When David Howard tells the story of his lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis he emphasises the resilience that people with the condition have. His journey to the semi-finals of the South of Ireland Amateur Championship is the epitome of that.
He was one down with four to play against Tralee’s Mark Gazi in his morning last-16 tie before back to back birdies on 17 and 18 saw him progress to face American Josh Hill in the quarter final where he was two down after 8 holes but won four on the bounce to swing the tide in his favour as he closed out a 2&1 win to get into the last four and keep his Walker Cup dreams alive.
“Plenty of haribos, plenty of tangfastics, nice cup of tea around the turn. It was a good strategy,” laughed the Fota Island star who will face Welshman Tomi Bowen in the semi-final at 8:30am.
“I had a good battle with Mark in the morning and played really good golf in both games, had plenty of nice up and downs and hitting it pretty decent as well it’s all come together. It is nice to see some putts drop for a change been working hard on it lately. Josh is a serious player and I was happy to get it over the line.”
Howard has been behind in his last three matches and against Hill he had to produce more of his best. Despite battling fatigue after a marathon few weeks that included an Open Championship debut, the 27-year-old once again found another gear.
He has been working tirelessly on his short game over the course of the season and it came to fruition especially with a worldie of an up and down for birdie on the drivable par-4 13th where he carved his drive right into the hills of fescue but managed to hack out to three feet. He then saved par on the 14th from eight feet to slam the door in the face of his opponent which kept his 2UP lead.
“Had a few of those moments go against me over the last few days. The up and down on 13 was outrageous, had a few of them and hopefully keep them going in to tomorrow and see where we end up,” added Howard who is ready to go to the well again.
“I’ve probably played 25 rounds in 25 days, a round per day with 36 holes at Interpros and 36 holes here. I am looking forward to putting the clubs away, might try to slip out for a round when I’m away but things are good.”
Walker Cup dreams were alive for many going in to this week. What was five Irish in the last-16 on Saturday morning has now been whittled down to the minimum with Howard looking very good for a spot on Dean Robertson’s GB&I team in Lahinch this September. A win would seal the deal and with it would come a call up for the Ireland Home Internationals team as well.
“It is mad to think about. I don’t let myself think about it too much try to stay in my own bubble and keep taking it one shot at a time and game by game. As hard as it is seeing Dean Robertson around the place, hopefully I am showing him what I can do and I love this place as well.
“I would love to get picked for Home Internationals and Walker Cup we will see where I finish up tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Roscommon’s Thomas Higgins was beaten on the 18th by Germany’s Ben Gratzl after he had taken the huge scalp of two-time Walker Cup star Connor Graham of Scotland. Grange golfer Ciaran Murphy’s run also came to an end at the quarter final stage as he ran into a Welsh putting machine in Bowen who won 2&1.
Wales’ Sean David is the fourth semi finalist after he overcame England’s Freddie Turnell 1UP and he will face Gratzl.
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