Caolan Rafferty (right) with caddie Eoin Murphy (IGU photo)
LAHINCH, Ireland (July 28, 2018) – Caolan Rafferty captured his maiden South of Ireland Amateur title by beating Ireland teammate Rowan Lester on the second extra hole of a dramatic finale at Lahinch Golf Club.
Lester, appearing in his second final, had a 2-up lead after five but Rafferty drew level at the 12th. With the final all square through 18 holes, the players headed back down the first. Rafferty eventually emerged as champion by birdieing the second, the 20th hole of an extraordinary final.
"To win my first championship the way I did, it kind of showed a good bit of heart," said Rafferty. "I wanted to win and it's well overdue."
The 25-year-old from Dundalk, Ireland has established himself among his country's best in recent seasons, but a major title has eluded him. His progress to the South of Ireland finale marked his first appearance in a championship decider.
"I've got the monkey off my back, as my father said to me straight away, and he's dead right," Rafferty said after an emotional victory.
His path to the final had been relatively straightforward and he cruised through the penultimate round with a 5-and-4 win against leading qualifier Mark Power from Kilkenny.
Squaring off against Lester in the final, Rafferty found himself trailing as early as the second hole when Lester made birdie. A bogey for Rafferty at the par-3 fifth doubled Lester's advantage and it was only at the ninth that Rafferty finally won a hole.
One behind at the turn, Rafferty turned the tables by winning Nos. 12 and 13 but his lead did not last long. He bogeyed 15 to bring Lester back level and another bogey at 17 left him needing a win at the last to keep the match alive.
From 209 yards, Rafferty produced one of the most important shots of his career, and he two-putted for birdie to put the squeeze on Lester, who failed to convert a short putt for victory.
"Eighteen was massive," Rafferty reflected. "I hit two really good shots to make him have to hole a putt, which is all I could really ask of him."
It was a cruel blow for Lester but he had to quickly compose himself as the final headed back down the first. This time Rafferty missed a chance to seal victory.
"When I had the chance, 19 slipped by on the edge, I couldn't believe it," Rafferty confessed. "I said, 'Is this another week of it?'"
However strong those emotional currents, Rafferty kept calm amid the chaos and delivered the telling blow -- a birdie at the second extra hole.
"When his [Lester’s] putt slipped by I said, 'Just grab it now because I'm not letting this go on any longer.'"
Good as his word, Rafferty rolled home the winning putt to clinch the match and the trophy.
"It was an absolutely class match," said the new champion. "It's a long week to come to a final. To put on the display we put on, I hope the crowd was happy with it because it's not easy to do. I think we're both pretty tired."
With Dundalk clubmate Eoin Murphy on the bag, Rafferty showed his mettle during those championship moments at the 18th and 20th. His undisputed talent was matched by a fierce resilience.
"To be 2 down against Rowan, I was thinking right, 'Where am I going to get these holes back?' I just dug deep and played really good golf on the way in. I gave myself chances and that's all you can do around here," said Rafferty, who will now turn his attention to the AIG Irish Amateur Close (to be played Aug. 4-8).
ABOUT THE
South of Ireland Amateur
36 holes of stroke play qualifying determine a 64-
player match play bracket. Played since 1895
at the Alister MacKenzie
designed Lahinch Golf Club.
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