Hugh Foley targets Close crown to match Darren Clarke’s amateur treble
Hugh Foley will be bidding to match Darren Clarke when he begins his quest for a third ‘Major’ win in a row in the AIG Irish Amateur Close at Headfort. Omitted from the three-man Irish team for the Eisenhower Trophy later this month, the Royal Dublin man (25) just wants more silverware. “It’s nice to make teams, but it’s even nicer to etch your name on trophies and in history,” said Foley, who has won four Irish amateur majors in three years. Last month, he became the first player since Clarke in 1990 to win the North of Ireland and South of Ireland Championships in a single season and with Clarke also winning the Close that year, Foley has a chance to match him. “Darren won the Spanish Amateur that year as well,” Foley said. “I was knocked out by the winner in that as well, so it could have been a really good week for me. But I can’t complain. I have had a nice year and I will keep going forward, hopefully. Golf will humble you pretty fast if you think you are anyone on the first tee. So it’s back to zero and try and have a good event.” Defending champion Peter O’Keeffe is looking to become the first man to retain the title since Rory McIlroy in 2006. Qualifying starts today with top 64 after 36 holes making Monday’s matchplay draw.
