Robbie Walsh had a dramatic win in Lee Valley over the weekend as the Douglas member won his second BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup.
Walsh was declared the winner after a total of 58 holes – the standard three rounds of 54 holes plus four play-off holes.
He came into the final day trailing the leader Ben Murray by nine shots, but a four under par 68 low round of the tournament gave him a chance to reclaim the title he won two years ago.
In a final round where three players held the lead at different points, Murray dropped shots on the 16th and 17th to finish level with Walsh.
For the first time in the history of the event it went to a play-off, with the 1st, 16, 17th and 18th designated as the four holes for the decider. Murray led by one after the first, but gave the shot back on the 16th.
The Lee Valley member got into trouble on the right of 17 before going long with his approach, and Walsh’s regulation par meant he had a comfortable lead going up the 18th. Both finished with pars, giving Walsh a win that many felt unlikely at the start of the day.
“I thought I had obviously a small chance, I thought there was always a chance if I could post the score and just needed to hole a few putts” said Walsh after the win.
“I played nicely yesterday but just nothing really went in for me, so I managed to hold a few more today although I thought I was going to come up maybe one short.
“I thought I thought I might be one short but then maybe five minutes after I finished I heard that Ben bogied 16th so I knew there was a chance.
Robbie Walsh (Douglas) won the BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup after a play-off on Sunday. Picture: Niall O’Shea
The birdie on 18 ended up being huge and got me into the play-off.”
Having fought his way back into contention, and error on the first play-off hole handed his opponent the advantage. But the setback didn’t sway Walsh and he stuck to the process.
“I just had a bad wedge into the 1st and the chip was unlucky but just tried to keep doing what I was doing. I said if I could shoot level par for the play-off, they’re not easy holes like, so I knew I’d give myself a chance.”
The UCC student now joins a small group of players who have multiple wins in Lee Valley, and he’s put himself in a good position to add more and it’s clear the course suits his game.
Walsh was part of the Douglas AIG Senior Cup winning panel and has been working on his game all year, through the Golf Ireland championships and other events.
Anyone interested in the event may have been surprised to hear that the first two rounds went ahead on Saturday morning in the immediate aftermath of Storm Amy.
The course had been closed since Thursday and although there was heavy rainfall on Friday, the near gale force winds on Friday night and into Saturday helped to dry the course.
Tournament Director Vincent Drinan made the decision to play preferred lies on Saturday morning, meaning the event would still qualify for WAGR ranking points.
Several golfers struggled with the winds on Saturday morning, leading to some high scores. 2016 winner Colm Campbell had the measure of the conditions and led the way after shooting a one under par 71.
Ben Murray went lower in Saturday’s second round with a 69, thanks in part to five birdies on the back nine. Jordan Boles was only one behind after two rounds of 72 and Rian Carvill was next best on +4.
While Walsh set an early target of +4 for the 54 holes, both Murray and Boles held the lead at different points.
Boles was one ahead until a lost ball on the 15th took him out of contention. Murray had a disappointing three over front nine, but was leading until two late bogies brought him back to +4 meaning additional holes.
While first and second place were determined by the play-off, Colm Campbell took third place and Rian Carvill took fourth spot. Keelan McCarthy won best Lee Valley and 2015 winner Dave O’Donovan took the net prize.
Although Walsh beat the home player, most of the Lee Valley members stayed for the presentation, and while they were backing their own man, they were happy for the 2023 winner when he went on to win.
