Cutler emulates McIlroy’s double

PORTSTEWART’S Paul Cutler became the first player since Rory McIlroy to complete the double when he added the Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close title to his West of Ireland triumph with a classy victory at windswept Shannon.

A certainty to make his Walker Cup debut in September before turning professional, the 22-year old recovered from a third round 77, that included a self-imposed one-stroke penalty, when he finished birdie-par-birdie for a final round 71 and a two-stroke win over Limerick’s Pat Murray and Castlerock’s Aaron Kearney on two over par 290.

Tied for the lead with Kearney, Murray and Muskerry’s Niall Gorey on three over par with a round to play in the first stroke play staging of the Close in its 118-year history, Cutler was under pressure coming down the stretch.