Thomas Higgins survives three-hole playoff to win Irish Amateur Close

Thomas Higgins stood behind a tree down the right side of the par-5 18th at Portumna Golf Club, 75 holes into the Irish Amateur Close Championship and still without a winner. The recent Clemson graduate found an escape route, steadied himself, and made par, enough to outlast Dylan Holmes and claim the title on the third playoff hole Saturday.

The 23-year-old from Roscommon edged the incoming Seton Hall freshman after one of the wildest finales in recent memory at the Close, where regulation ended with both players at seven-under 281 and three others tied one back.