Amateur Champ wins place in next year's open

SENICA, Slovakia — The 2015 European Amateur has been won by Italian teenager Stefano Mazzoli, giving him an automatic place in next years British Open being held at Royal Troon.

Ireland’s Gary Hurley was leading the way throughout the week, until Mazzoli went five under 31 on Saturday’s front nine in a brilliant comeback.  By the 13th hole, Mazzoli had made three bogeys to drop a shot behind Hurley, but the 19-year-old would birdie holes 15 and 16 on the way in to sneak ahead and claim victory, pushing Hurley into second place.

Irishman and this year's Irish Open Amateur winner Gavin Moynihan grabbed third place with a final-round 69, while Englishmen Scott Gregory and Jonathan Thomson tied for fourth place at 16-under. Gregory held a four-way share of the opening-round lead after shooting eight-under 64 but fell back with consecutive rounds of 70 in the middle rounds.