Top-class field assembled for 124th South of Ireland at Lahinch
Stuart Grehan. Picture: The R&A
World number three Tyler Weaver heads a very strong field for the 124th South of Ireland Amateur Open as players vie for spots on the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup side for September’s matches at Lahinch.
The English star from Florida State University is one of six players ranked in the top 100 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings entered for the ‘South’, which takes place at the west Clare venue from July 22-26.
Co Louth’s Stuart Grehan, who is guaranteed his spot on the team to face the USA from September 5-6 following his victory in the Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool, is one of five members of the 2025 Walker Cup team in action.
The world number 19 is joined by Weaver, England’s Eliot Baker (24th), Scotland’s Connor Graham (24th) and Co Louth’s Gavin Tiernan (213th).
England’s Freddie Turnell (70), Samuel Easterbrook (80), Harley Smith (113th), Ben Bolton (123rd), Daniel Hayes (124th), Tom Osborne (131st) and Matthew Dodd-Berry (165th) are also entered for the Pierse Motors Volkswagen-sponsored matchplay classic, which will be preceded by a Great Britain and Ireland squad session.
Scotland’s Oliver "Olly" Mukherjee, who was in the mix for selection for the 2025 matches at Cypress Point, is also entered alongside his brothers Sam and Cameron.
The international field features players from Australia, Denmark, England, Germany, Wales, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Scotland, Switzerland and the USA.
Great Britain and Ireland captain Dean Robertson has confirmed he will name his 10-man Walker Cup side immediately following the championship, and he has issued a clear message to aspiring amateurs: a strong performance at Lahinch carries enormous weight.
“I’m looking for form players, looking for winners in the team,” Robertson said. “Who’s to say the winner of the South of Ireland isn’t a Walker Cup player this year?”
Grehan and Tiernan head the home challenge alongside Fota Island’s John Doyle, Roscommon’s Thomas Higgins and 2023 Walker Cup player Matthew McClean from Malone.
England’s Kris Kim and Lewy Hayward, also in the running for places in the Great Britain and Ireland team, are also set to make the trip to Lahinch.
While former South of Ireland champions Caolan Rafferty and Colm Campbell will not make the trip to Lahinch due to work commitments, Lahinch’s Jonathan Keane will defend his title.
The field also features former South of Ireland winners Jody Fanagan (1995), Robbie Cannon (2009), Sean Desmond (2019) and TJ Ford (2021) as well as the winners of the big domestic titles this year — West of Ireland champion Mark Cadden, Munster Stroke Play champion Paul Coughlan, Connacht Stroke Play champion David Kitt, North of Ireland winner Dylan Keating, Irish Amateur Open champion Patrick Keeling and East of Ireland champion, Grehan.
