Filippo Celli wins Silver Medal at The 150th Open

Filippo Celli secured the Silver Medal at The 150th Open Championship after the Italian amateur closed with a sensational 71 to get to five under par for the tournament.

He carded an eagle, four birdies and five bogeys on Sunday to finish as the leading amateur by six shots and emulate countryman Matteo Manassero, who won the Silver Medal in 2009 before going on to claim his four DP World Tour titles.

Celli's eagle came at the par-five 14th, as he found the green in two and holed from nine feet.

He came agonisingly close to making another eagle on the last after reaching the green with his drive but his 40-foot putt just missed the hole and he had to settle for a closing birdie.

Celli, who shot rounds of 74, 67 and 71 on the first three days, said: "I'm feeling very happy and proud. Today my golf game was really good, like the last three days. 

"And today I made a lot of stupid bogeys, I can say that. But that's okay, because I'm very happy because my dream was to play here, and I won also the Silver Medal. 

"I can't ask for a better thing than to win the Silver Medal at the 150th Open in St Andrews."

Securing the Silver Medal capped off a dream week for Celli, who got to meet Ryder Cup star Rory McIlroy during a practice round.

He said: "I was so lucky because I was playing the practice round with my coach and caddie, Alberto. 

"We were on the 13th green, and the 13th green and the fifth green are the same green. Rory McIlroy was playing a practice round. He's putting on the fifth green. 

"And I was so happy when Rory, like he turned to face me and Alberto, and he asked me and Alberto, 'hey, guys, you mind if I join you for the back nine?'.

"I looked at Alberto, I say, 'he's serious or not?'. I say, 'Rory, of course you can'.

"I was so lucky and happy because it's a dream come true because I grew up watching the videos of Rory and the wins of Rory, all the stuff that he won. So it's amazing, unbelievable."