Max Kennedy misses out on a place in The Open after playoff agony in European Amateur Championship

Bidding to became the fifth Irishman to win the title and a place in The Open at Royal Troon next month, the former University of Louisville star went into the final round tied for seventh with Galway’s Liam Nolan, two shots behind leader Preston Summerhays of the US.

The Dubliner then stormed through the field and carded a bogey-free, five-under 67 to claim a share of the clubhouse lead with eventual winner Tommy Morrison of the US on nine-under.

They looked set to be pipped by Germany’s Tim Wiedemeyer, who birdied the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th to get to 10-under.

But needing a par to take the lead, the Munich golfer put three balls in the water at the par-five 18th and made a quadruple bogey nine to sign for a 71 that relegated him to tied fifth on six-under.

Overnight leader Summerhays was the only threat remaining on the course and he duly birdied the 15th, 16th and 18th to join Kennedy and Morrison on nine-under after a 69.

In a three-hole aggregate playoff for the title over the ninth, 10th and 18th holes, all three parred the ninth before Summerhays bogeyed the 10th and Kennedy and Morrison made birdies.

At the par-five 18th, Kennedy had an 18-footer for birdie but missed and watched Morrison, who had three-putted the 18th for a bogey six when he had the title in his sights in regulation, made birdie to become the first American winner of the title.

Nolan closed with a level par 72 to finish 11th on four-under while Roganstown’s Sean Keeling was tied 36th on two-over after a 71 and Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley 68th on 11-over after an 80.

The previous Irish winners of the title were Warrenpoint’s Paddy Gribben (1998), Hermitage’s Stephen Browne (2001), North West’s Brian McElhinney (2003) and Holywood’s Rory McIlroy (2006).