Patient Diamond proves his mettle by ousting Dunbar

HARRY DIAMOND is firmly on course to clinch the Radisson Blu-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship after his terrific one-hole win over last year’s beaten finalist, Alan Dunbar (Rathmore) in their titanic quarter-final meeting at a rain-soaked Rosses Point yesterday.

The Belvoir Park man nailed a wedge to within six-feet of the pin on the 18th green to set up a last-four clash with Co Louth’s Simon Ward this morning.

“It was close all the way around but I played pretty good,” Diamond – a close friend of world number two Rory McIlroy – commented immediately after his win.

“I was just trying to make a few pars before that bad weather came in. We both made a few birdies so it was a good standard match. A putt here and there won it for me.”

His opponent in today’s semi-final, Ward, was taken to the 20th hole by Patrick McCrudden (Royal Portrush) in their quarter-final yesterday before emerging triumphant.

Ward explained: “I was three up initially through (hole) six but I lost a bit of concentration then and handed a few holes away. On (hole) 20 I had a 15-footer (putt) and I had to get it (for the win).”

Stephen Healy (Claremorris) also eased his way into the last four-with an impressive 4 and 3 triumph over Nicholas Grant (Knock) yesterday afternoon.

Healy will face Headfort’s Rory McNamara who accounted for 2010 West finalist, Galway’s Eddie McCormack, by two holes in the last quarter-final clash of the afternoon.

There was no fairytale ending either for Co Sligo teenager Seán Flanagan whose journey from a ball-marker on the first-tee on Friday to a place in the last-16 (following a late call up as first-reserve) was a highlight of the opening three days at the famous links venue.

McNamara defeated the 16-year old local in their morning quarter-final

Ironically, given his victory over Flanagan, it is McNamara who now carries local hopes of sorts into the final stages of this event – the 22-year-old being a member of the Co Sligo club’s All-Ireland winning Fred Daly side of 2007.

This follows the defeat of last year’s semi-finalist, Gary McDermott, from the host club – he had aimed to become Co Sligo’s first winner of this tournament since 1950 – who suffered a 3 and 2 loss to Patrick McCrudden in their last 16 clash early yesterday.

Both semi-finals and the final itself are down for decision later today.

Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar will be Portugal-bound later this month following his inclusion in the European team to face Asia-Pacific at the Michael Bonallack Trophy which takes place from April 25th-27th at Monte Rei.

The Walker Cup winner, who is also in the Great Britain Ireland squad for this year’s St Andrews Trophy, is the only Irishman to make captain Andrew Morgan’s side.

Former Irish amateur champion Dunbar is joined in the 12-man squad by Wales’s Rhys Enoch and English duo Jack Hiluta and Ben Taylor as well as other top talent from Europe.