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Gavin Dear was three

shots behind Wallace

Booth with 9 to play

FROM THE IRISHGOLFDESK.COM
Scotland's Gavin Dear produced a sensational back nine performance to win in the Irish Amateur Open in perfect conditions at Royal Dublin on Sunday.
Three strokes behind compatriot and fellow World Cup winner Wallace Booth with nine to play, he stormed home in four under par 33 to close with a 71 and win by two shots on one-over par 289.
Dear, 24, said: "It's very satisfying. I competed very well over the first two days when it was blowing hard. I knew guys would come at me and I'd need a good score to win it today. To come back in 33 down the stretch on the back nine is really satisfying. I know Wallace is a quality player and I knew he was going to make birdies."
Dear and Booth were members of the three-man Scottish team that captured the World Amateur Team Championship for the first time last November.
Leading by a stroke at halfway, Dear carded a level par 72 in the morning round to go into the final round a shot clear of Booth and Knock's Nicky Grant on two over par. But Dear turned in three over par to find himself three shots behind his team mate with nine to play before birdies at the 10th, 11th, 16th and 17th gave him an impressive victory.
Booth was two under for his final round after 11 holes but bogeyed the 12th and 18th for a 72 that left him in second place on three over.
Grant survived stomach cramps to take third place on seven over par after a final round 76 with Ireland's top amateur, Shane Lowry, tied for fifth on 10 over after closing rounds of 71 and 72.
+Image of Gavin Dear with the Irish open amateur championship trophy is by courtesy of the Golf Union of Ireland/photographer Pat Cashman. Enlarge the image by clicking on it.