American Patrick Adler timed his first hole-in-one to perfection when he aced the 16th to clinch a dream spot in the semi-finals of the Pierse Motors VW-sponsored South of Ireland Championship at sun-splashed Lahinch.
The 21-year-old from Chicago, who is an overseas member of Lahinch, was three up with three to play against Slieve Russell’s Shane McDermott when he holed a 202-yard nine-iron at the downwind 16th for the first hole-in-one of his life and a 4&2 win.
“It’s unreal,” said the 6-foot-2-inch Adler, who is entering his senior year at Marquette University in Milwaukee. It’s probably the coolest moment of my life.
“There is a running joke in my team that I am the only one that doesn’t have a hole-in-one. So to get my first one in competition on the 16th in the ‘South’ is pretty unbelievable.”
Adler, whose mother hails from Dublin and whose father has been an overseas member of the Lahinch since 1995, edged out Roscommon’s Thomas Higgins with a birdie at the 18th in the last 16 and now faces veteran Pat Murray, who is playing his ninth semi-final and bidding to win the title for the second time at the age of 53.
“I am thrilled,” Adler added. “It would mean everything to win the ‘South’. Since I was a baby, I have been hearing stories from my dad about Lahinch and he would always mention the ‘South’ when I got into more competitive golf.
“He always wanted me to play in it, and to have the opportunity to come here the last two years and play quite well to get to this point has been great. It would mean everything to win the ‘South’.”
Adler has his work cut out against wily Tipperary man Murray, who came back from four down after nine holes to beat 18-year-old Co Sligo talent Aodhagan Brady 1-up with a birdie-birdie finish in the last 16 before he dashed the dreams of Lahinch’s Stephen Loftus with a 3&2 win in the quarter-finals.
“I have been hitting the ball well, very solid,” said Murray, General Manager of Tramore Golf Club, who insists he has plenty of energy left in the tank.
“I have my pal Mike Reddan on the bag today and it’s all good.”
Murray has used all his experience so far this week — refusing to panic when four down to Higgins before carefully managing a five-up lead against Loftus.
While he’s won just one of his previous eight semi-finals, the year he lifted the trophy in 2012, he believes he can win again.
“You need a break and to play good golf but I believe I can win,” he said.
In the other half of the draw, Galgorm Castle’s Joshua Hill birdied the 18th to force extra holes before beating defending champion Colm Campbell with a par at the 21st.
Winner of the Mullingar Scratch Trophy, the big-hitting 20-year-old came back from three down after eight holes to beat Hermitage’s Aaron Naughton on the 19th in the last 16 before holding off the dogged Campbell in the quarters.
He was three-up after four holes before Campbell fought back to snatch the lead with a birdie at the 16th.
But after the Warrenpoint man lipped out from 10 feet for the match at the 18th, Hill went on to win at the third tie-hole with a par to set up a semi-final meeting with 28-year-old Leinster interprovincial Brian Doran from Millicent.
“It was a very long day,” said Hill, who has just completed his freshman year at the University of South Alabama.
“Overall, I played really well, but I just wish a few more putts would have dropped, and maybe the rounds wouldn’t have been so stressful.
‘“But overall, I’m very happy with how I am off the tee and into the greens and stuff, just waiting for a few putts to drop, hopefully.”
Doran lost a three-up lead before beating 16-year-old Finlay Eager from Royal Belfast with a par at the 19th to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Carton House’s Darragh Flynn, who beat another 16-year-old in up-and-coming Galway Bay star Rory Gallagher 4&2.
But in the quarter-finals, Doran proved the stronger, never trailing as he closed out a 2&1 win.
“This is my sixth time at the ‘South’ over the last 10 years and the first time I have gone past the first round,” said Doran, who came back from four down with seven to play to beat Dun Laoghaire’s Richard Sykes in the second round.
“I missed the cut by a long way here last year and so I am back for revenge after putting in a lot of work over the winter.
“I was second to Paul Coghlan in the Munster Strokeplay and 14th in the East, which got me a call-up for the Interpros at Slieve Russell, which we won.
“It’s unbelievable to be in the semi-finals. But I believe I can win. Definitely. I am looking forward to it.”
South of Ireland Amateur Open, sponsored by Pierse Motors VW, Lahinch GC
Round three
Stephen Loftus (Lahinch) bt James Walsh (Douglas) 19th;
Pat Murray (Tramore) bt Aodhagan Brady (Co Sligo) 1 up;
Shane McDermott (Slieve Russell) bt Paul O’Hanlon (Carton House) 1 up;
Patrick Adler (North Shore, USA) bt Thomas Higgins (Roscommon) 1 up;
Brian Doran (Millicent) bt Finlay Eager (Royal Belfast) 19th;
Darragh Flynn (Carton House) bt Rory Gallagher (Galway Bay) 4/2;
Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) bt Seán McLoughlin (Co Sligo) 4/3;
Joshua Hill (Galgorm Castle) bt Aaron Naughton (Hermitage) 19th
Quarter-finals
Pat Murray bt Stephen Loftus 3/2;
Patrick Adler bt Shane McDermott 4/2;
Brian Doran bt Darragh Flynn 2/1;
Joshua Hill bt Colm Campbell 21st.
Sunday — Semi-finals
0830 Murray v Adler;
0845 Doran v Hill.