Just five Irish remain at the last-16 stage of the South of Ireland Championship after some big names were sent packing early from Lahinch Golf Club.<\/p>\n
Thomas Higgins and David Howard\u2019s Walker Cup hopes are alive and well given their own respective form coupled with the exits of Matthew McClean, Stuart Grehan, John Doyle, Mark Cadden and Dylan Keating at the last-32 stage after defending champion Jonathan Keane was beaten in the morning last-64 matches.<\/p>\n
Higgins thrashed Scotland\u2019s Archie Cook 6&4 in the morning and managed to pull away from Warrenpoint\u2019s Harry McArdle to win 3&2 to book a mouthwatering last-16 tie against none other than Scotland\u2019s two-time Walker Cup star Connor Graham.<\/p>\n
Higgins\u2019 path looks clear. Win and it\u2019s your first Irish championship title and with it would come a spot on September\u2019s GB&I Walker Cup team in Lahinch. Taking out leading qualifier and sure to be a three-time Walker Cupper this year in Graham would be a huge scalp in front of team captain Dean Robertson.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just trying to win like I do every week go into every tournament trying to win. The goal doesn\u2019t change and hopefully we are standing here on Sunday with a trophy,\u201d said the Roscommon man who was the hero of Ireland\u2019s European Championship victory two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the start of the year I was trying to do everything perfect. But now if I don\u2019t play Walker Cup it\u2019s not the end of the world, I would love to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the relative ease of which he dispatched of Cook in the morning, he didn\u2019t have things all his own way against McArdle. The pair were level pegging through nine holes before Higgins pulled away with wins on 10, 11 and 12. The 23-year-old is capable of explosive burst of golf which he feels makes him dangerous in matchplay.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a nice asset to have and good to have in the back pocket,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a ding dong battle on the front nine, I won a couple of holes, he won a couple of holes. Held a couple of long putts, it was and forth then I won 10, 11, 12 on the bounce and that put me in a strong position coming in. I made a few pars and held another long putt on 16 to win which was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Things were nip and tuck on Friday afternoon with three of the first four matches making it to the 18th with eight overall going the distance.<\/p>\n
Malone\u2019s McClean will need a big performance at next month\u2019s US Amateur Championship to remind Robertson of his Walker Cup credentials after he was beaten by fellow GB&I hopeful Samuel Easterbrook 2UP after the Englishman eagled the last.<\/p>\n
Rory Gallagher of Galway Bay was beaten 6&4 by America\u2019s Josh Hill while Mark Gazi and Howard were 1UP winners over Jack McDonnell of Royal Dublin and Stephen Loftus of Lahinch respectively \u2013 bringing an end to local interest.<\/p>\n
England\u2019s Ben Bolton thrashed Germany\u2019s Richard Saunders 6&5 while Malone\u2019s Fionn Dobbin was narrowly beaten 2&1 by Wales\u2019 Tomi Bowen who could emerge as a Walker Cup contender himself.<\/p>\n
Grange star Ciaran Murphy, who beat Jonathan Keane in the morning was a 3&1 winner over Douglas\u2019 Barry O\u2019Connell. England\u2019s Daniel Hayes is in contention for a Walker Cup spot and he edged by Scotland\u2019s Oli Blackadder on 18.<\/p>\n
Two-time Walker Cup star Connor Graham came from two down with six to play to beat Morgan Cain of Fota Island on the last.<\/p>\n
It was a difficult afternoon for the Irish in the bottom matches with Gerard Dunne, Mark Cadden and Stuart Grehan all suffering on the back nine on their way to defeats while Dylan Holmes was beaten on the last by Sean David of Wales and John Doyle couldn\u2019t recover from an early 3 hole deficit against Freddie Turnell in 1 hole loss.<\/p>\n
The anchor match of the afternoon was an all-Irish affair which saw Athenry\u2019s David Kitt keep his rich vein of form going with a 2UP victory over North of Ireland winner Dylan Keating.<\/p>\n
ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES<\/p>\n
Samuel Easterbrook ENG vs Josh Hill USA<\/p>\n
Mark Gazi TRALEE vs David Howard FOTA ISLAND<\/p>\n
Ben Bolton ENG vs Tomi Bowen WAL<\/p>\n
Ciaran Murphy GRANGE vs Daniel Hayes ENG<\/p>\n
Connor Graham SCO vs Thomas Higgins ROSCOMMON<\/p>\n
Matthew Dodd-Berry ENG vs Ben Gratzl GER<\/p>\n
Max Hopkins ENG vs Sean David WAL<\/p>\n
Freddie Turnell ENG vs David Kitt ATHENRY<\/p>\n
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