Keane flies Lahinch flag as Howard prevents clash of Aboms in South of Ireland quarters
Lahinch’s Jonathan Keane in action in the South of Ireland Men's Amateur Open. ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
David Howard can become the first man for 10 years to win the South of Ireland and East of Ireland titles in the same year after his 20th hole win over Irish Close champion Thomas Abom at Lahinch.
Guarantee his Irish cap now via the Bridgestone Order of Merit, the Fota Island man birdied the second tie hole, the par-five second, to set up a quarter-final meeting with Abom’s older brother.
Liam Abom (22) came through a tight tussle with teenager Mark Cadden from Roganstown, winning the 16th with a remarkable pitch and putt from heavy rough before matching Cadden’s par-birdie finish.
Howard will be hoping to be more clinical on the greens after missing several chances to turn his match round against Thomas Abom.
Two down with three to play, he finished par-par-birdie to force extra holes before going on to make a fine chip and putt birdie at the 20th.
If he wins, he will match Stuart Grehan (2015) and Adrian Morrow (1983) in claiming the East and the South in the same year.
In a clash of former champions at the top of the draw, Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty was two under fours in his 5&3 win over Sean Desmond and now faces David Kitt, who was taken to the 19th by Jordan Hood’s closing birdie four before prevailing with a birdie at the first tie hole.
The winner of Rafferty-Kitt will take on Donegal man Ryan Griffin, who came back from three down with three to play to beat West of Ireland champion Dylan Holmes on the 21st.
Holmes lost the 16th when he flew the green into heavy rough and Griffin, who only lost to eventual winner Colm Campbell in the quarters two years ago and led he qualifiers last year, birdied the 17th, 18th and 21st to prevail.
The Ballybogey and Stranorlar man takes in Grange’s Jake Whelan, beaten semi-finalist in 2019, following his steady 2&1 win over Connemara’s Luke O’Neill.
Home hopes lie in the bottom half of the draw, where the powerful hitting Jonathan Keane won four holes in a row after the turn to go four up against Galway’s Joe Lyons.
He almost holed his tee shot at the driveable 13th before following a two there with a birdie at the 15th to win 5&4.
Keane faces the experienced Kildare man Paul O’Hanlon, who was a 2 & 1 winner over Westport’s Conor Stapleton, in the last eight.
Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland Amateur Open, Lahinch (Old)
Third round
Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) bt Seán Desmond (Monkstown) 5 & 3
David Kitt (Athenry) bt Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle) 19th
Ryan Griffin (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) bt Dylan Holmes (Greystones) 21st
Jake Whelan (Grange) bt Luke O'Neill (Connemara) 2 & 1
Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) bt Joe Lyons (Galway) 5 & 4
Paul O'Hanlon (Carton House) bt Conor Stapleton (Westport) 2 & 1
David Howard (Fota Island) bt Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) 20th
Liam Abom (Edmondstown) bt Mark Cadden (Roganstown) 1 up
Quarterfinals
Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) v David Kitt (Athenry)
Ryan Griffin (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) v Jake Whelan (Grange)
Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) v Paul O'Hanlon (Carton House)
David Howard (Fota Island) v Liam Abom (Edmondstown)
