Lahinch is famous for its goats but as the matchplay of the South of Ireland Amateur Championship gets underway this weekend there is an elephant in the room.
Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup skipper Dean Robertson was a keen observer over the 36-holes of stroke play qualifying and he will be pleased to see a strong Irish contingent in the knockout phase including Mark Cadden, Fota Island pair David Howard and John Doyle, Thomas Higgins, Dylan Keating and last year’s member Gavin Tiernan. 2023 Walker Cup player Matthew McClean was alongside his former teammate Connor Graham at the top of the standings on eleven-under. All looking to join Stuart Grehan and add to the Irish involvement here in September.
Grehan has put to bed his missed cut at the Open Championship with rounds of 70 and 66 to make the top-64 in a share of fourth place on eight-under alongside Darcy Hogg, David Kitt and Walker Cup contender Lewy Hayward of England.
Just outside the top-10 is Lahinch employee TJ Ford, Ryan Griffin and Tomi Bowen of Wales while Roscommon’s Thomas Higgins, the hero of Ireland’s European Championship gold medal winning side, played his last six holes in five-under to rocket to 14th place on six-under after a 66. He is alsongide America’s Josh Hill, Jake Foley and English Walker Cup hopefuls Harley Smith and Daniel Hayes.
As for the other Walker Cup contenders Doyle is safely through on five-under while Howard and Lahinch member and defending South champion Jonathan Keane are on three-under with North champion Keating a shot further back.
Cadden was drafted in to Robertson’s pre-South camp but it looked to have been in vein before the Roganstown star eagled the last from 35-feet to sneak into the matchplay on the number at one-under.
“It was unbelievable I was thinking do I stay tonight or go home nearly at one stage. 17, 18 down wind so I knew I had two chances there. A lot of lads were saying there were eagles on 18. Thought I had hit my wedge too far. I knew I was due a putt I had held nothing all day which is a horrible feeling. To eventually get something to drop is brilliant.”
The Oldcastle man knows he must win the South to earn a spot on the GB&I team in September but the dream remains alive for now.
“Yeah I feel like I have to win it,” Cadden said after he finished birdie, eagle for a 70. If I play well and get through a few matches and get some confidence going you never know where it can take you. It was great to see those lads playing earlier in the week show what you can improve and there is another level so it was great.
“All you have to do is get to matchplay, I love matchplay and see how it goes tomorrow. Everyone is on the same page.”
The teenager admits he loves matchplay and why wouldn’t he after the won the West in April. These championships often are a case of beware of the 64th qualifier and he will be somebody nobody will want to face.
There was also late drama surrounding former West of Ireland winner Dylan Holmes who birdied the last two to secure his spot in the last-64 as did Paul O’Hanlon with a closing birdie.
Leave a comment