Cannon hails play-off ‘shot of my dreams’

Robbie Cannon’s superior fitness proved to be the difference as he came through two gruelling rounds and four play-off holes to win a thrilling Irish Amateur Open in sensational style at Royal Dublin.

“If I had been beaten in a play-off I would have had no comeback,” said Cannon, who is a much sought-after strength and conditioning coach. “All the training I have done over the last five years and this winter has really paid off.”

The 34-year-old closed with two 75s to finish tied with defending champion Gavin Moynihan of The Island and Scotland’s Graeme Robertson, setting up a three-hole aggregate play-off over the famed Dollymount links.

It should have been a four-man play-off, but Rathsallagh’s Jack Hume provided the tragic note of the day. The Walker Cup hopeful stood on the 18th tee needing a four to win and a five to join the play-off, but the 19-year-old, who led by a shot from Cannon and England’s Matt Kippen, bunkered his tee shot and took six for a 77, finishing tied for fourth with Dermot McElroy, Richard O’Donovan, Geoff Lenehan, Finn Teemu Bakker and Scotland’s Ewan Scott.

The play-off over the 16th, 17th and 18th was a gripping affair. But it wasn’t enough to identify a winner.

Robertson three putted the 16th for bogey before Moynihan double bogeyed the 17th, driving into the drain. Cannon also bogeyed the 17th to go to the last tied with Robertson.

The Balbriggan man, winner of the South of Ireland for his only success in 2009, drove into the left rough, but hit a 205-yard five-iron to 40 feet to set up a closing par.

“That was the shot of my life, the shot of my dreams,” he said.

Both Cannon and Robertson two-putted for pars to finish on one over as 18-year-old schoolboy Moynihan failed to make birdie and was eliminated.

It meant a trip back to the 18th for sudden death and Cannon would not be denied. After finding the heart of the green again, he looked on as Robertson pushed his approach and failed to get up and down.