Back-to-back: Ireland retain Home Internationals in style
Michael Connaughton (President, GUI) with Tony Goode (Team Captain), John White (Team Manager), Neil Manchip (National Coach) and the winning Irish Home International team after their victory at the 2015 Home International Matches at Royal Portrush Golf Club. Team members Dermot McElroy, Colin Fairweather, Stuart Grehan, Robin Dawson, Paul McBride, Alex Gleeson, Gavin Moynihan, John Ross Galbraith, Colm Campbell, Rowan Lester and Jack Hume. Picture by Pat Cashman
Ireland retained the Home Internationals in impressive fashion to send another reminder to Walker Cup skipper Nigel Edwards just over a week before he picks the Walker Cup side to face the USA at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Player of the Championship Colm Campbell (Ireland) reacts to a missed putt on the 11th green during the final day of the 2015 Home International Matches at Royal Portrush. Picture by Pat Cashman
If an 11-4 win over recently crowned European champions Scotland may just help persuade the GB&I skipper that Ireland merits an historic presence in the side with Gavin Moynihan and Jack Hume playing their part in Friday's victory.
"These weeks are brilliant when you win. All the boys are buzzing," Naas star Jack Hume told Golfnet.ie after playing at No 1 in his bid to win a Walker Cup call up.
"I felt if I had a good week, it would probably give me a real good chance of being on the (Walker Cup) team. I just need to wait and see. I really want to be on the team."
Moynihan and Hume set the ball rolling in the foursomes with a 2 and 1 win over Graeme Robertson and Jack McDonald before Dermot McElroy and the impressive debutant Colin Fairweather edged out Connor Syme and Robert McIntyre on the 18th.
Scotland hit back with two wins but John-Ross Galbraith and player of the tournament Colm Campbell — he won 5.5 out of 6 — beat Craig Howie and Craig Ross by two holes to send Ireland into lunch with a 3-2 lead in their attempt to retain the Raymond Trophy for the first time since 1992.
The singles was always going to be a tough prospect against a strong Scottish line up but Ireland took the 10-man series 8-2 to run over seven-point winners overall.
Hume can rightly staked his claim to a Walker Cup spot on the strength of his play over the last two years but his 3 and 2 win over British Amateur semi-finalist Jack McDonald from Kilmarnock (Barassie) will not have harmed his chances of a call up on August 24.
Wins for the always impressive Moynihan, the in-form Fairweather and his fellow debutant Alex Gleeson left Ireland on the cusp of victory and it duly arrived with Rowan Lester's win leaving the stage clear for player of the tournament Campbell to clinch the winning point.
Robin Dawson and Galbraith also won to complete a superb week for Tony Goode's charges who showed that Irish amateur golf is only growing in stature all the time.
Now all that remains is for Paul Dunne, Gary Hurley and Cormac Sharvin to rubber stamp their individual seasons with a good showing in next week's US Amateur Championship at Olympia Fields near Chicago before the Walker Cup side is named on August 24.
Ireland has twice had four players in a Great Britain and Ireland side — Joe Carr, Jimmy Bruen, Cecil Ewing and Sam (Max) McCready at Winged Foot in 1949 and Royal Birkdale in 1951.
Could Hume, Moynihan, Dunne, Hurley and Sharvin make it to Royal Lytham and St Annes? It appears to be very much a possibility and probably no less than Irish golf deserves as it enjoys a new golden era.
Robin Dawson (Ireland) playing his second shot to the 15th green during the final day of the 2015 Home International Matches at Royal Portrush. Picture by Pat Cashman
Robin Dawson (Ireland) checking his partner Rowan Lester's drive on the 15th tee during the final day of the 2015 Home International Matches. Picture by Pat Cashman
Jack Hume (Ireland) shows his skill on the 15th green during the final day. Picture by Pat Cashman
Gavin Moynihan and Jack Hume (Ireland) on the 17th green after winning their match during the final day of the 2015 Home International Matches. Picture by Pat Cashman
Dermot McElroy (Ireland) is not happy with his drive at the 12th tee during the final day of the 2015 Home International Matches at Royal Portrush Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman
Sir Richard McLaughlin (Captain, Royal Portrush Golf Club) presenting Tony Goode (Team Captain) with the Raymond Trophy (Home International Trophy) after Ireland's victory at Royal Portrush Golf Club today (14/08/2015). Also in the picture are John White (Team Manager) and Michael Connaughton (President, GUI). Picture by Pat Cashman
Great performances from @ColmCampbell87, @Colinfairweathe & @JR_Galbraith delivered Ireland the 2015 #HomeInts title. pic.twitter.com/rwlOU1hcEw
— Golf Bible (@GolfBible) August 14, 2015
Home International Matches, Royal Portrush Golf Club (supported by Fairstone Financial Management)
England 8.5 Wales 6.5 (England names first)
Foursomes
- Ashley Chesters & Jimmy Mullen lost to David Boote & Tim Harry 3/1
- Ben Taylor & Tomasz Anderson lost to Owen Edwards & Joshua Davies 2 holes
- Alfie Plant & Dan Brown lost to Jack Davidson & Tom Williams 3/2
- Paul Kinnear & Sean Towndrow lost to Ben Westgate & Michael Hearne 2 holes
- Ashton Turner & Jamie Bower beat Evan Griffith & Zach Galliford 4/3
Singles
- Ashley Chesters beat David Boote 3/2
- Jimmy Mullen halved with Joshua Davies
- Joe Dean lost to Owen Edwards 1 hole
- Dan Brown beat Richard James 3/2
- Alfie Plant beat Tim Harry 2/1
- Ben Taylor lost to Zach Galliford 2/1
- Tomasz Anderson beat Tom Williams 2 holes
- Sean Towndrow beat Evan Griffith 4/3
- Ashton Turner beat Jack Davidson 1 hole
- Paul Kinnear beat Michael Hearne 3/2
Scotland 4 Ireland 11 (Scotland names first)
Foursomes
- Graeme Robertson & Jack McDonald lost to Gavin Moynihan & Jack Hume 2/1
- Connor Syme & Robert McIntyre lost to Dermot McElroy & Colin Fairweather 1 holes
- Daniel Young & Greig Marchbank beat Robin Dawson & Rowan Lester 3/1
- Barry Hume & Matt Clark beat Paul McBride & Stuart Grehan 2/1
- Craig Howie & Craig Ross lost to John-Ross Galbraith & Colm Campbell 2 holes
Singles
- Jack McDonald lost to Jack Hume 3/2
- Robert McIntyre lost to Gavin Moynihan 2/1
- Graeme Robertson beat Paul McBride 2/1
- Daniel Young lost to Colin Fairweather 2/1
- Barry Hume lost to Alex Gleeson 5/4
- Matt Clark beat Dermot McElroy 1 hole
- Craig Howie lost to Rowan Lester 1 hole
- Ryan Campbell lost to Robin Dawson 3/2
- Greig Marchbank lost to Colm Campbell 4/3
- Connor Syme lost to John Ross Galbraith 1 hole
