GOLF/AMATEUR:STEPHEN WALSH, a 21-year-old UCD scholarship student playing out of the Baltinglass club, was crowned the 110th South of Ireland champion last night after he came from two down after nine in the final to beat Andrew Hogan of Newlands by 3 and 2.
The weather yesterday was in stark contrast to the bright sunshine that favoured the players in Tuesday’s quarter-finals. This time, the sea mist that had disrupted the qualifying returned and at stages of the final threatened to again reduce visibility to a level that might well have prevented the completion of the tournament, but in the end it finished on schedule.
The South has made a habit of producing surprise champions in recent times, and Walsh is no exception. He followed in the footsteps of Carlow’s John Greene last year, and was best known for winning the Ulster Youths in 2010.
From an early stage of the South, however, the quality of his ball-striking drew a lot of admiration and he emerged as a worthy champion.
Walsh accounted for 2009 champion Robbie Cannon, from Balbriggan, in the semi-finals, and appeared unfazed at losing the first two holes of the final, although the 10-footer he holed at the third to avoid falling three behind proved crucial.
“That was the biggest putt of the match,” he admitted.
Walsh was quickly back on level terms after five, but missed the green at the seventh and ninth by a considerable distance to stand two behind Hogan at the turn.
However, the Newlands man, conqueror of 2010 runner-up Kelan McDonagh of Athlone at the 19th in a gripping semi-final, got into trouble at the 10th, then dropped the short 11th when he picked up his ball as it rolled towards a spot marked “ground under repair” while it was still in motion.
Walsh couldn’t be stopped after that. The 12th and 13th were halved, before he sank a 20-footer on the 14th for birdie and the lead for the first time.
Hogan was forced to concede the 15th when he found more heavy rough to the back left of the green, and Walsh finished it off in style with a glorious seven iron at the short 16th to three feet.
“I’ve had a few good displays this year without ever quite finishing it off,” he said. “This is a dream come true for me and my family, especially my grandfather, Des Tobin, who is responsible for my membership at Baltinglass.”
South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship
Semi-finals: A Hogan (Newlands) bt K McDonagh (Athlone/NUIM) at 19th; S Walsh (Baltinglass/UCD) bt R Cannon (Balbriggan) 2 and 1.
Final: Walsh bt Hogan 3 and 2.
