MacIntyre through in dramatic fashion

GLENCRUITTEN’S Robert MacIntyre secured his place in today’s 121st Amateur Championship final in dramatic style with victory on the 20th hole against Irishman Paul McBride in their semi-final at Royal Porthcawl.

After finding himself one down heading into the turn, back-to-back birdies from MacIntyre on 11 and 12 – followed by a bogey from McBride on 13 – looked to have swung the match the way of the 2015 Scottish Amateur Champion.

But, two holes down with two to play, McBride dug deep to sink a brilliant birdie on 17 to keep the match alive and he took the last hole with a par four – as MacIntyre bogeyed – to force extra holes.

Both held par on 19, but McBride’s brave run came to an end on the second extra hole when he failed to save par after missing the green on the right.

MacIntyre made a regulation four to book his place in today’s 36-hole final against England’s Scott Gregory – who won the other semi-final 3&2 against Poland’s Adrian Meronk.

“It feels brilliant to finally get there,” said left-hander MacIntyre. “It was a hard match there at the end but I got through it. I’ve got a never-say-die attitude and, going to extra holes, it’s just another golf hole that you just can’t lose – and I managed to hit good shots.”

Ahead of the final, he said: “It would mean the world to win, not just to me but people at home, family – it would just be unbelievable.”

Earlier in the day, McIntyre sunk a 40ft-putt for an eagle three on the 17th to seal a 2&1 victory over Spain’s Ivan Cantero in the last eight.

Meanwhile, 2013 British Boys champion Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) had his run ended at the quarter-final stage at the hands of McBride by a two-hole margin.

In a tight contest, McBride’s birdie on the 17th hole was a turning point before Walker Cup player Ferguson failed to hole his par putt at the last.