Hopes of a Sligo winner at the Connolly Motor Group West of Ireland Championship are alive, but only just, after Barry Anderson edged Keith Egan in dramatic circumstances to reach the semi finals in Rosses Point.
The clash between the 2017 champion and the defending champion drew a huge crowd in glorious sunshine this afternoon as Anderson came from one down with one to play to win on the 19th.
“It was a really tight match, Keith is such a tough player to play against, he makes very few mistakes and thankfully I came out the right side of it,” said Anderson who also reached the final here in 2023 but lost to James Claridge.
A clutch birdie on 18 after hitting a lob wedge to five feet from 100 yards forced extra time in a match where there was never more than one hole in it. Both players split the bunkers on the 19th but Egan suffered a double whammy to hand victory to the home favourite.
The Carton House golfer’s chances of becoming the first person since Rory McIlroy to defend the West in 2006 ended in gut wrenching fashion with a mistake and bad luck. A thin wedge rocketed over the wall at the back of the green before his second serve hit the bottom of the flag and spun off the green.
Anderson wasn’t too keen to cash in on his good fortune and tried to bail out 40-feet left of the pin but came up short of the green, leaving Egan with a chance to chip in for a bogey and force the issue.
Anderson chipped to four feet and Egan’s chip came up shy as a sensational match ended in anticlimactic fashion.
It will be a clash of experience vs youth on Tuesday morning as Anderson (34) tackles unknown teenager Dylan Holmes.
“I remember playing my first West in 2008 that’s a long time ago. I was just delighted to make the cut at that stage. Dylan is playing really well and I have to give him the utmost respect and I need to bring my A-game to beat him tomorrow,” added Anderson who represents Cork Golf Club.
There was playoff drama just minutes before but this time Holmes went through in a blaze of glory to beat former Irish U18 international Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) to book his spot in the last four.
The eighteen-year-old who is playing in his first men’s championship took the lead for the first time in the match on the nineteenth.
Earlier that morning, the Greystones golfer admitted to feeling the nerves as he struggled to hold off a late David Kitt fight back from dormie 4DN before eventually seeing off the Athenry man on the 18th, but he showed his mettle by coming back from a two hole deficit after six against Keane.
Stuart Grehan’s day was a tale of two matches. Initially relieved to edge close friend Robbie Cannon on the 19th in his last-16 tie, the former professional playing in his first championship since regaining his amateur status went through the gears to beat former North winner James Fox 6&5.
“I struck it really well this afternoon, made a couple of early birdies, played very solid and I’m just delighted to get through it and on to tomorrow,” said the former South and East champion.
“I’m getting more comfortable and seeing my lines better. Every time I play this course I learn something new. There was a good buzz out there and we had good crowds so it was a good day.”
In the anchor match of the afternoon, Colm Campbell completed the semi final lineup and will face his former Ireland teammate Grehan in what will surely be a cracker.
The Warrenpoint man who boasts titles at the Irish AM, East of Ireland and the South survived a late rally from Harry Gillivan of Portmarnock to advance 2&1.
“It would be lovely to win tomorrow. I have a decent record here one the last few years with the semis being the furthest I have gone so far and the West would be good. There’s a long way to go between tomorrow and the afternoon then so try not to get too far ahead. It would be the icing on the cake of a long week let’s say.”
The putter was cold for the 37-year-old but it heated up in the nick of time on 17 as he slammed the door shut on Gillivan.
“I had a couple of decent rolls early on and missed a great chance on 13 to go four up from five feet. I held a really good putt on 17 to get it done, Harry hit two great shots in there and look I was able to shut the door and get it done.”
The semi finals get underway at 7am on Tuesday morning.
BARRY ANDERSON (CORK) vs DYLAN HOLMES (Greystones)
STUART GREHAN (CO.LOUTH) vs COLM CAMPBELL (Warrenpoint)
Leave a comment