Teenager Keeling goes back to Texas with confidence from Irish Open experience
The Open Round During The Keeling Brady Picture: ©inpho/ben Final Sean Irish At
Seán Keeling will head back to Texas Tech University on Monday morning having learned some valuable lessons from a memorable week at the Amgen Irish Open.
The 17-year-old amateur held his own with the cream of the DP World Tour at Royal County Down as he made the halfway cut on Friday evening and there was also satisfaction with the way the Roganstown golfer rebounded on Sunday after a third-round implosion.
Keeling posted a closing 74, three over for the day, as he kept his composure following a chastening 80 on Saturday. His one-under, bogey-free opening round was undoubtedly the highlight of his week, finishing with a birdie at the last on the back of 17 consecutive pars yet the teenager was able to appreciate the learning experience as much as the positives he gained over 72 holes.
“Yeah, good week,” Keeling said. “I learnt a lot and played a lot of good golf, but just over the weekend, I made a lot of mistakes.
“Didn't play my best, but making the cut was a good achievement, and then I take a lot with me from the weekend, positives and learnings. So, yeah, all together, enjoyed the week. Really good experience.
“I think especially from the first two days, you can take a lot of confidence, because even though I was level par, I was almost a bit annoyed with that for the way I played.
“I thought I should have been a good few better. So I can take a lot of confidence from that and I did see the standard, I'm well able to handle it and play at this level. It's just getting the experience and learning how to manage your ball around the course a little bit better.”
Keeling also shared the biggest lesson he learned at Royal County Down.
“I'd say just the importance of one shot on tour. Every shot matters a lot, so you've got to take your bogeys when you have to, and then around here, just hit the middle of the greens, and make as many pars as you can.
“On the easy holes then, today especially, I didn't play very well. When you do get the chances, you have to take them, because there are not many. There are a lot of things that I can take with me and work at.”
