Paul O’Hanlon uses professional experience to eke out victory in thrilling finish at Baltray

Experience proved crucial in the end as Paul O’Hanlon dug deep to hold off a back nine charge from local hero Gerard Dunne and claim the CityNorth Hotel East of Ireland Amateur Open by a stroke at a sun-kissed Baltray.

In what was a thrilling finish to an event marked by the absence the top dozen players in the country due to a clash with the St Andrews Links Trophy, it was ironic that the title went to the 31-year old from Carton House in his first start since regaining his amateur status 18 months ago.

No run of the mill amateur before he disappeared into mini tour oblivion from 2009 to 2012 — O’Hanlon lost to Rory McIlroy in the final of the ‘West’ in 2006 but bounced back to win the 2007 Mullingar Scratch Trophy and the Irish Close in 2008 — he extended his four shot overnight lead to five with a morning 69, then had enough with a 73 after lunch to win by one stroke on from a charging Dunne on 11 under par 277.