A 21-year-old American named Jordan came from behind in a contest that had kindled memories of Bobby Jones’ achievements to win, after the closest ever battles for it, one of golf’s most famous prizes at the Open Championship yesterday.

That it was not one named Spieth, who had been seeking to claim the modern version of the Grand Slam achieved by the last amateur to win the event but was, instead, Jordan Niebrugge represented an extraordinary coincidence given the parallel with the main competition.

Setting off three behind Paul Dunne, he surely benefited from the pressure heaped upon his rival as the Irishman - another product of the American college system - woke up, if he slept at all, to headlines pointing out that he was the first amateur since the great Jones, 88 years earlier, to lead the Open after 54 holes.

Dunne’s attempted approach at the opening hole which came up short of the Swilcan Burn and betrayed his frazzled state installed made Niebrugge, three groups ahead and starting solidly, favourite to win the silver medal, but there was much to do.

Compatriot Oliver Schniederjans had already posted a five-under-par 67 to finish on nine-under, while Englishman Ashley Chesters had set out with six birdies by the 10th, to get to 11-under before a double bogey at the 15th wrecked his bid.

A hat-trick of birdies from the fourth meanwhile gave Niebrugge control and another at the long 14th meant he could afford to drop shots at the 15th and 17th holes and still coast in.

“I would rank it for sure the top accomplishment I've had so far,” he said afterwards.

“There’s nothing like coming down that last hole. It's just an awesome amphitheatre with people all around you. I was a little nervous, but it's just amazing just to walk down there.”

There were generous words, too, for fellow amateur Dunne who had ultimately also finished behind both Schniederjans and Chesters.

“He's up there with the best of them,” said the silver medallist, who agreed with his fellow Jordan’s contention of the previous day that an amateur could win a major in the next few years.

Whether that is so, or this was something of a blip given that this prize was not awarded last year, nor two years previously because no-one from the unpaid ranks made the cut, remains to be seen.

This time, though, Romain Langasque, the Frenchman who won the Amateur Championship earlier this season found himself, after four creditable rounds, a distant fifth in this contest within a contest, having beaten 88 of the 147 professionals who began this event.

Chesters got closer and at one stage in his final round had a chance to lead.

“I looked at the scoreboard on the 10th and I actually had an eagle putt and saw that was to tie me for the lead. It's crazy to think I could have had a putt to lead The Open on the final day,” he said.

That yet another young Englishman offered evidence of potentially having the capacity to step to this level was, given the excitement generated the previous weekend when they beat an England team which included Chesters on their way to winning their European Team Championship, chastening for the domestic game with no Scottish amateurs involved here.

So, too, for the amateur game as a whole, was the message delivered by Graeme McDowell when the former US Open champion was asked whether he felt fellow Irishman Dunne - who is considering whether, like Schniederjans, to turn professional immediately - should carry the momentum generated by this performance into the professional ranks rather than contest the venerated Walker Cup.

“If he has a good finish why does he have to wait for the Walker Cup?” he asked, rhetorically.

“Listen, Walker Cup is one of the fondest memories of my career but it means nothing when you press the professional button.

“He needs starts and this could give him an opportunity to get his European Tour card. Those extra six or seven weeks could be very beneficial.”