WEST OF IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP:ON A thrilling Easter Sunday at Rosses Point, Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney provided the biggest fireworks to advance to the last-16 of the Radisson-Blue West of Ireland championship.
Two up with three to play in his second-round match against Knock’s Nicky Grant, Kearney floated a three-wood to the formidable, par-three 16th, which landed two feet from the hole and rolled in for an ace.
It was a sweet way to end a day that had gone completely to plan for the Ireland international, having opened his account yesterday with a 6 and 4 victory over Adrian Wynne, the Connacht interprovincial captain.
“I’m delighted – I certainly didn’t expect that,” Kearney said after holing out his tee-shot at the 16th against Grant, ending a tough match that had seen the Knock man take a one-hole lead at the third and only relinquishing it at the seventh.
Kearney asserted his authority on the back nine, however, taking the lead at the 13th, winning the 15th with a par and then finishing the match off in style at the 16th.
It was ironic, indeed, for Grant to be on the receiving end of the blow, as he had also seen his first-round opponent, Hermitage’s Rick Weldon, record an ace on the fourth before beating him 8 and 6.
“I was very happy to get through given Nicky’s form this morning,” Kearney said.
“It was very close for a long time there – it was only in the last few holes that it turned my way. But I’m happy, looking forward to the next round.
“I played very solid golf all day, just playing within myself. The wind really picked up this afternoon so it was all about keeping it steady. But I feel pretty confident for the rest of the week. It’s just about keeping expectations low for now.”
Defending champion Shane Lowry also joined the celebration of spectacular golf. Despite going one down at the fourth in both of his matches yesterday, he required only 15 holes to beat Lee Valley’s Seán Barry in the first round, and then 14 holes to dispatch Douglas player JP Hughes in the afternoon.
For those 29 holes, he was an approximate nine under par.
“They were a couple of good wins today, so I’m happy enough,” Lowry said. “I was very happy with my iron play – I hit a lot of good irons, all on-line, close this afternoon. I had a shaky start in both matches, but I really got it going then after that.
“My long-iron play is good at the moment, so the longer holes seem to be suiting me. I’m just trying to make as few mistakes as possible at the moment – with the wind out here that’s what it’s all about. If you can go around without making a bogey you should win.”
England’s Jonathan Hurst would not be denied his place in the sun either on a Sunday to remember at Rosses Point, blitzing his way to an outward 29, which included five birdies and an eagle, in his first-round victory over Simon McConnell of Ballyclare on the 12th, and then eliminating the experienced Darren Crowe on the 14th at the last-32 stage.
“I got it going this morning – I’ve never had a run of birdies like that,” he said. “I was glad to get past Darren today also – I’ve played a lot with him before and he’s a tough guy to beat.”
Strandhill’s Tommy McGowan, semi-finalist two years ago in this championship, also impressed in advancing to the last-16, carding nine birdies in his two victories – by margins of 3 and 2 over Declan McInerney (Lahinch) and 4 and 3 over Ger Lawlor (Newbridge).
Limerick’s Pat Murray also continued to justify his status as the lowest-handicapped player in the field, at plus four, with hard-fought victories over Englishman Andrew Palmer on the 18th green in round one and Stackstown’s Richard Bridges by two and one.
