Campbell claims epic South of Ireland at the death in horrific conditions
Colm Campbell. Picture: Nial O’Shea
Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell came back from two down with three to play when he took advantage of a later collapse by Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe to win one up in horrendous weather at Lahinch.
Played in hurricane-like conditions of wind and rain almost throughout, he was two down after nine and two down with three to go but won the 16th with a bogey and then 17th with a par after O’Keeffe drove out of bounds.
He then won the title with a closing par five after the Cork man pulled his second out of bounds onto the Liscannor Road.
It was a cruel finish for O’Keeffe ( 41), who played superbly all week but could not shake off a dogged Campbell (36), who was an incredible seven-under par in his 6&5 semi-final win over Castleknock’s Paul Coughlan.
That was a that was a tough one,” Campbell said. “First of all, I feel sorry for big Peter there. You know two up with three to play… iit's never nice to lose in the manner which ended up happening there.
“I know he's been looking to win this one for a while like myself and I'm sure his time will come. But just absolutely over the moon. I've been coming to South for a long time and Paddy and the guys here look after us so well when you get here. We've got a close close friendship with Paddy . So yeah, this was this bittersweet.”
Colm Campbell pars the last to win the South. 1 up. pic.twitter.com/EAEbHB12zX
— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 30, 2023
O’Keeffe had a chance to go three up after 12 but failed to take advantage, bunkering his second as Campbell took to escape from the front left bunker but got up and down for a half in pars.
Campbell then won the 13th with a par as O’Keeffe drove into the mine. And while he lost the 14th to a great pitch and putt par by O’Keeffe, he dodged a bullet at the 15th, where O’Keeffe had an eight-footer to go three up with three to play but came up short.
The 16th proved crucial.
O’Keeffe bored his tee shot in the hill back left and shanked his second back down the fairway, eventually shaving the hole with his fourth and leaving Campbell to two putt for bogey to reduce to the gap to one hole.
At the 17th, Campbell hit a fine drive and O’Keeffe’s sailed left into the houses and out of bounds.
They were suddenly all square and there was more drama to come.
Campbell fired his second down to pitching distance but O’Keeffe badly tugged his two-iron out of bounds and ended up on the losing side in a final for the second year running.
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