Madden Shines Brightest at Open Championship Regional Qualifier
Royal Portrush pro Jack Madden’s six-under performance stole the show on a bright and breezy day at County Louth Golf Club.
Among 125 hopefuls, Madden’s flawless round, featuring six birdies, was the standout score, allowing him a relaxed afternoon, confident of his place in the next stage of Open Championship qualifying.
Local hero Gerard Dunne leveraged his home course advantage to post a commendable four-under, securing the second lowest score of the day. Liam Grehan followed closely with a solid three-under 69, avoiding any playoff tension.
With six coveted spots available, a seven-for-three playoff ensued. Jack Hume, Stuart Grehan, Jake Whelan, Brendan McCarroll, Thomas Abom, Ciaran Lavery, and Niall Kearney all finished at two-under, necessitating extra holes. Kearney and Whelan quickly secured their places with birdies on the second playoff hole. The final spot went to former Walker Cup player Hume, who has recently rekindled his passion for golf.
The successful six will now proceed to one of four mainland UK Final Qualifying venues on Tuesday, July 2.