David Brady’s fairytale run continues at the Connolly Motor Group West of Ireland Championship at County Sligo Golf Club and the Rosses Point native has ensured that the strong crowds will have one of their own to cheer on in the final match up when he squares off against Carton House’s Keith Egan.
Egan’s semi-final was a little more straightforward than Brady’s, and he will start the final as a strong favourite after running out a 3&2 winner over Clandeboye’s Ross Latimer in the second match to take to the course.
Egan birdied five of the 15 holes completed, and though Latimer had several of his own, Egan’s short game and clutch putting were sublime and as the players turned for home on the 13th, Egan stepped it up a notch, stiffing an approach on the par-3, before chipping to tap in range on 14 – both for wins – and then kept the pressure on with another excellent iron shot to the 15th.
When Latimer missed his birdie putt, Egan was left with eight feet for the win and though there was a healthy cup and a half of break, it found the dead centre and he was through to his first Irish championship final since 2019 when he lost to Sean Desmond by the narrowest of margins.
A sublime up-and-down from @KeithEgan17 sees the @CartonHouseGolf man through to the final of the @ConnollysMG West of Ireland @CountySligoGC with a 3&2 win over @ClandeboyeGC’s Ross Latimer pic.twitter.com/wm2KwlCi9O
— Irish Golfer (@IrishGolferMag) April 2, 2024
In the match ahead, Brady had pulled three clear through 13, but four wins in succession saw Coughlan reach the 18th tee with a 1UP advantage. Brady had birdied the hole in both his round of 16 tie against cousin Aodhagan who has now taken up caddie duties for David, and in his quarter-final match against Matthew McClean, before going on to win on the first playoff hole.
This time round, he’d left himself 85 yards and when Coughlan, playing first, knocked his to 15 feet, the equation was simple. Birdie or go home. With the large gallery gathered round, he clipped his wedge shot perfectly, pitching almost hole high and a foot to the left and took a single bounce before spinning back and right, missing the hole by inches and settling well inside ‘gimme’ range. And when Coughlan’s putt missed right, we were back up the 19th again.
Unbelievable drama on 18 as David Brady almost holes out from 85 yards to win the hole and take his semi-final match with Paul Coughlan of @Castleknockgolf down the 19th in the @ConnollysMG West of Ireland @CountySligoGC pic.twitter.com/ICjMMpXVgS
— Irish Golfer (@IrishGolferMag) April 2, 2024
Both men had their chances to win, Brady missing putts on the first, second and fifth playoff holes, Coughlan missing on the third and fourth, but the match would eventually be settled on the 24th hole. Both players left themselves similar distance putts on similar lines, but Coughlan was up first and pushed it right leaving the stage set for Brady to seal it at the fourth time of asking.
And seal it he did, rolling the putt right in the centre, much to the delight of the partisan home crowd.
But Egan won’t be short of support from the gallery in the afternoon as Egan’s mother hails from Strandhill and several extended family members have turned out, but there is little doubt that the majority will be on Brady’s side as he hopes to become the first ever pre-tournament qualifier to lift the West of Ireland Championship Trophy.
Birdie on the 26th hole sends the local crowd wild as Rosses Point native David Brady finally downs @Castleknockgolf’s Paul Coughlan to set up a @ConnollysMG West of Ireland final showdown with @KeithEgan17 of @CartonHouseGolf at @CountySligoGC pic.twitter.com/ryXy3bzyRw
— Irish Golfer (@IrishGolferMag) April 2, 2024
Leave a comment