Amateur Close Championship joy for Thomas

EDMONDSTOWN golfer Thomas Abom said he always had the inner belief and thrived on the pressure as he defeated hometown favourite Richard Sykes in a play-off at the AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championship in Dun Laoghaire, reports Daragh Small.

The 19-year-old, who will soon join the ranks at Maynooth University, showed resilience all weekend and after an opening -6 round of 66 he had to battle hard to remain in contention and finally book his place in the play-off.

Abom was one clear entering his 72nd hole but bogeyed the 18th and his nerves were tested once more as he lipped out for birdie on the first play off hole, before a glorious approach and birdie on the last, in front of a sizeable Edmondstown Martial Arts support.

“Unbelievable, it hasn’t settled in at all yet.

“To actually get it done, it’s probably one of the best feelings you can have winning a golf tournament.

“They don’t come around too often so when you get a win it’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Abom.

“I was coming to win, whether or not you really, really believe it, you kind of have to prove it to yourself and then, when I was -6 Round 1, I knew my game was there.

“Rest of the week it was kind of a bit of a grind with the wind but if I kept it up and played well I’d have a chance going into the last few holes.

“I checked the scores after Round 3 and saw I was one ahead.

“Was kind of thinking if I go -2 the last round, I should have it.

“I could hear the cheers out there, I knew he (Richard) was playing well, their cheers were loud.

“Then on the second last hole, on 17, I asked my sister, who was caddying, ‘what do we need to do?’ and she said ‘one birdie and a par should do it’.

“Then I birdied 17, unfortunately bogeyed the last but got it done in the play-off.”

Seán Keeling (Roganstown) came into Sunday with a four-shot lead over Abom and recent Mullingar Scratch Trophy winner Brian Doran (Millicent).

And while the lead changed hands on the day, it was Sykes who emerged to put his course knowledge to use and advance through the field.

The 32-year-old former hockey player had registered rounds of 68, 73 and 70 and he birdied the third and seventh holes to give himself a real chance of a famous hometown victory.

But when he bogeyed the last it left the door open for Abom to launch his comeback, and while the Edmondstown teenager birdied the Par 5 17th, there was still time for another twist when his chip went long and his missed the subsequent par putt.

However, Abom held his nerve again and he landed his approach from 146 yards to just three feet, before birdying and sealing the silverware.

“I knew I had it in me, more kind of to show myself I can do it, it definitely will increase my confidence a lot, but not too much because I knew I had it in me, it’s just to do it in the end, very happy,” said Abom.