Curley realises Eastern promise to take major step at Baltray

CIAN CURLEY took his first major step on the road to success in the paid ranks when he returned a ‘professional’ level par 72 in the final round to win the East of Ireland Amateur Open by two strokes at windy Baltray.

The 24-year-old Dubliner became the first Newlands man to capture a major amateur title since tour star Peter Lawrie won the Close in 1996 and he hopes it will stand to him when he tries to join pal Shane Lowry on the European Tour later this year.

“It’s a great feeling to get my first big one,” said Curley, who edged out Co Sligo’s Gary McDermott (70) with a four-round aggregate of seven under par 281.