David Micheluzzi with some support today in Portmarnock in the British Amateur semi-final. Image: Getty
The run of David Micheluzzi in the British Amateur was stopped in the semifinals overnight.
The Australian lost his semi-final to the Irishman James Sugrue at Portmarnock links 3 and 1 when he lost the 17th hole, the Irishman said the partisan crowds were "like a Gaelic football match".
Sugrue, 22, is in front of the Euan Walker of Scotland in today's final with 36 holes of the 124th amateur championship. Walker beat Benjamin Jones of England in the other semi-final.
The winner secures exemptions in The Open at Royal Portrush next month, the 2020 US Open on Winged Foot and, traditionally, an invitation to play in the Masters tournament.
Sugrue, 231st in the world Amateur Golf Ranking ™, offers the first Irish winner since Alan Dunbar in 2012, while Walker tries to pursue the last Scottish winner, Bradley Neil, who won at Royal Portrush in 2014.
Micheluzzi, the best amateur player in the field, reached the quarter-finals of the British Amateur 2018.]
Originally from Cranbourne Golf Club, he is number 7 in the world and as high as number 5 after winning a Master of the Amateurs and Victorian Amateur titles and finishing in fifth place in the Emirates Australian Open in 2018 .
At the age of 22 he was postponed to become a professional, so he can play the big amateur events with their xxx this year.
Micheluzzi failed today to go up and down on both the 10th and 11th and give the Irishman a three-hole lead. Sugrue took 13th place after a moderate tee-shot, but he kept his guts to close a 3 & 1 victory after Micheluzzi had encountered problems twice
"It's incredible," Sugrue said. "It hasn't sunk yet. To think I'll win tomorrow, I play in big championships like The Open is incredible. I'm really happy. I know I have 36 holes tomorrow, but it's hard not to to think of things when you have a huge, huge prize at the end, but I'm going to try to keep my head cool and play it tomorrow for tomorrow.
"It was not easy for the crowds because you feel the expectation, but I did very well today. It was a good match against David, he is a class player and has a bright future ahead of him. After three players to be three to playing against Christoffer Palsson in the last 32, it's great to be in the final right now. I wouldn't say David gave me a few holes, but he had a few bogeys who helped me. "