Fox survives to win Irish Amateur Open

Portmarnock's Noel Fox survived a dramatic back nine comeback to win the AIB Irish Amateur Open for the second time at Royal Dublin.

The 29 year old Dubliner was five clear of the field starting the final round and eight ahead after three holes thanks to a par-eagle-birdie start.

But he eventually signed for a two over par 74 to finish on six under par, two clear of Stuart Manley of Wales.

His problems began with a 30 minute weather delay followed by a double bogey the 10th hole that reduced his lead to five.

Manley eventually finished second on four under par after a final round 69 that included seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

The Welshman birdied the 14th and 15th to get within three shots of Fox with three to play.

The gap was down to just two when Fox missed the 17th green and failed to save par from 15 feet.

However, he held on with a par at the last after Manley's 40 foot birdie putt had shaved the hole.

AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin

Final scores

282 N Fox (Portmarnock) 68 70 70 74

284 S Manley (Wales) 71 70 74 69

286 J Moul (England) 72 71 71 72

287 A Kruger (South Africa) 72 70 73 72

288 J Donaldson (England) 72 73 68 75

289 J Evans (England) 77 70 71 71, M McGeady (City of Derry) 73 76 70 70

292 C Moriarty (Athlone) 74 70 74 74

293 G Evans (England) 73 76 71 73, S Moloney (Castletroy) 73 75 77 68

294 M Campbell (Stackstown) 78 69 76 71, A Ulivo (Finland) 77 75 71 71, M Sinclair (Knock) 77 71 71 75, E Vernon (England) 76 73 74 71, T Cruz (Portugal) 74 74 73 73

295 P Bradshaw (England) 78 71 74 72, B Bunny (Australia) 78 70 74 73, L Corfield (England) 77 68 73 77, E Ramsay (Scotland) 76 73 69 77

296 J Kehoe (Birr) 80 72 74 70, G Wardlow (Shandon Park) 74 73 75 74, D Morgan (Mullingar) 73 73 72 78, R Wellington (South Africa) 72 74 75 75

297 J Foster (Ballyclare) 75 73 72 77, D Morris (Limerick) 74 74 73 76

298 H Santos (Portugal) 78 72 79 69, R McCarthy (The Island) 74 73 74 77, M Mulryan (Athenry) 73 75 74 76

299 F Illouz (France) 76 75 76 72, M Korhonen (Finland) 76 74 77 72

301 M O'Sullivan (Galway) 80 71 74 76, R Kakko (Finland) 75 73 75 78, N Edwards (Wales) 72 78 75 76, J McLeary (Scotland) 72 74 81 74

302 D Crowe (Dunmurry) 79 71 77 75, R Leonard (Banbridge) 74 76 73 79

304 D Berry (England) 77 74 72 81

305 N Beggs (South Africa) 79 69 77 80, J Moore (Laytown & Bettystown) 78 74 78 75, E McCormack (Slieve Russell) 73 77 72 83

310 G Hall (Edenderry) 79 73 83 75

315 J Hutchinson (Royal Dublin) 79 73 80 83