Cathal Butler’s boost ahead of Amateur Open

Cathal Butler will go into this week’s Flogas Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin with confidence following his play-off victory at the Munster Stroke Play Championship.

The Kinsale golfer came from seven shots behind the 54-hole lead held by Gary O’Flaherty at Cork Golf Club on Sunday to force a play-off and take the title at the second hole of sudden death.

Butler, 19, shot a last-round 69 to O’Flaherty’s 76 but had not realised he was in contention until GUI Munster Branch official Liam Harkin informed him ahead of the 7 2nd hole.