Four Irish into last 32 at British Boys
Kilkenny's Mark Power was relieved to survive a late comeback from Laytown and Bettystown's Alex Maguire and move into the last 32 of the British Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush.
After finishing second in strokeplay qualifying after a countback, the 18-year old beat Maguire 2&1 to join Mullingar's Adam Smith, Dundalk's Eoin Murphy and Lisburn's Joshua Robinson in Friday's second round.
A two-time Irish Boys champion, Power made two birdies and an eagle to be three up after five holes but while Maguire looked to stage a comeback with birdies on the 12th and 14th, Power kept his cool as the dark clouds rolled in and the heavens opened, securing victory at the 17th.
“I am just relieved," Power said. "I was cruising and off to a nice start. I had two birdies and an eagle in my first five holes to go three up. I just played steady, but I missed a few short putts so I could have easily been five or six up after ten when I was only three or four.
“Alex holed a few nice putts. He birdied 12 and birdied 14, so he kind of came back at me. The wind just howled and the rain came in over the last four holes so it was a bit of a struggle coming in.
Joshua Robinson (Lisburn) during the final day of the 2018 Irish Boys Amateur Open. Picture by Pat Cashman
“I made a good par when I needed to to win, so I’m looking forward to the next round.”
While Holywood's Tom McKibbin lost to Sweden's Gustav Andersson by one hole and Royal Dublin's Max Kennedy fell 7&6 to the Czech Republic's Petr Hruby, another three Irish players joined Power after matches that went to the 18th or beyond.
Smith beat Athenry's David Kitt on the 19th, Murphy beat Switzerland's Ronan Kleu by one hole while Robinson defeated Charles Larcelet of France at the 20th
Leading qualifier Robin Williams, who was a semi-finalist last year, defeated Wales’ Archie Davies 5&4.
The pair enjoyed a close tussle until reaching the 12th where Williams, in a fine display of driving, moved up a gear to open a gap and see out the match at the 14th.
The 16-year-old England boy internationalist will now play Scotland’s Aidan O’Hagan, who recorded a two-hole victory over the Netherlands’ Kiet Van Der Weele.
The 14-year-old, playing in his first Boys Amateur Championship, held his resolve to deal with the wind and come through the match in style.
Nicolai Højgaard, who moved into the top ten of the World Amateur Golf Ranking this week and is the highest-ranked player in the field, also secured his spot in the next round following an impressive 4&3 victory over his good friend Eduard Rousaud.
The Dane will now play Australian-based Scot Connor McKinney, who defeated Russia’s Artem Yalovenka 4&3. The 16-year-old is another making his Boys Amateur debut following his family’s relocation from Dunfermline in Fife to Perth in Western Australia three years ago.
Højgaard’s twin, Rasmus, exited the championship after a close match with Conor Gough that required four extra holes. The 15-year-old England boy internationalist recorded one bogey throughout in a match that was a testament to the high-quality golf played by both players. He now takes on countryman Matthew Jackman on Friday.
Defending champion Pedro Lencart is still on track to become only the third player to win back-to-back championships and the first since 1930, thanks to a 2&1 victory over England’s James Cooper.
The 18-year-old from Portugal, who also won the Junior Open in 2016, is playing in his final Boys Amateur Championship after lifting the trophy last year at Nairn.
British Boys Amateur Championship, Royal Portrush
How the Irish fared
McKibbin, Tom (Holywood) lost to Andersson, Gustav (Sweden) 1 Hole
Kennedy, Max (Royal Dublin) lost to Hruby, Petr (Czech Republic) 7&6
Smith, Adam (Mullingar) bt Kitt, David (Athenry) 19th
Power, Mark (Kilkenny) bt Maguire, Alex (Laytown & Bettystown) 2&1
Murphy, Eoin (Dundalk) bt Kleu, Ronan (Switzerland) 1 Hole
Robinson, Joshua (Lisburn) bt Larcelet, Charles (France) 20th
Friday - Round 2
- 08:15 Celli, Filippo (Italy) v Smith, Adam (Mullingar)
- 08:47 Power, Mark (Kilkenny) v Colozza, Simone Armando (Italy)
- 08:56 Ji, Jerry (Netherlands) v Murphy, Eoin (Dundalk)
- 09:41 Barcos Garbayo, Javier (Spain) v Robinson, Joshua (Lisburn)
