Campbell sees Home Internationals back

Colm Campbell is determined to reclaim his place on the Ireland team for the Home Internationals after moving up to third on the Bridgestone Men’s Tour Order of Merit after his dramatic playoff win at the Flogas Irish Amateur Open at The Island.

he Warrenpoint star (35), who won the Royal Dublin event in 2016, made two crucial par saves on the final two holes to level at par 72 and force a sudden death playoff with Malone’s Matthew McClean .

McClean was three shots ahead with four holes to play, but he double-bogeyed on the 15th and bogeyed for a 70 on the 17th when they finished with a 289+.

Campbell won on his return to 18th by a bogey and moved up to third in the season-long Bridgestone Men’s Tour points race, behind Bray West Irish champion Alan Fahy, fifth at The Island, and runner-up McClean.

Campbell is no longer a full-time amateur and has no plans to play anything other than a national schedule this year. But after missing out last year, he’s hoping to regain his place on the Home International team as the top three players in the Order of Merit have guaranteed spots on the side that will battle at Ballyliffin’s Old Course from August 3-5.

“It gives me a chance,” said Campbell, who helped Ireland win the Raymond Trophy four years in a row from 2014 to 2017. “You know what I can do when it’s put to the test, and I have that experience too.”