Richard Knightly produced a fine comeback to march on to the last-32 as four Irish advanced in the Men’s and Women’s Spanish Amateur Championships.
Knightly will be joined by Roganstown starlet Sean Keeling while Aideen Walsh of Lahinch and Spanish based Marina Joyce Moreno also progressed from their last-64 ties.
Knightly of Royal Dublin found himself two down after seven holes but won three of the next five to turn the tie on its head and move 1UP. Knightly birdied the 15th to move two up with three to play and eventually won by a hole in his match against Lars Van Der Vight.
Keeling is looking for his fourth win on Spanish soil in 2023 after he pipped Galway’s Liam Nolan by a hole in the only all Irish clash.
Keeling went 1UP through six holes and turned 2UP and never lost the lead, keeping Ireland’s leading qualifier at arms length.
Marc Boucher of Carton House was first out for Ireland but he went down by four holes while Rob Brazill was beaten 2DN.
In the Ladies tournament Walsh put the ‘two up with five to play never wins’ mantra to the test as she came from two down after 13 to win on 19.
The Ulster Strokeplay winner needed to win 17 and 18 to force extra holes with Isla McDonald-O’Brien and she did just that before winning the 19th.
Joyce Moreno came from two down through ten holes to win her match 1UP on the 18th.
Ireland’s leading qualifier Kate Lanigan of the Hermitage was beaten 4&3 while Olivia Costello (Roscommon) went down 7&6.
Irish Girls champion Katie Poots of Knock suffered a 2&1 defeat to Alba Gonzales-Fernandes.
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