David Howard will sleep well tonight knowing he has a last-16 match to look forward to against Mark Gazi as he looks to replenish his energy levels heading into the weekend at the South of Ireland Amateur Championship in Lahinch.
Howard who is visibly shattered after an energy sapping fortnight that included the Open Championship last week, wouldn’t have been relishing the 08.30am tee time for his match against former West champion Keith Egan. But after edging past him on the 17th he went the distance against Lahinch member Stephen Loftus, coming from 2DN with three to play to progress and end local interest.
“It was more of a mental battle more than anything. He played solid to be fair, far from my best but happy to scrap it through and be here in the morning,” said Howard who hit driver, 9-iron from 197 yards to nine feet on the par-5 18th to set up an eagle chance which he only needed a birdie from to win.
“If you have two take two as my dad always tells me so that was nice because I can’t feel my body at the moment I am so tired! Nice to get it done it was a grind out there.”
Howard found himself three down after eleven holes against Loftus and with momentum very much against him heading down the closing stretch he summoned something special to claw his way back and eventually advance.
“I didn’t find energy. My dad was trying to get me going and I was giving out to him, I gave it all I had to try and get it around it was a battle against my own self all day. Nice to get it done. Minus zero energy levels, I am ready for bed. I need a good night’s sleep I didn’t sleep well last night.
“Stephen was fighting hard he made a few good up and downs when I thought I was back in it. It was a good game I was shagged all day. I was trying to get loads of haribos into me to try and give me something. I went through two packets of haribos. I was just trying to get in the mindset of one shot at a time, it was so hard today.”
The 27-year-old had plenty of Fota Island support pocketed in amongst the large Lahinch crowd but there is one particular Scotsman who is rooting for him too. Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup captain Dean Robertson.
“I saw him on the back of 17,” added Howard. “I have to probably win it to get the call up for that. Anything can run through your mind. Last year was similar to try and make the Home Internationals and get an automatic spot. Try to put it to the back of your mind and see where you end up, no point trying too hard or not hard enough. Just get on with it.”
Earlier in the day, joint leading qualifier Matthew McClean bowed out at the last-32 stage after an 18th hole defeat to England’s Samuel Easterbrook which leaves his own Walker Cup hopes dangling by a thread. With the team set to be picked after the US Amateur Championship next month, the 2023 Walker Cupper will be hoping for a last chance saloon.
“It was a tight match, these things you don’t know who you will run in to. I played well just a case of a shot here and there that I didn’t get that I will the next day. It is what it is but these competitions are like that,” said McClean who was bogey free after 36 holes of qualifying.
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