Matthew McClean fires course record in opening round of Irish Amateur
Matthew McClean (USGA Photo)
Top-ranked mid-amateur and 2024 Irish Amateur Open champion
Matthew McClean opened his title defense strong at the 2025 Irish Amateur Open Championship at Seapoint Golf Links in Ireland.
McClean is currently ranked No. 1 in the AmateurGolf.com Mid-Amateur Rankings.
The 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion recorded seven birdies, an eagle, and a bogey en route to his 64. He finished his round with birdies on holes No. 16, 17, and 18 to set the course record.
“It’s nice to get a course record, it’s not the goal to go and shoot course records, but it’s always lovely to get one, especially with that nice putt on the last," McClean told Irish Golfer after his round. "Putted nicely today, didn’t do a huge amount wrong, held on a bit with some nice saves around the middle,” explained the former US Mid-Am winner and Walker Cup player."
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He added, “First day, the course is playing tricky in a few spots in places, but nice to get around and make a few birdies.”
McClean is coming into this one playing solid golf, coming off a T3 finish at the Lytham Trophy last week.
Charlie McDonnell is in solo second place at 7-under 65, while Stuart Grehan and Caelan Coleman are T3 at 6-under.
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ABOUT THE
Irish Amateur Open
First played in 1892 and held every year with
the
exception of the War Years up to 1959, and
revived in 1995, the Irish Amateur Open can
boast
a strong history of producing great Champions
including Joe Carr (three times), Jimmy
Bruen,
Tom Craddock, Padraig Harrington, Michael
Hoey,
Noel Fox, Louis Oosthuizen and Pedro
Figueiredo.
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