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The Amateur
Clemons trails Olesen at half-way mark in Amateur Final
22 Jun 24
3 mins
Jacob Skov Olesen is in command after the morning exchanges in the 36-hole final of The 129th Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin.
The 25-year-old, who is aiming to become the first Danish golfer to win the title, edged his way into a two-hole lead in his tussle with Dominic Clemons of England. Clemons struck an early blow in a keenly-fought encounter with a birdie on the third but a ruinous run of four bogeys over the next five holes saw that lead swiftly evaporate as Olesen moved three-up. Clemons, looking to add The Amateur Championship to the Scottish Open Amateur Strokeplay title he won earlier in the month, managed to reduce the leeway with a birdie on the par-5 13th.Shot of the day from Olesen in the Final
A superb chip from just off the 14th green to within gimme distance gave him a chance of clawing another hole back but Olesen bravely holed a testing 12-footer for a half. The Dane’s vigorous fist-pump underlined the significance of the moment.
Clemons was then left to rue a three-putt bogey on the 15th as Olesen increased his lead to three again but the Englishman quickly countered with a putt of some 30-feet on the 16th for a hole-winning birdie.
Olesen stood firm on the run-in, though, and maintained his two-hole advantage ahead of the afternoon’s second round.
As well as the pride and prestige that comes with Amateur Championship victory, the winner also secures exemptions into The 152nd Open at Royal Troon in July, next year’s US Open, and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament in 2025.
At the halfway stage, it’s Danish trailblazer Olesen who has one hand on the trophy.