Phelan best for the hosts

Kevin Phelan will look to carry momentum from his top-five finish at Carton House into the European Amateur Championships into this week’s Home Internationals.

Phelan was the highest-placed Irishman in the prestigious strokeplay event over the par-72 Montgomerie Course but his final-round 71 was eclipsed by Rhys Pugh of Wales, whose closing 66 gave him victory at 11 under par, one shot ahead of compatriot James Frazer.

The win gives Pugh, the 2011 Irish Amateur champion, entry into the 2013 British Open Championship at Muirfield and next year’s Irish Open, also at Carton House, having started the day eight shots behind 54-hole leader Pontus Widegren of Sweden.