Saltman tops in Irish Amateur Open

Scotland's Lloyd Saltman grabbed his fourth strokeplay win on the trot with a two-shot victory in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

The 21-year-old from Edinburgh took the tournament by the throat with an incredible six-under par course record 66 in the morning to open up a two-stroke lead over Banbridge's Richard Kilpatrick.

He then followed up with a final round 76 in gale force conditions to set the clubhouse target of three-over par 291.

Playing in the final group, 25-year-old Kilpatrick eagled the driveable 16th from 20 feet to draw level with the Scot on three-over par and set up a thrilling finish.

But he three-putted the 17th and then drove into the drain at the 18th to drop two shots and finish two behind after a 76.

Just a week after winning the Lytham Trophy, Saltman said: "I can't have a better start to the year. It's nice to win different events, especially after winning the St Andrews Links last year.

"The Irish Open has got a great field on a great track and it's such a well organised tournament. I'm delighted.

"The 66 was one of my best ever rounds. Two dropped shots doesn't make it the perfect round but still, I played sensibly and it set me up to win the tournament."

Scot Keir McNicoll claimed third place on eight over par after a closing 71 but tournament favourite Rory McIlroy had to settle for a share of fourth place with Portugal's Pedro Figueiredo after rounds

of 75 and 76.

AIB Irish Amateur Open Championship, The Royal Dublin Golf Club (Par 72)

291 L Saltman (Scotland) 72 77 66 76

293 R Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 74 71 72 76

296 K McNicoll (Scotland) 72 78 75 71

298 P Figueiredo (Portugal) 74 75 69 80, R McIlroy (Holywood) 73 74 75 76

299 N Kearney (Royal Dublin) 77 75 70 77, K Le Sager (France) 75 75 71 78, P Murray

(Limerick) 75 72 77 75, C Doran (Banbridge) 74 77 69 79, R McCarthy (The Island) 74 72 76 77

300 M Veijalainen (Finland) 76 74 73 77

301 S Lowry (UCD/Esker Hills) 79 72 73 77, M Thistleton (England) 79 71 73 78, Z Gould

(Wales) 76 73 73 79, G Campbell (Scotland) 74 76 76 75, R Ramsay (Scotland) 73 72 79 77

302 E Richardson (England) 76 73 77 76

303 J Caldwell (Clandeboye) 74 74 73 82, J Morris (Rosslare) 73 79 75 76, J Granberg (Finland) 72 75 77 79, R Enoch (Wales) 72 73 77 81

304 D Lernihan (Castle/UCD) 78 72 78 76, X Poncelet (France) 76 76 73 79, C Macaulay (Scotland) 76 75 75 78

305 D Morgan (Mullingar) 79 72 73 81, N Grant (Knock) 75 73 78 79, P O'Hara (Scotland) 74 75 76 80

306 S McEwan (Scotland) 79 73 77 77, N Edwards (Wales) 74 77 72 83 307 J McGinn (Laytown & Bettystown) 77 75 77 78, A Hogan (Newlands/UCD) 77 74 76 80, R Bechu (France) 74 75 79 79

309 R Thuillier (France) 75 75 78 81, B Fotheringham (Scotland) 75 75 71 88, L Lennox

(Moyola Park) 74 78 76 81

310 A Runcie (Wales) 78 72 78 82, D Leathem (Lisburn) 77 73 77 83, S Henry (Scotland) 76 73 83 78

311 P Cutler (Portstewart) 75 74 80 82

314 R Kellett (Scotland) 80 69 77 88, M Armitage (England) 78 72 82 82, M Novy (Czech Republic) 71 78 78 87

315 C Geraghty (England) 74 78 79 84, B Walton (The Island/UCD) 74 76 79 86

316 R Zwahlen (France) 73 77 80 86

318 R McKnight (Scotland) 75 76 82 85