo: Golf Ireland)
McClean’s 273 (-11) total was 2-shots better than Liam NOLAN (IRL). TJ FORD (IRL) produced a superb final round 65 to finish in 3rd place on -6. Oswestry’s Tom MATTHEWS (WAL) -5 came in 4th and Hugh FOLEY (IRL) -4 5th.
Click here to view the – 2024 Irish Amateur Open Championship Results
History, Past Winners and Records
The Irish Amateur Open Championship was first played in 1892 with early winners including the English amateur greats John Ball and Harold Hilton.
Between 1894 and 1901 (6 years) the competition was played as part of the Irish Championship Meeting alongside a professional tournament.
The Championship was not played during both World Wars.
It was also not played between 1960 and 1994 due to a lack of interest from overseas players amidst concerns over safety.
Prior to 1958 it was a match play event but since returning to the amateur calendar in 1995 it has been 72 holes of stroke play.
To view a list of past winners click here – Irish Amateur Open Past Champions
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