Roscommon golfer Thomas Higgins turned the agony of last year’s defeat into one of Irish amateur golf’s greatest moments as Ireland ended an 18-year wait to win the European Amateur Team Championship in Estonia.
The 23-year-old Clemson University player holed a 20-foot par putt on the 20th hole to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory over the host nation in Saturday’s final.
With the overall contest tied at 3-3, Higgins’ match against Kevin Christopher Jegers was the only one remaining on the course.
The pressure was heightened by the memory of Ireland’s defeat to Denmark in Killarney 12 months ago, when Higgins lost his decisive match on the same 20th hole.
This time, he held his nerve.
After his tee shot found the water, Higgins took a penalty drop and produced an outstanding recovery shot to within 20 feet. Playing first, he rolled in the par putt to place the pressure firmly on Jegers, who was unable to respond.
“It was one of the best feelings ever,” said Ireland captain Damien Coyne.
“The lads played really well. Thomas had a chance to win on 18 and a slightly longer putt on 19 as well.
“He hit his tee shot really, really well on 20, just too far left and into the water. He dropped one down, hit it to 20 feet and got to hit his putt for par before Kevin did.
“He holed it, and it put the pressure on him straight away. You saw what happened next. It was a massive feeling of joy and just a relief that it was over.”
The victory represents Ireland’s first success in the championship since 2008, when future Open champion Shane Lowry was part of the winning team. Rory McIlroy had also helped Ireland claim the European title one year earlier.
Ireland made a fast start to the final through Matt McClean of Malone and Caolan Rafferty of Dundalk, who took control of their foursomes match against Jegers and Markus Varjun before completing a convincing 4&3 victory.
Stuart Grehan of County Louth and John Doyle of Fota Island also established an early advantage against Mattias Varjun and Johan Ralf Kivi, but the Estonian pairing fought back to win and leave the final finely balanced ahead of the afternoon singles.
Grehan, who is preparing to compete at Royal Birkdale following his Amateur Championship triumph, provided Ireland with the perfect start after lunch.
He produced an emphatic performance to defeat Estonia’s leading player Richard Teder 5&4 in the opening singles match.
McClean followed with a 2&1 victory over Markus Varjun to move Ireland closer to the title.
Estonia remained in the contest when Carl Hellat defeated Gavin Tiernan, while Rafferty was edged out by Mattias Varjun on the 20th hole after taking his match into extra holes.
Those results left Ireland and Estonia level at three points each, with Higgins carrying the responsibility for the deciding match.
His victory completed a remarkable year of redemption and delivered another significant success during an exceptional period for Irish amateur golf.
Coyne believes Grehan, in particular, will travel to Royal Birkdale capable of challenging the world’s best players.
“It’s been phenomenal these last few weeks,” he said.
“Stuart has had an exceptional time. I said it to him coming up the ninth hole today: he was that good, if he brings that form into next week, he will compete.
“He is going to go to Birkdale tomorrow on a real high.
“And to David Howard as well, it’s great to have two Irish amateurs in the field. We will all be shouting for them, and hopefully they can continue this great run of form we have been in.”
Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly praised both the performance and character displayed by the Irish team.
“That was a fantastic performance from this Irish team and an historic win,” said Kennelly.
“To show the resilience they did, and for Thomas Higgins to come back and hole that putt under immense pressure, it says everything about the character of this group.
“Congratulations to Damien Coyne, the players and all involved on a truly special achievement for Irish golf.”
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Image Credit: Golf Ireland
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