GOLF/WEST OF IRELAND AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP:THERE IS a shrine to Cecil Ewing in the foyer of County Sligo Golf Club, but if 29-year-old bank official Gary McDermott makes a silver deposit in the club's trophy cabinet today, he will achieve the golfing equivalent of canonisation.
No representative of County Sligo has hoisted the silver trophy aloft since the great Ewing captured the last of his 10 titles when he beat Brud Slattery in the 1950 final, 61 years ago.
Unfortunately for McDermott, an uncapped member of the Ireland senior squad, he faces a sizeable obstacle in the shape of Paul Cutler (22), from Portstewart, the reigning Lytham Trophy champion and the nemesis of two County Sligo men yesterday alone.
The beaten finalist here four years ago, Cutler was just too good for Rosses Point’s Steffan O’Hara as he romped to a 4 and 3 third round win in breezy but otherwise perfect conditions.
But, in the afternoon quarter-finals, having moved effortlessly into a two up lead with four to play against 20-year-old County Sligo international Barry Anderson, he was forced to produce a wonderful fairway bunker shot on the 19th hole to progress to the last four.
Having missed a 10-foot chance to go three up at the 15th, Cutler three-putted to lose the 16th to a fine par save by Anderson and then miraculously got up and down for a half from a mound right of the 17th to go to the last one up.
Anderson looked doomed when his approach to the last trickled over the back, but he drew a great roar from the 1,500 strong gallery when his pitch hit the hole and miraculously stayed above ground.
Unsettled, Cutler rattled his 25-foot approach putt seven feet past and missed the return to hand his opponent a second chance.
But the Ulster star showed true grit at the 19th despite finding a fairway bunker on the right. With Anderson just off the green in two, the Walker Cup hopeful gripped down on a nine-iron and blasted a 105-yard missile to six feet.
Anderson’s putting had been suspect on the back nine and he failed to apply any pressure, leaving his 30-footer close to 10 feet short before missing his par attempt. Cutler had two for the win and gratefully took them.
McDermott knows a win here would smooth his path to an appearance in a green jersey at his club when it stages the Home Internationals in August. And while he is making his first appearance in the semi-finals, he knows he will not be lacking support.
Having survived a back nine comeback to beat Londoner Kieran Lovelock by one hole in the morning, he kept a bogey off his card to ease to a 5 and 4 win over Belvoir Park’s Harry Diamond on a sun-splashed afternoon.
Expectations are a two-edged sword, but McDermott is ready to take his chance.
“There’s extra pressure being from the home club but the support is great too,” McDermott said. “The crowds are always very fair and good shots will be applauded no matter who hits them.”
In the bottom half of the draw, Munster interprovincial Niall Gorey will face the reigning Irish Amateur Open and North of Ireland champion Alan Dunbar in the second semi-final.
A native of Rathangan in Co Kildare, golf equipment salesman Gorey has been based in Cork for several years, and after one-hole wins over bookies’ favourite Dermot McElroy and Kilkenny’s Craig Martin he knows he has nothing to lose as he enters uncharted territory against a Walker Cup prospect.
He shaded a high-quality encounter with 17-year-old Ballymena star McElroy when he chipped in for a birdie at the 17th to take a crucial one up lead.
Dunbar had just 19 putts in 15 holes – including a three-putt – as he beat Rathsallagh’s Jack Hume, winner of the four Boys provincial titles last season, by 4 and 3 in the third round.
