How is Danish golf doing? Nordic golf in general and Danish in particular. This week it’s Jacob Skov Olesen‘s turn, who is already part of the history of the British Amateur by inscribing his name in the golden books of Ballyliffin and becoming the first Danish golfer to win the tournament.
The 25-year-old player withstood a tough contest against Dominic Clemons in a 36-hole showdown at Glashedy Links and clinched a 4-3 victory that put the icing on the cake of a memorable debut in the Championship.
“It’s an honour, and I’m very proud to be the first Danish winner. I didn’t know, but it’s something I’ll have forever and it’s great. Hopefully I can inspire someone else from Denmark to win next year or maybe other years in the future.”
What a level the Danish quarry is showing. In just two months they have achieved four victories in the Challenge Tour and this week Olesen joins the wave. What a future is predicted for Danish golf. So many victories do not happen by chance.
In addition to lifting one of the most prestigious trophies in amateur play, Olesen’s triumph also earned him an exemption for the 152nd Open at Royal Troon in July, the US Open 2025 and, by tradition, an invitation to next April’s Masters in Augusta.
In a gripping competition, which put the icing on the cake to six days of magnificent competition in the northwestern end of Ireland, Olesen seemed to be heading for victory when he holed a birdie on the 23rd hole and took a six-hole lead.
Clemons aspired to add the British Amateur to the Scottish Open Amateur Strokeplay title he won at Muirfield. The foundations of Olesen’s triumph were laid in those first 18 holes in the morning, when the Dane forged a crucial lead. The Englishman seemed to be losing steam as the match slipped away from him but an impressive sprint gave him a glimmer of hope in the home stretch.
A 35-foot birdie putt on the 27th reduced the deficit before reaching the green on the 28th, a 370-yard hole, where he crafted a great eagle opportunity. In a thrilling twist, Olesen holed his bunker shot for birdie and increased the pressure on his opponent. Clemons responded to that counterpunch and holed his eagle putt to win the hole and reduce the lead to four holes.
However, Olesen, a student at the University of Arkansas, went back up five on the 30th hole, and got lucky on the 31st, when his wayward approach ended up in a favourable position on the adjacent tee.
Five down with five to play, and with defeat in front of his eyes, Clemons kept the contest alive with a powerful birdie putt on the 32nd green. However, the 22-year-old player’s hopes of a major comeback took a heavy blow on the 33rd, when he had to accept an unplayable position after his drive buried itself in a tangle of rough. Clemons recovered well and reached the green, but couldn’t save par and Olesen allowed himself the luxury of two putts to win the title.
Olesen held firm and maintained his two-hole lead before completing his conquest in the afternoon and becoming the 129th Amateur Champion.
The British Amateur will be played next year at Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports from 16 to 21 June 2025.
