A profile of Paul Dunne, the Irish amateur leading the 144th Open
Monday 20 July 2015 06:36, UK
Paul Dunne leads the 144th Open going into the final round but who is the amateur threatening one of the biggest shocks in golf history?
Dunne hails from Greystones, a coastal town to the south of Ireland's capital Dublin, but on Monday he could become the first amateur winner of the Open since the legendary Bobby Jones back in 1930.
The 22-year-old will play with South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen - also his Sunday playing partner - in the final round, but here are some things you might not know about him...
Dunne started messing around with golf when he was 10 but only began playing "properly" from the age of 12.
Now 22, he booked his place at the Open through final qualifying at Woburn, finishing ahead of the likes of Retief Goosen and Colin Montgomerie, having done exactly the same 12 months earlier to secure his debut in the event at Royal Liverpool. However, he almost missed his tee time for qualifying this year after not allowing enough time for the shuttle bus to get him to the 10th tee.
Dunne won the 2010 Irish Youths Amateur Championship title, following in the footsteps of Open champions Padraig Harrington and Oosthuizen, who won his Claret Jug at St Andrews.
As well as aiming to become the first amateur to win the Open since Bobby Jones in 1930, he is also in line to become the first Irishman to win the silver medal, awarded to the leading amateur making the cut, since a certain Rory McIlroy at Carnoustie in 2007.
Dunne graduated from the University of Alabama in business finance in April. Fellow Irishman Alan Murray coached him at university and is caddying for him this week.
He plans to turn professional later in the year after the Walker Cup, which he is trying to qualify for having been included in a provisional 20-man squad.
Dunne wears the same Under Armour apparel as two-time major winner Jordan Spieth, whom he leads by one stroke - he has been mistaken for the calendar year Grand Slam-chasing American more than once this week.
