IRISH teenager Dylan Holmes has followed in Rory McIlroy’s footsteps by winning a prestigious amateur tournament.
Holmes, 18, became the youngest winner of the West Ireland Amateur Open Championship since McIlroy when he overcame the odds – and the weather – to win the trophy this week.
InphoDylan Holmes won the West of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open[/caption]
InphoThe 18-year-old was making his debut in any Men’s Championship[/caption]
PicSell8Holmes is the youngest winner of the tournament since Rory McIlroy in 2005 and 2006[/caption]
The youngster started the week as a 150/1 outsider to lift the trophy on his tournament debut, but wrote his name in the record books with a 2&1 victory over Colm Campbell at County Sligo.
Holmes is the youngest winner of the tournament since McIlroy‘s back-to-back wins in 2005 and 2006 as a 16-year-old.
Holmes joins a list of big names to win the West of Ireland including Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington
It wasn’t just Holmes’ West of Ireland debut, but also his maiden outing at any Men’s Championship.
Fighting against his opponents and the biblical weather conditions, the student came out on top despite admitting it was “one of the hardest stretches of golf I’ve ever played”.
Holmes revealed that his victory even came as a surprise to him, explaining that he didn’t expect to be in and amongst it.
He said: “It’s incredible, I didn’t really have any expectations coming into this week.
“I played a great first 13 holes, some of the best golf I have ever played, and then I don’t know what happened to the weather but it was worse than the first round which was hard.
InphoHolmes had to battle the conditions on the course[/caption]
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“You weren’t making any pars out there the last few holes. You are not able to get to any of the greens, it was ridiculous.
“I guess I’m in with a few good names now so it’s nice. McIlroy is incomparable.”
Despite what was at stake for the teen, Holmes still thought watching idol McIlroy battle for the Green Jacket at the Masters last week was more nerve racking than his own battle on the Harry Colt Championship Links.
He told Irish Golfer: “Watching him in the Masters was terrifying, I guess. He’s my favorite golfer. So, yeah, I guess that’s kind of cool [to follow in his footsteps].
“Watching Rory [was more stressful] – at least you have some sort of control over the situation when you’re doing it yourself.”
EPAHolmes was more nervous watching McIlroy win at the Masters than he was winning himself[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
