First South of Ireland title for Stephen Walsh

NOEL Pyne’s remarkable association with the South of Ireland Amateur Golf Championship continued at Lahinch this week.
Although not in the original draw for this, the 110th South, the popular Ennis man, a former captain and president at Lahinch, received a call-up on Friday last and walked onto the first tee for his opening round at 1.50pm on Saturday afternoon. His call-up for this year’s event means that he has now played in the past 49 championships, a truly remarkable record and one that is unlikely to be ever equalled not to mention surpassed.
The Pyne interest in this year’s championship wasn’t confined to Noel’s participation as his brother, Richard, is this year’s club captain.
In Noel’s early years taking part in the South, he was also a leading hurler with Eire Óg and Clare.
The competition format changed this year with 156 players participating in two qualifying rounds on Saturday and Sunday from which the leading 64 went through for match play from Monday morning.
Weather conditions resulted in the planned 36-hole qualifying rounds being reduced to 27 as a heavy mist led to reduced visibility on Sunday and the planned 18 holes on that day was reduced to nine.
Pyne teed off on Saturday alongside Paul O’Kane (Moyola Park) and Emmett Leahy (Cahir Park).
His Ennis clubmate, Bob Loftus, was another who benefitted from a late call-up, which meant the Ennis family had double interest in the championship as his brother, Stephen, was also in the race for the title.
Five of the Clare club representatives made it into the matchplay stage on Monday morning and all are members of the host club. Stephen Loftus, Niall Morrisson, Declan McInerney, Thomas Neenan and Noel Pyne carried Clare hopes when Monday’s action commenced.
Declan McInerney, who carded a very impressive 71 on Saturday, went out to last year’s beaten finalist Keelan McDonagh from Athlone on Monday morning.
The other four Clare participants at this stage all won their Monday morning matches. Stephen Loftus defeated Michael Grimes from Skerries, Niall Morrisson was victorious over David Murphy from Portarlington, Thomas Neenan, last year’s quarter finalist, defeated Stephen Moloney from Castletroy, while Noel Pyne was victorious over Declan King from Tramore.
When play concluded on Monday evening, only one Clare representative was still in the hunt for the title. Niall Morrisson was victorious on Monday afternoon, beating, Daniel Coyle from County Louth.
Loftus went out to Ian Murphy from Waterford, Neenan lost to Richard Burke (Castle) while Pyne went out to Richard Bridges from Stackstown who had earlier beaten Limerick’s Pat Murray.
Clare’s remaining competitor, Niall Morrisson, bowed out on Tuesday morning when he was beaten by Andrew Hogan from Newlands. Hogan went on to beat last year’s finalist, Keelan McDonagh, at the 19th in Wednesday morning’s semi-final on his way to a first final appearance.
His opponent in the final on Wednesday afternoon was Stephen Walsh from Baltinglass/UCD who had a 2 and 1 semi-final win over Robert Cannon from Balbriggan.
In the final on Wednesday afternoon, Stephen Walsh emerged victorious by 3 and 2. Hogan took an early two-hole lead but Walsh was back level after five. Hogan went two-up again by the ninth but, again, Walsh fought back to level before taking the lead on the 14th on his way to a first South of  Ireland title.