The reigning East and West of Ireland Championship winners are on a potential collision course to face-off for the Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland title after David Howard of Fota Island and Greystones’ Dylan Holmes both came through the rounds of 64 and 32 on a damp day at Lahinch.
Howard, who lies second in the Bridgestone Order of Merit and looks certain for automatic selection for the Home Internationals side, took down Ross McCormack in a closely-fought encounter before clinically dismantling Jordan Boles 6&5 to book his place in the round of 16 where reigning Irish Close champions, Thomas Abom, awaits.
The Edmondstown youngster beat Tralee’s Mark Gazi on the 20th hole in the first knockout round and should he beat Howard, he could face younger brother Liam in the quarter final, though Roganstown’s Mark Cadden stands in his way having dispatched Quentin Carew in the round of 32.
Holmes, who came through a “battle of the West winners” when taking down Keith Egan in the round of 32, faces Ballybofey & Stranorlar’s Ryan Griffin in his last 16 match. Something of a course specialist, Griffin was the leading qualifier in 2024 and won his first knockout match before being forced to withdraw through injury and was a beaten quarter-finalist in 2023.
Another notable round of 16 tie is that of Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty and Sean Desmond of Monkstown. Rafferty, who won the South of Ireland Championship in 2018, came from 3DOWN, winning four of the last five holes to defeat Berehaven’s Joe O’Neill, while Desmond entered as the 64th seed and dispatched leading qualifier Dylan Keating before a narrow 1UP victory over Eoin Magill.
Veteran Joe Lyons showed that age is just a number and advanced with minimal fuss thanks to a 5&3 win over Dooks’ Conor Hickey and a 6&5 victory over Ben Cahill from Dundalk. The energy saved in those comprehensive victories could prove crucial as he squares off against local man Jonathan Keane in the round of 16.
2023 winner Colm Campbell of Warrenpoint and Carton House’s Paul O’Hanlon’s round of 32 tussle was always going to be a closely-fought affair and it was no surprise when they went down the 19th where former professional O’Hanlon birdied to advance.
He plays Westport’s Conor Stapleton in the bottom half of the draw, while the ties of Connemara’s Luke O’Neill verus Jake Whelan of Grange, and Athenry’s David Kitt taking on Galgorm Castle’s Jordan Hood complete the top half of the draw.
FULL SCORING
