Ireland will face defending champions Sweden in Flight A of the European Amateur Team Championships after they secured second place in the strokeplay qualifying at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.
Fifty years on from the last European Team Championships to be held in Killarney, which also saw a heatwave, the Irish team might have been forgiven for expecting wind and the odd shower, but they withstood the heat to secure runner-up spot on 25-under, although a distant 18 shots behind England.
It could prove crucial that the hosts managed to edge Denmark to second spot as they can’t meet a rampant English side until the final, should both progress. Stuart Grehan led the charge with a round of 65 and an eight-under total but it was a closing birdie for Matthew McClean (72) which made all the difference.
“Played lovely, like yesterday. I hit the ball really well but held a few more putts,” said Grehan who finished in 7th place, four shots behind Tyler Weaver. “Ball striking is pretty good, only missed one green today. I don’t know how many chances I had from inside 15-feet, probably left one or two out there but overall very tidy.”
Grehan turned professional in 2017 but returned to the amateur ranks for the 2025 season and he is relishing being back in a green jersey.
“Going out first, having a leadership role it’s nice to put a number on the board to free up the lads to put in a good score.It’s nice, good atmosphere with the team, few older and younger guys, playing well too so it’s all good.”
Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty, making his seventh European appearance for Ireland carded a 72 on day one, the first time his card wasn’t counted in the championship. But he made amends with a bogey-free round of 67 to lie on five-under-par alongside Thomas Higgins who made nine closing pars in a 71.
“The lads were joking that my score was going to be the worst one yesterday and I was absolutely delighted with that as well,” Rafferty laughed. “Individuals is irrelevant, we are here as a team so it was nice to add to our score. Just helping the lads to free them up in the afternoon.
“I was poor yesterday, didn’t hit many great shots in general, eventually got over the 6th hole I’ve hit a few balls in the water this week. Today was much better, a lot more greens not that I held a lot but it was nice.”
The Irish team includes three players in their 30’s in Rafferty, Grehan and McClean while Gavin Tiernan, Thomas Higgins and teenager John Doyle add some youthful fearlessness to the side.
“John (Doyle) was calling us the “old pups” the young pups are certainly young this year. It’s brilliant. We are all bouncing off each other. Any questions they have it’s great to have both sides of it, the young lads are fearless and hit it miles and us old boys try and get it around the golf course,” said Rafferty.”
Amateur Championship finalist Gavin Tiernan scrapped his way to a 73 for a level-par total.
Meanwhile, in Chantilly, France, Beth Coulter spearheaded Ireland’s charge into Flight A of the matchplay in the European Ladies Team Championship where they will face Sweden.
Coulter finished second in the stroke play qualifying with a six-under total while Marina Joyce-Moreno had a hole in one on the par-3 3rd.
The Irish Boys team missed out by a shot in the Czech Republic while the Girls snuck into Flight A in 8th place at Slaley Hall.
