David Kitt has moved inside the top 20 on the Bridgestone Men’s Order of Merit standings after his victory at the Murray Timber Group Connacht Men’s Open Stroke Play Championship on Saturday. The Athenry golfer secured his maiden Irish title with back-to-back rounds of 68 before a closing round 70 for a one under par total, sealing a one-shot victory over Lewis Gowdy (Bangor). Kitt’s win earned him 180 ranking points and saw him climb into the top 20, moving from a share of 62nd place to 17th.
Gowdy’s runner-up finish in Galway saw the Bangor golfer move inside the top 30, while a tied fourth finish was enough to see Cian Harkin (Letterkenny) break into the top ten, rising from 12th to 7th. The top of the leaderboard remains unchanged as Patrick Keeling (Roganstown) holds top spot on 671 points. Co. Louth pair Gerard Dunne and Stuart Grehan sit in second and third respectively, while Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) and David Howard (Fota Island) complete the top five. The men have some time to wait before their next championship takes place as the Ulster Men’s Amateur Open Stroke Play tees up at Hilton Templepatrick from 13 July.
On the women’s side, Ella Cantwell will tee up at the inaugural East of Ireland Women’s Amateur at Woodbrook this coming Friday, holding a 43-point lead at the top of the Bridgestone Women’s Order of Merit. The Esker Hills golfer secured the top spot following her victory at the West of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship and she will look to defend her lead this weekend. Four of the top five in the standings are also set to compete at the Wicklow venue, with 2025 Bridgestone Order of Merit winner Aideen Walsh (Lahinch) Cantwell’s closest challenger.
