Royal Dublin’s Max Kennedy tied for tenth in the South Bend GCAA Amateur in his first event in the US.

The University of Louisville freshman followed an opening 65 with a 70 to go into the final round just two shots behind the world No 115, Notre Dame’s Palmer Jackson on seven-under-par at South Bend Country Club in Indiana.

But while he will be disappointed to close with a four-over 75 to finish 10 shots behind winner Jackson on three-under. a top-10 finish in his first event bodes well for the future.

Scores

Jackson closed with a 67 to win by two strokes on 13-under from Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho with Kennedy’s Louisville team mate Hugh O’Hare tied 12th on two-under after a 73.

Kennedy won the Faldo Series Northern Ireland Championship in 2019 and this year’s Faldo Series Ireland Championship at Glasson.

He had to quarantine for two weeks on arrival in Kentucky on September 1 but has since practised hard with his teammates, who include Irishmen O’Hare, Devin Morley and John Murphy, and appears to be loving the environment.