The boys are looking to become men in Dun Laoghaire Golf Club as two of Ireland’s brightest young stars sit atop the leaderboard on day one of the AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championship.
Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) and Seán Keeling (Roganstown) upstaged the more experienced players in the field with blistering rounds of 66 to share the lead on six-under-par as they look for their maiden men’s titles.
Abom, an Irish underage international, knows there is a long way to go but was delighted to end an opening round of a championship in red figures and to be in a share of the lead is a welcome bonus.
“Probably the best golf I have played all year, it’s been an over par for tournaments in first rounds this year so it’s nice to get off to a good start,” said the 19-year-old Maynooth University student.
“I have confidence now but there is a long way to go, going to try and back it up tomorrow but definitely looking forward to the rest of the week.”
Abom is yet to post a top-10 in a men’s championship but insists he is growing in comfort at this level having come through the Golf Ireland underage panels.
“The last few years since boys golf it has taken a bit of time to get used to the men’s level but I am starting to feel a bit more comfortable now. Today showed that so I am happy.”
The Dubliner teed off from the tenth hole and actually had a slow start, dropping a shot on 11 but after holing for birdie on 12, birdies on 14 and 17 saw him turn in 34.
A biride on the 2nd and bogey on 3 followed before the teenager roared home with four birdies in his last six holes to hit the front.
“On 15 I holed a twelve footer for par then on 16 I held an eight footer and on the last I held another ten footer. That par putt on 15 kept it going and spurred me on to the end so I am happy.”
Roganstown star Seán Keeling may be a year younger than Abom but he boasts a wealth of experience having played on the European Junior Ryder Cup team last year and the Irish Home Internationals side who won a first title since 2021 last week in Scotland.
“That was an unreal week, it definitely is a confidence booster coming in here and I am looking forward to the rest of the week.”
Keeling, in front of his father and grandparents, made a charge towards the turn with three birdies in a row from the 5th and a fourth birdie in five holes on 9.
He had to be patient on the back nine but finished with a flourish, birdieing the 17th before chipping in for a closing birdie on the last to join Abom at the summit moments later.
“Very happy with how I played overall. Tee to green was very good, just gave myself a lot of looks and just made no mistakes all day.
“I got hot in the middle then had to be patient. Nice birdie on 17 and chip in on 18 was a nice way to finish too.”
Keeling seems well versed in going low after his exploits at the US Junior Amateur and US Boys PGA recently and he has found Dun Laoghaire to his liking as he looks to lift his first Irish men’s title.
“It’s different to what we are used to here, it’s more gettable and in perfect condition so you can roll in some putts which is nice.”
The impressive scoring continued in the afternoon wave with Slieve Russell’s Shane McDermott the best of the late starters, signing for a five-under round of 67 to lie in solo third place.
The Cavan man was bogey free and hit 15 out of 18 greens.
“It was a great start, I was just trying to make pars and take care of the par fives, it was pretty windy but it’s the type of course where if you drive it well there are opportunities.
“The toughest thing for me is putting myself in the position, I feel quite comfortable when I’m there. Great start but a long way to go.”
Another player delighted with his Friday was Richard Sykes. The local member used course knowledge to his advantage with a round of 68 which included five birdies and an eagle three on the fifth.
“Happy enough, came in here after the All-Ireland’s last week, bitter disappointment but knowing this is my last tournament of the year, knowing the field was going to be very strong as well and the course was going to be set up very difficult, absolutely delighted with how I started off the hopefully 72 holes of the Close, it was a great day out there and couldn’t ask for really any more” said Sykes.
“To be fair I think they did a really great job in setting the course up, there wasn’t anything that was on the borderline of unfair, I think that kind of shows in the early morning scores anyway. Hopefully it stays the same but there’s a few spicy ones I think out there waiting for us over the next few days but definitely the local knowledge helps hugely. It’s been a good run for the club this year and I think we have made leaps and bounds out on the course and it’s really making a status throughout Ireland so it’s good to have the Close here and hopefully I can keep the form going.”
Scoring HERE
