Matthew McClean came out on top against Hugh Foley in the all-Irish US Mid-Amateur Championship in Wisconsin to take the prestigious title and likely book a dream ticket to next year's Masters at Augusta.
Both men accounted for 'local' lads in their respective semi-finals, and both on a 3&2 scoreline in the matchplay section of the competition.
The No 5-ranked Foley, who plays out of Royal Dublin GC, saw off Bryce Hanstad (ranked 32) to reach the decider. Belfast man McClean, ranked No 7, held off the 35th-raned player, Josh Persons.
No Irishman had ever reached a USGA final before the two good pals made history.
In the end, McClean held off a stubborn Foley for victory. The men - who roomed together during the event - will both be exempt for the 2023 US Amateur in Colorado, while McClean earns an exemption to next year's US Open and is very likely to receive a coveted invitation to Augusta National.
Éirinn go Brách! 🇮🇪☘️
— USGA (@USGA) September 17, 2022
Matthew McClean bests fellow Irishman Hugh Foley for the #USMidAm 🏆 at @ErinHillsGolf. pic.twitter.com/mzNISEkmgc
"Yeah, fantastic," said McClean after his win. "Sort of probably hasn't sunk in just yet. It's been a very long week, but I'm sure once we sort of sit down this evening, it'll sort of sink in a wee bit more, but yeah, it's unbelievable really."
"Hugh and I have played a lot of golf this year. He's beaten me twice. I hadn't beaten - this is the first time I've beaten him. It was hard not to think that it was going to be three in a row that I was going to get beat. We know each other pretty well; we're staying with each other for the past two weeks that we've been here.
"It's been fun. It's probably in a way who I wanted to play in the final, but at the same time it's not the person you want to lose in the final, as well.
"Hugh has played unbelievable golf this year. For the past three months he's probably been the best player in Ireland comfortably. So it's a final; this is still obviously a very, very good week."
