Pugh claims Irish Open Amateur

DUBLIN, Ireland (May 8, 2011) -- Rhys Pugh of Wales defeated Gordon Stevenson in a three-hole playoff to claim the Irish Amateur Open Trophy at The Royal Dublin. Pugh had led by three shots from Stevenson going into the last round, but on a difficult day for play the Scot clawed his way back into contention on the back nine while the Welshman faltered. Dutchman Daan Huizing looked a likely winner for most of the day but faltered on the final two holes, dropping four shots on the final two holes. Paul Dunne (Greystones) also made an excellent rally in the final round, carding a brilliant 72, and but for his 10-foot par putt on the 18th grazing the hole and failing to drop, he too would have been in that playoff. But Pugh made fewer mistakes in the playoff, and when Stevenson went out of bounds at the difficult 17th - the second hole of the three - he was firmly in the driving seat, and could afford a bogey five at the 18th to seal his victory.