Whitehead’s John Ross Galbraith made up for the disappointment of letting the St Andrews Links Trophy slip away when he beat Rosslare’s Gary Collins with a birdie four on the 20th in high winds at Royal Portrush to capture the North of Ireland Amateur Open title.

Since he emerged as championship winner last year at Seapoint with his victory over Limerick’s Pat Murray in the Irish Amateur Close final, the 21-year old from the small County Antrim club has established himself as one of Ireland’s top amateurs.

And even though 2015 began slowly for him, he’s graudually found his feet, culminating in Friday’s epic win over emerging Rosslare star Collins in a wind-blown decider.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Galbraith, who beat Lurgan’s David Sutton 2 and 1 in his semi-final as Collins edged out Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty at the 20th. 

“It was a grim day and the afternoon was absolutely horrendous. I just could not putt in the wind at all. 

“The wind was very strong — as strong as they havce ever played in — gusting to 40 mph and steady at around 28mph.

“A few guys said this almost makes up for the St Andrews Links Trophy a wee bit. Two disappointments would have been hard to take so it was great to bounce back and get a win quite quickly after.”

While he may not have felt he needed to win to retain his place in the Irish team, Galbraith is now certain to play in next month’s Home Internationals at Royal Portrush, though his first task is on the Challenge Tour in the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle from August 6-9.

He plans to go to the European Tour’s Qualifying School as an amateur and take the next step forward with his career.

“I will go to Q-School at the end of September and see how I get on,” he said after a memorable victory that marks him out as a special talent. 

North of Ireland Amateur Open, Royal Portrush (sponsored by Cathedral Eye Clinic)

Final

John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) bt Gary Collins (Rosslare) 20th

Semi-finals

Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) 20th

John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) bt David Sutton (Lurgan) 2/1

How the 2015 North of Ireland Amateur Open was won (courtesy GUI)

Hole 1 - 416 Yards Par 4
Both drives onto the 1st fairway Collins 150 yards from the Green, Galbraith 100 yards
Collins 2nd shot onto the front of the green 60ft from the pin Galbraith's 2nd shot to the left of the green below the bunker
Galbraith's chip shot to 30ft right of pin
Collins putts to 5ft from pin
Galbraith leave putt 5ft short
Collins lips out, next is conceded for a 5
Galbraith holes also for a bogey 5
Match - All Square

Hole 2 - 528 Yards Par 5
Collins drives on the fairway to the left of the right bunker, 240 yards from the green
Galbraith's ball finishes in the semi-rough 207 yards from the green
Collins second through the green into heavy rough
Galbraith lands on the green but finishes on the fringe just off the back of the green
Collins chips to 25 feet onto the lower tier of the green 
Galbraith putts from off the green to 15 feet
Collins putts to 10 feet
Galbraith putts and misses - leaving the ball 4 feet past the pin
Collins holes for a Par 5
Galbraith misses putt for par
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 3 - 174 yards Par 3
Collins tee shot through the back of the green into rough
Galbraith's tee shot also through the back of the green
Collins chip 2 1/2 feet from pin on the left
Galbraith's chip to 10 feet from pin, both with up hill putts
Galbraith misses putt - bogey 4 conceded
Collins misses putt and also has bogey putt conceded
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 4 - 479 Yards Par 4
Collins in second set of bunkers on fairway 131 yards from the green - only option appears to chip out
Galbraith short of the bunkers 137 yards from the green
Galbraith on back of green 35ft from pin
Collins 30 feet short of the Green with his second shot
Collins chips past the hole by 12 feet
Galbraith putts
Galbraith and Collins both hole for Par

Hole 5 - 411 Yards Par 4
Collins and Galbraith drive onto the fairway
Collins chips onto the back of the green 60 feet from the pin
Galbraith onto the green 25 feet from the pin
Collins 15 feet from pin
Galbraith's ball has moved on the green and now lies off the green
Collins ball also moves on the green
Suspension of play considered but both players agree to play on as hole 5 is the most exposed on the course
Following an initial putt from Collins the hole conceded to Galbraith
Match All Square

Hole 6 - 189 Yards Par 3
Collins to the right of the green
Galbraith to the left of the green 25 feet from pin
Collins putts down to 4 1/2 feet to warm applause
Galbraith chips, ball finishes just off the green
Galbraith putts and misses and next is then conceded for a bogey 4
Collins holes putt for a 3
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 7 -  Yards Par 4
Collins drives onto fairway 211 yards to the green
Galbraith on fairway 195 yards from the green
Collins short of the green in the rough
Galbraith to the back left of the green
Collins from the rough 100 yards from the green
Galbraith putts up to 4 1/2 feet
Collins chips onto the Green
Collins holes putt from 6 feet for a bogey 5
Galbraith holes putt for a par 4
Match - All square

Hole 8 - 433 Yards - Par 4
Galbraith 165 yards to green on fairway
Collins 116 yards to the green on fairway
Galbraith on green 30 yards from the hole
Collins 15 feet from the pin
Galbraith putts to 4 1/2 feet
Collins putt is 4in short and is conceded for a par 4
Galbraith misses putt  
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 9 - 475 Yards Par 5
Straight into a very strong wind
Collins 267 yards from the Green 
Galbraith 230 yards from the Green
Collins 130 yards to the green
Galbraith 100 yards to the green 
Collins through the back of the green in deep rough - down hill to the pin
Galbraith on the green 30ft short of the green
Collins takes 2 to get out of the rough and is now 20 feet from pin in 5
Galbraith putts to 4 1/2 feet from the pin in 4
Collins holes putt for a 6
Galbraith misses putt for par but makes return from 2 feet for a bogey 6
Match - Collins 1up 

