CURRAN AND DAWSON TOP OF THE CLASS AT KIRKISTOWN
National College of Ireland student Patrick Curran after winning the Irish Intervarsity title at Kirkistown Castle Golf Club (Photo: Inpho/Laszlo Geczo)
GOLF IRELAND
Patrick Curran went wire-to-wire while Anna Dawson came to the fore as the pair won their respective men’s and women’s 2025 Irish Intervarsity title at Kirkistown Castle Golf Club.
Curran, the National College of Ireland student, produced a commanding performance to win by 10 strokes from Morgan O’Sullivan in second. Curran sealed the deal with rounds of 66, 65, 70 for a winning nine-under total 201 at the County Down venue. O’Sullivan signed off with a 72 to go with his previous rounds of 70, 69.
Dawson, AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close Champion, finished at a leading female to claim here first Irish Intervarsity Women’s title as the Maynooth University student recovered from an opening round 77 with back-to-back rounds of 72 to finish tied for 22nd overall on 11-over 221.
There was further success for Maynooth, as the Kildare college once again retained the team championship. The trio of Conor Stapleton, Lorenzo Fior and Ben Cahill combined for a two-over total, finishing five shots clear of DCU’s Robert Burns, Conor McCarthy and Sebastian Broderick.
After a relatively benign Wednesday, the weather turned bitter and blustery on Thursday morning as Curran teed off holding an eight-shot lead over Maynooth’s Cian Harkin and O’Sullivan.
Despite the tougher conditions, the Edmondstown golfer showed no signs of letting the advantage slip. Birdies at four, five and nine helped him to a front-nine score 33, extending his lead to 11 strokes before the turn for home.
Curran had played the back nine in a combined eight under par over the first two days, and while the 20-year-old did not quite replicate that form, his closing 37 was enough to post a level-par round and seal an impressive nine-under total to secure the commanding victory.
DAWSON WINS AT KIRKISTOWN
Anna Dawson won the women’s Irish Intervarsity title at Kirkistown Castle Golf Club (Photo: Inpho, Laszlo Geczo/Golf Ireland)
“It feels great. I played really well all week,” said Curran. “I was happy with every aspect of my game in quite testing conditions as well today, so to hang in there was nice. I was hitting it nicely. The putts weren’t dropping as much though on the back nine, but I was happy. All in all, it was good.”
Curran’s Intervarsity victory continues a strong run of form, marking his second collegiate win of the season following his R&A Student Series success at Sweden’s Halmstad Golf Club in September. The latter half of this season has been fruitful and he credits his recent success to a long period of hard work and dedication.
“The last two years, ever since I finished my leaving certificate, I’ve been working like a dog really,” said Curran. “I just kept patient and trusted in my plan, trusted in God, and it came true in the end and hopefully I’m going to keep working harder for more good things to come.”
FINAL RESULTS HERE