Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe is looking to put his 2019 runner-up finish behind him and claim another amateur major after battling his way into the semi-finals of the North of Ireland Amateur Open at Royal Portrush.

Winner of the Irish Amateur Open in 2017, the big Corkman chiselled out a pair of 3 and 2 wins over Royal Dublin’s Richard Knightly and Athenry’s David Kitt to set up a semi-final clash with Laytown and Bettystown’s Alex Maguire.

“I wasn’t playing well, and was going to give the North a miss,” O’Keeffe said. “I decided to come up, and my golf has gotten better the more I’ve played.

“I’m drained after two days of matchplay. It’s a battle of wits, and mentally demanding.”

Maguire was the first man to book his spot in the final four after a 7 and 6 win over Mullingar’s Adam Smith.

Royal Dublin’s Max Kennedy beat Lisburn’s Joshua Robinson 4 and 3 to earn a semi-final clash with Galgorm Castle’s Michael Reid, who ended Elm Park interest with a 21st hole win over John Cleary and a one-hole victory over John Galligan.

Meanwhile, O’Keeffe’s fellow clubman Karl Bornemann shot level par 71 in the second round to take a six-shot lead into the final round of the Irish Senior Men’s Close at Waterford Golf Club. Scores

“Strategy has been to make sure I miss it on the right side, keep the ball in play, not being too aggressive and giving the course the respect it deserves and that’s helped,” Bornemann said of his opening rounds of 70 and 71. “I’ve minimised the errors.”

A win on Friday would add to recent successes of fellow Douglas members, including Sean Reddy winning the Connacht U14 Boys’ and Sara Byrne representing Ireland at the European Team Championships last week.

“It’s great, particularly coming from my end of the age bracket right the way through to Sean Reddy and Justin Denny at the other end,” Bornemann continued. “It’s great to have that vibrancy as a panel of players. From my perspective, it has helped keep things fresh and competitive and hopefully, the experience that myself, Peter O’Keeffe and John McHenry have, and are able to pass on, has helped them.”

Although he takes a cushion into the final round, Bornemann is conscious of someone breaking from the pack.

“Typically in these things, it will get tight towards the end, there’s plenty of talent here that could make a run, and the cliches all apply, it’s one shot at a time and not getting ahead of yourself.

“It’ll be more of the same, I wouldn’t say I’ve had my A-game this week but I’ve managed what I’ve had. I’ll just play the course according to whatever game I have.”

In the Irish Girls’ Close, home player Anna Dawson will face Elm Park’s Emma Fleming as Knock’s Katie Poots takes on international Beth Coulter from Kirkistown Castle in today’s semi-finals at Tramore. Scores

“I don’t even know what went well today, the golf was just amazing,” said Dawson, who was six-under for her match against top seed qualifier Rebekah Gardner. “I think Rebekah could have been four or five-under as well. She hit it into three or four feet for eagle on the eighth and I was like wow. You really just have to step up to that standard when you’re playing in finals and semi-finals.”

Dawson has drawn local support from Tramore, which seems to be having a positive effect.

“I like the crowd, I don’t mind it at all, it kind of encourages me really. Like even if Dad is walking around he’ll put the thumbs up or say good shot or whatever, that sort of pushes me on a bit I feel.”

Beth Coulter, 2019 Irish Girls’ Champion played Hannah Guerin in the last 16 before knocking out Roscommon’s Olivia Costello in the afternoon.

“To be honest I wasn’t happy with my qualifying rounds, it was very sloppy and I couldn’t get the ball in the hole but I went down onto the range this morning and just tried to sort it out then went out hitting the ball much better. I got the match finished this morning and the same this afternoon, I hit it well but held a few more putts which was nice.”

Also well under par for her afternoon round, Coulter is feeling the added pressure of being defending champion, albeit a year late.

“I feel like that’s maybe part of the problem, I’m putting it on myself and from what others are saying about me being defending champion but I think I’m just going to forget about it now I’m obviously in the semi-final and I’ve just got to take each match as it comes.”

In the Pat Fletcher Plate, Vicki Conlon (Enniscrone) will play Niamh O’Grady (Blackbush) in tomorrow’s semi-final while Sarah O’Brien (Elm Park) will play Olivia McCrystal (Holywood). Scores

North of Ireland, Royal Portrush, July 12-16

Friday -Semi-finals

0800 Peter O'Keeffe (Douglas) v Alex Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown)

0815 Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle v Max Kennedy (Royal Dublin)

Quarter-finals

Peter O'Keeffe (Douglas) bt David Kitt (Athenry) 3&2

Alex Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Adam Smith (Mullingar) 7&6

Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle)bt Robert Galligan (Elm Park) 1 hole

Max Kennedy (Royal Dublin) bt Joshua Robinson (Lisburn) 4&32

Round three

Peter O'Keeffe (Douglas) bt Richard Knightly (Royal Dublin) 3&2

David Kitt (Athenry) bt Paul Coughlan (Castleknock) 2&1

Alex Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Darragh Flynn (Carton House) 4&2

Adam Smith (Mullingar) bt Andrew McCormack (Castletroy) 19th

Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) bt John Cleary (Elm Park) 21st

Robert Galligan (Elm Park) bt Chris Black (Dunmurry) 2&1

Joshua Robinson (Lisburn) bt Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin) 3&1

Max Kennedy (Royal Dublin) bt Sean Keeling (Roganstown) 5&4