Hole 10 - 478 Yards Par 5
Collins in semi-rough 261 yards to the green
Galbraith in centre of fairway 256 yards to the green
Collins 87 yards to the green in 2
Galbraith sliced second shot to the right and has played a provisional ball
Galbraith's original ball is lost after 5minutes elapsed and he is going to play his provisional ball which is 70 yards from the green
Collins ball landed on the green 2feet from the pin but has spun back off the green in 3
Galbraith lands on the front edge of the green and finishes adjacent to Collins ball in 5
Collins chips to 2 feet in 4 shots
Galbraith chips but does not hole so concedes hole to Collins
Match - Collins 2up

Hole 11 - 191 Yards Par 3
Collins in the bunker from the tee
Galbraith on the front of the green
Collins plays out of the bunker but misses the green
Collins putts from off the green to 4 feet in 3
Galbraith putts to 18inches and his next putt in conceded
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 12 - 412 Yards Par 4
Galbraith in the light rough 56 yards from the green
Collins in the light rough 94 yards from the green
Collins plays his second shot but the ball carries through to the back of the green
Galbraith also goes through the green
Galbraith chips but the ball carried past the pin to 12 feet
Collins chips to 4ft
Galbraith misses putt but next is conceded
Collins holes putt for a par
Match - Collins 2up

Hole 13 - 418 Yards Par 4
Collins 132 yards from the green in light rough
Galbraith 154 from green also in light rough
Galbraith plays to the bunkers well short of the green
Collins short of the green in 2
Galbraith bunker shot 20ft short of the green
Collins 25ft from green
Collins just short of the green
Galbraith putts to 2 1/2 ft 
Collins misses his putt but the next is conceded for a 6
Galbraith holes for a 5
Match - Collins 1up

Hole 14 - 210 Yards Par 3
Collins goes through the green into the rough
Galbraith on a ledge to the right at Calamity 30 yards to the right
Galbraith plays a fine chip to 6 feet
Collins chips to 20 feet
Collins misses putt but the next is conceded for a 4
Galbraith also misses putt hole halved in 4
Match - Collins 1up

The weather is closing in with the expected rain combined with a strong wind making it very difficult for both players

Hole 15 - 391 Yards Par 4
Galbraith & Collins both drive onto the fairway
Collins into the greenside bunker
Galbraith onto the front of the green 50ft from pin
Galbraith 4 feet past the pin
Collins 12 feet from the hole
Galbraith holes putt for 4 for a win
Match - All Square

Hole 16 - 442 Yards Par 4
Galbraith on the fairway 216 yards to the green
Collins on the fairway 208 yards to the green
Galbraith 20 yards short of green
Collins also 20 yards short of the green but in the bunker
Galbraith chips to 3ft
Collins plays bunker shot to 4ft
Collins misses the putt and does not lose his turn
Collins putts and misses - he conceded Galbraith’s next putt
Match - Galbraith 1up

Hole 17 - 581 Yards Par 5
Wind against and both players drive onto the adjacent second fairway of the Valley Links short of the big bunker (Nellie)
Galbraith into the bushes left of the fairway 179 yards to the green
Collins on the fairway also 180 yards from the green
Galbraith takes a penalty drop and will play 4
Both players in the greenside bunker Collins in 3 Galbraith in 4
Collins out of the bunker and 35 feet from the pin
Galbraith plays out of the bunker to 1ft from the pin and his next shot is conceded for a 6
Collins putts and is 3ft past the pin
Collins holes
Match - Galbraith 1up

Hole 18 - 484 yards Par 4
Both drives finish on the edge of the fairway 240 yards to the green
Collins finishes 15 feet from the pin to the right
Galbraith to the right and 20yards short of the green
Galbraith chips to 20 feet right of the pin
Galbraith misses his putt and the next is conceded for a 5
Collins putts up to within 1 ft and his next putt is conceded for a 4
Match - All Square

Hole 19 - 416 yards Par 4
Collins in the light rough 204 yards from the green
Galbraith in semi-rough 129 yards from the green
Collins on the fairway but still 20 yards short of the green
Galbraith in left greenside bunker 20 feet below the green
Collins chips up tto 2 1/2 feet
Galbraith plays bunker shot to 15 feet
Galbraith putts but misses his next is conceded for a 5
Collins lips out and his next is also conceded for a 5
Match A/S after 19 Holes

Hole 20 - 528 yards Par 5
Collins drives down the middle of the fairway, 258 yards to the centre of the green
Galbraith also his his drive down the middle of the fairway
Collins second shot finishes in the swale just short of the green
Galbraith finishes on the green 20 feet from the pin
Collins chips onto the green and finishes 15 feet from the pin
Galbraith leave his putt on the lip of the hole - his next shot was conceded for a birdie 4
Collins misses his birdie putt and John-Ross Galbraith is the 2015 Champio