Despite a large number of absentees from this year’s Connolly Motors West of Ireland Championship due to schedule clashes, all of the big hitters have progressed through strokeplay qualifying and into the last-64.
Just four of Golf Ireland’s High Performance panel have teed it up at County Sligo Golf Club this week but they are all through as a return to the traditional 36 holes of strokeplay with 64 qualifying to the matchplay ensured no marquee names suffered a premature exit.
Men’s Bridgestone Order of Merit winner David Shiel, 2021 winner and four-time major winner Hugh Foley, Matthew McClean and Jack McDonnell are all safely through to the knockout stages with minimal battle scars from Rosses Point so far.
“I probably learned from yesterday,” said Royal Dublin’s Foley who is looking to get back in the winner’s circle after a difficult year last year.
“I took advantage of the easier holes downwind and I did alright to be three shots better. It’s funny it’s a weird psychological thing if you thunk of the 64 you tend to gravitate towards it but it was nice to have a cushion. You’ll see who you get tonight but if you want to win you have to beat everybody.”
Also through are current South and North of Ireland champions Colm Campbell and James Fox while local favourite and former South of Ireland winner TJ Ford had no problems in making the top-64.
“Happy to put two scores together with no real drama, first job done and looking forward to the matchplay,” said three-time major winner Campbell.
Fox, who won the North of Ireland in darkness in Portrush last year, only plays in the big championships due to work commitments, is pleased to be in the hunt again.
“I don’t mind playing in bad weather but if you are playing these championships you have to accept there are going to be tough days. It could play into my hands but 18 hole matches are a sprint so the key is to start well.”
Co. Sligo golfer, Ford has previously labelled the West as his major and he is thrilled to be through to the knockout stages.
“Looking forward to the draw and we go again tomorrow,” said the 2021 South of Ireland winner. “It’s playing really long at the moment down the stretch. It is really tough and you need to grind it out, the wind will stay up for the week hopefully they move a few tees up.
Also through is multiple major winner Peter O’Keeffe and recent Spanish senior amateur champion, Joe Lyons while Keith Egan and Paul Coughlan complete the list of leading names to have come through unscathed.
Galway Bay’s Eddie McCormack, the reigning European Senior Men’s champion is also through to the matchplay and he may get the chance to don his lucky pink shirt again.
McCormack has won eight mid-amateur wins but he has had some close calls at the West, losing to Shane Lowry in the semi finals in 2007 and to Rory Leonard in the 2010 final.
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