US Mid-Amateur Final: Belfast man McClean beats Dubliner Foley to earn US Open and Masters spots

Malone's Matthew McClean represented Ireland at the recent Eisenhower Trophy when Royal Dublin's Foley missed out on selection

Belfast man Matthew McClean beat Dubliner Hugh Foley in the US Mid-Amateur Final to secure his place at next year's Masters and US Open.

McClean held off a late comeback from Foley to win 3&1 in the 36-hole decider at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.

The 29-year-old led 2up after the first 18 holes and stretched his lead to five with six holes left.

Foley won three straight holes to move to within two but McClean halved the 34th and 35th holes to seal the title.

McClean becomes the first Irishman to win the US Mid-Amateur Championship, which is the leading annual tournament in the US for post-collegiate amateurs.

"It's been a very long week, but I'm sure once we sort of sit down this evening, it'll sort of sink in a wee bit more, but yeah, it's unbelievable really," said McClean, an optometrist by trade.

"Me and Hugh have played a lot of golf this year. He's beaten me twice. This is the first time I've beaten him. It was hard not to think that it was going to be three in a row that I was going to get beat.

"We know each other pretty well. As I said, we're staying with each other for the past two weeks that we've been here.

"It's been fun. It's probably in a way who I wanted to play in the final, but at the same time it's not the person you want to lose in the final, as well."

Having reached the final, Foley earns a spot in the 2023 US Amateur

Malone's McClean is yet to win one of the major Irish amateur titles and was beaten by Foley in the semi-finals of this year's Irish Close Championship with the Dubliner going on to lose the final to Quentin Carew in extra holes after being four up after nine.

However, it was McClean who came out on top in Wisconsin, winning three of the first four holes to seize the early advantage.

While Royal Dublin's Foley - who won both the South of Ireland and North of Ireland titles this year in a feat which saw him becoming the first player since Darren Clarke in 1990 to win the two events in the same calendar year - tied the match at the 10th, McClean won three straight holes from the 12th to reclaim control.

Leading by two at the midpoint, McClean birdied the 30th to move five clear before three straight birdies from Foley stirred hopes of a dramatic fightback.

McClean's putt for the title lipped out on the 34th but a win on the penultimate hole saw the Belfast man close out the victory.

McClean will be guaranteed a spot at next year's US Open at The Los Angeles Country Club while the Masters organisers have also extended an invitation to all US Mid-Amateur champions since 2016.