Seapoint’s Dylan Keating carded a three-under 69 on day one but went one better in round two to secure leading qualifier honours and the number one seed at the Pierse Motors South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch.
The former Boys Order of Merit winner made 12 birdies over the two rounds and finished a shot ahead of Conor Hickey of Dooks, Tralee’s Mark Gazi, last year’s leading qualifier Ryan Griffin of Ballybofey & Stranorlar, and Royal Dublin’s Sean Downes.
Keating will now face 64th seed Seán Desmond of Monkstown in the round of 64. Desmond was one of seven players to advance on +2 on countback, with a further seven eliminated on the same number. Also going home early are the two most recent winners of the Bridgestone Order of Merit in David Shiel of Enniscrone and Millicent’s Brian Doran.
2023 champion Colm Campbell is safely through on -1 having battled back from an opening 75 in tough conditions and he will face Karl Bornemann from Douglas,
“I’ve always had a decent run at it, and a win, and the game’s in good shape,” Campbell said. “If I can just hold a few more putts — that’s what it all comes down to.”
The tie of the round might well be that of the two most recent winners of the West of Ireland Championship with 2024 winner Keith Egan taking on the man who succeeded him as champion in Dylan Holmes of Greystones.
Another mouthwatering encounter is the match between Gazi and reigning Irish Close champion Thomas Abom of Edmondstown.
FULL SCORING & MATCHPLAY DRAW
