Coyne captains Ireland to victory in European Amateur Golf Championship

Higgins the hero after sinking winning putt in Estonia

CAPTAINED by Tuam's Damien Coyne, Ireland's golfers made history by bridging an 18-year gap to win the European Amateur Team Golf Championships last weekend.

They did it in dramatic fashion too as Thomas Higgins (Roscommon) held his nerve to drain an incredible 20-foot putt on the 20th hole to clinch victory over hosts Estonia in the final. It came on the back of dramatic victories over England and reigning champions Italy.

Higgins and his teammates Stuart Grehan (County Louth), Matt McClean (Malone), John Doyle (Fota Island), Gavin Tiernan (Co Louth) and Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) followed in illustrious footsteps. Shane Lowry was a member of the last Ireland team to win the championship in Turin in 2008. Rory McIlroy starred when they were also successful a year earlier.

Grehan, who takes on The Open at Royal Birkdale this week, and McClean recorded victories in their singles matches on Saturday, following on from a morning foursomes win for McClean and Rafferty. That left the match level at 3-3 and the outcome resting on Higgins against Kevin Christopher Jegers.

Despite putting his tee shot in the water, Higgins went on to sink a lengthy putt on the 20th hole to break the hearts of the hosts and secure a famous success for Ireland. It capped an amazing reversal of fortunes for Higgins after the Clemson scholar suffered a gut-wrenching loss against Denmark on the 20th hole of last year's semi-final.

“It was one of the best feelings ever,” Coyne remarked after his side's success. “The lads played really well. Thomas had a chance to win on 18, and a slightly longer putt on 19 as well. He hit his tee shot really really well on 20, just too far left and in the water.

“Dropped one down, hit it to 20 feet and got to hit his putt for par before Kevin did and holed it, it put the pressure on him straight away. You saw what happened next. It was a massive feeling of joy, just a relief that it was over.

“It’s been phenomenal these last few weeks. Stuart has had an exceptional time. I said it to him coming up the ninth hole today, he was that good, if he brings that form into next week he will compete. He is going to go to Birkdale tomorrow on a real high.

“And to David Howard as well, it’s great to have two Irish amateurs in the field, and we will be all shouting for them. Hopefully they can continue on this great run of form we have been in.”