Golf

Local favourite David Brady advances to final day of West of Ireland

Brady beat younger cousin Aodhagán before overcoming experienced Matt McClean at Rosses Point

David Brady on the seventh tee during his last 16 match at the West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at County Sligo Golf Club. Photograph: David Lloyd/Golffile

Daragh Small
Mon Apr 1 2024 - 19:02

David Brady has advanced to the semi-finals of the West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship after a thrilling day’s play in County Sligo.

The rain held off and paved the way for some pulsating last 16 and quarter-final ties with Brady, a Straffan golfer with Sligo roots, first seeing off his younger cousin Aodhagán Brady (Co Sligo) before a play-off victory over Matt McClean (Malone).

Brady came back from three down through 13, to take it all the way to a play-off in the quarter-finals. And backed by a huge Sligo following, and his cousin Aodhagán on the bag, he sunk the winning putt from close range on the 19th green against the experienced McClean.

“Tough battle, he went three up so it was a bit of a fighting battle coming home but I got a good up and down on 13,” said Brady.

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“I was like, make a few birdies coming home, change things around. Anything can happen on 17 and 18 in Rosses’, so thankfully something did happen.

“Delighted I struck it well again, fortunately I got the better of it at the end.”

Meanwhile, reigning South of Ireland winner Colm Campbell was also defeated on the 19th hole in the quarter-finals, this time by Clandeboye’s Ross Lattimer.

The quarter-finals also saw Keith Egan (Carton House), who has had a magnificent weekend so far, make his way into the final day with an impressive 4&3 victory over Evan Farrell (County Louth).

“Looking forward to tomorrow now, trying to take each match as it comes. Really tough match this morning against Paul [O’Hanlon],” said Egan.

In the day’s other quarter-final Paul Coughlan (Castleknock) advanced with a 1 up victory over Robert Galligan (Elm Park).

The ISPS Handa G4D at the West also got under way on Monday, with world number two Brendan Lawlor and current ISPS Handa Irish Open for Golfers with a Disability champion Alan Gaynor (County Sligo) part of the field in the opening round of the 36-hole event.

Lawlor leads the way after he carded a +3 round of 74, lit up by an eagle on the fifth.

“It was lovely out there, quite breezy from the start. Few high points, few low points,” said Lawlor.

“I didn’t get off to a flyer, +2 after four holes. I had a lovely eagle on five which was a high point to the round but I had a triple bogey on seven followed up by two bogeys.

“I was +5 after the front nine and shot -2 coming back in, so +3 for the tournament, so delighted.”

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