Classy Campbell eases through strokeplay qualifying at Lahinch
Warrenpoint's Colm Campbell hits a drive off the first at Lahinch. Picture: Niall O’Shea
Warrenpoint's Colm Campbell was under pressure to shoot under par, and he pulled it off in perfect conditions to make the matchplay stage of the Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at sunny Lahinch.
The 2023 champion was tied for 81st overnight after opening with a three-over 75 on Wednesday and needed to make the cut with the Irish team for the Home Internationals set to be announced next week.
But he showed his class and had more luck with the putter in a gentle west-south-west breeze today and made four birdies in a four under 68 to move comfortably inside the top 64 on one-under-par.
"I needed to do something under par to have a chance, so it was good," Campbell said after following birdies at the fourth, 10th and 13th with a closing birdie four. "I played lovely.
"It could have been seven or eight under. I had so many putts that just burned edges all day.
"I holed a really good par putt on seven from about 25 feet after missing the green left, so that was good for momentum, and then I made a lovely birdie from around four feet at the 10th."
Campbell was pleased with his response to Wednesday's 75 when 49 players matched or broke par in varying wind but otherwise pleasant conditions.
"We probably got a bit more wind yesterday afternoon because I hit driver, two iron into 10 and driver, four-iron into 15," Campbell said. "But look, it was still very scoreable."
Having won the title in 2023, he's looking for another good run against a solid field,
"I've always had a decent run at it, and a win, and the game's in good shape," Campbell added. "If I can just hold a few more putts — that's. What it all comes down to."
Royal Portrush's Adam Buchanan, joint overnight leader with Royal Dublin's Sean Downes, added a 73 to his opening 66 to set the clubhouse target at five-under.
Lahinch's Stephen Loftus was two shots behind him on three-under after rounds of 69 and 72.
Naas' Jamie Butler shot 68 and Palmerstown House's Ross McCormack a 70 to sit on two-under.
Campbell was on one-under alongside Dun Laoghaire's Richard Sykes (70), Co Sligo's TJ Ford (71), Portmarnock's Eoin Sullivan (71), Galgorm's Jamie Sutherland (72) and Clandeboye's Benjamin Oberholzer (74).
Joe Lyons (73), Sean Desmond (73) and Thomas Higgins (74) were sweating on two-over 146 — the likely cut mark — while last year's runner-up, Brian Doran, was heading home on 12 over after a 77.
