West Waterford’s Gary Hurley will be one of the favourites to lift the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin this week after finishing tied for fourth in the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

The 21-year old Ireland international, who was only beaten by eventual champion Jack Hume in the semi-finals of the West of Ireland Championship last month, went into yesterday’s last two rounds five strokes adrift of Germany’s Hurly Long.

But as Long shot rounds of 71 and 77 to fade to sixth on six over par, Hurley shot a one under 72 in the morning and then added a one under 69 in the afternoon to finish tied for fourth with Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult on four over par 284.

South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who will also be in the elite 120-strong field at Royal Dublin from Thursday, came from three behind Long overnight to card rounds of 72 and 68 to win the 50th staging of the event by a stroke on one over par 281 from Darius Van Driel of the Netherlands, who closed with a best-of-the-week 66 to set the target at two over 282.

Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy was disappointed with his putting as he finished tied for seventh on eight over after following a third round 69 with a closing 73.

“I played very solid this afternoon but I just couldn’t get a break today," McElroy said. "Nothing fell for me.

“It could have been a different story if I had holed my chances inside eight feet but after holing a 20 footer on the 14th for birdie, I missed four four-footers in a row.

“I’m happy though that my game is coming together and I’m looking forward to the Irish Amateur Open now.”

Rosslare's Gary Collins, one of only three Irish players from an 11-man contingent to make the cut, closed with a pair of 75s to finish 34th on 19 over 299.