Tallent does the double in Northern Ireland

American Patrick Tallent completed the perfect double with a gritty final round of 75 in the Seniors Amateur Championship at Royal County Down.

Winner of the US Senior Amateur Championship in California last September, he came from one shot behind with two to play to finally end a run of close finishes and land his first Seniors Amateur Championship crown.
‘I was very nervous and had a really bad start.’ Tallent said: “It’s unbelievable to have won both the US and British titles. I’ve been so close in the past and I thought my chance to win here was done. It’s such a great thrill to take this championship.

“Now I’ll be defending the US Senior Amateur Championship at Hidden Creek in New Jersey and I’ll definitely be back to try for this title again at Formby.”

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The 61-year-old fished on five-over-par 218, just one shot ahead of fellow Virginian, Matthew Sughrue, who shot a 74 on Friday for 219.

Sughrue looked set to lift the trophy when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt to move one ahead at the 16th with a clenched fist celebration highlighting the significance of the moment.

But he nervously missed a short par putt at the 17th and followed it up with a bogey on the final hole, while Tallent made two closing pars to claim the title.

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Sughrue said: “I’m very disappointed. But Pat’s a good friend and he is a worthy champion. Hopefully, I’ll be back next year.”

Another American, Chip Lutz, the champion in 2011 and 2012, was third on 225 after a closing 72.