Golf is open to all
Boys' Amateur
Fahey stokes home hopes in Boys’ Amateur
13 Aug 25
6 mins
Adam Fahey boosted Irish hopes of a home win in the Boys’ Amateur Championship at County Louth on the opening day of match play when the former junior club member eased to a 6&5 victory over Scotland’s Finlay Galloway.
Fahey, now a member of Portmarnock, was one down after two holes despite starting the first round match with a par at the opening hole and a birdie at the second. However, recent Scottish Boy’s Amateur Championship winner Galloway eagled the second to draw first blood. That’s when Fahey shifted into a higher gear.Fast start
“I birdied the next hole and then was three-under-par after six and two up, which gave me momentum,” Fahey said. “I was bogey free today and that’s always good in match play. I was four under out there, and Finlay had a few bogeys which helped. “I had to play well because he’s a great player. I played with him in Europeans (European Boys’ Team Championship) and I know what he’s capable of, especially in match play because I knew he just won the Scottish Boys’. “I just said to myself keep it simple and play solid golf and I did that very well today. It was just fairways and greens. If I can stick to my game plan of keeping it in play and making no bogeys then I should have a chance of going far.” Fahey now faces Mikulas Vojtesek in round two. The Czech Republic player is 459th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking®, 2,656 places above Fahey.
Adam Fahey eased to a 6&5 victory over Scotland’s Finlay Galloway.
Doyle hopes
John Doyle gave Ireland another runner in the race when he needed 20 holes to see of Japan’s Kinjaro Kato. No Irish player has won the Boys’ title since 1986. Kris Kim’s dream of winning a second championship is on course after he eased to a 5&3 victory over Sweden’s Melker Bohlin to book his place in the second round. Kim, winner of the 2023 Boys’ Amateur at Ganton Golf Club, was never behind in the 15 holes it took him to better Bohlin. The Wentworth Golf Club member stamped his authority on the match early when he won the first two holes. He did lose the third to a birdie but never looked like losing any holes after that. “I was good today, I didn’t make a single bogey, unlike my two qualifying rounds, so that was pleasing,” Kim said. “I was really solid.”Kim bid
Playing just 15 holes was just what Kim was looking for if he’s to match his 2023 victory. He added, “Getting ahead in the first few holes is important in match play. Winning early is always good, especially since this can be a long week. It helps with my stamina because it’s easy to get tired in later rounds. The more holes you play, the more stress you feel. So not having to play 18 holes is a bonus.” Kim faces Italy’s Bruno Frontero in round two. Just one American has won the Boys’ Amateur since its inception in 1921. Stuart Scheftel holds that honour. He triumphed in 1928. Kuan Zhou has an chance to end 97 winless years for the red, white and blue this week. Like Fahey and Kim, he had a relatively easy passage through to the second round. The American ran out a 5&3 victor over France’s Oscar Couilleau, recent winner of the Monroe Invitational in the USA. Zhou won despite not feeling too confident early on.
Kuan Zhou won 5&3 in the first round of match play.