Knightly rides on with gripping one hole win over leading qualifier Kennedy
Royal Dublin’s Richard Knightly. Picture by Pat Cashman Photography
Richard Knightly claimed the scalp of another Royal Dublin man for the second match running when he finished birdie-birdie to clinch a dramatic one-hole win over leading qualifier Max Kennedy to reach the quarter-finals of the Pierse Motors Volkswagen sponsored South of Ireland Amateur Open at Lahinch.
The 33-year-old pharmacist, who is in the second year of a career break as he looks to maximize his potential in the amateur game and possibly contend for one of the big titles, followed Friday evening’s one-hole win over clubmate and reigning AIG Irish Close champion Hugh Foley with another hard-fought win.
They were all square after 15 holes before Kennedy made a huge putt at the 16th to go one up. But Knightly claimed the 17th in birdie in a true matchplay moment, rolling in a seven-footer before Kennedy missed from inside him.
All square playing the par-five 18th, Knightly hit a perfect drive before Kennedy pulled his into the left rough.
The University of Louisville star (19) slashed is way back into play but after Knightly rifled a two-iron to the right side of the green, pin high, 30 feet above the hole, Kennedy’s third finish 25 feet short on the left fringe.
Knightly lagged his putt down to two feet below the hole and after Kennedy two-putted, he tapped in for a memorable win which sets up a clash with Co Sligo’s TJ Ford, who beat Arklow’s Keith Murphy 3&2.
Portumna’s Sam Murphy (18) beat Naas’ David Marshall Jnr 5&4 and will meet Fortwilliam’s Hugh O’Hare, who is a teammate of Kennedy’s at the University of Louisville, following his 5&4 win over Galgorm Castle’s Jordan Hood.
Laytown and Bettystown’s Alex Maguire continued his quest for a third domestic title this summer with a 4&3 win over Carton House’s Jack Doherty.
Maguire, who followed victory in June’s Connacht Strokeplay with a win in the North of Ireland at Royal Portrush last week, will now face Enniscorthy’s Paul Conroy, who was a 4&3 winner over international Matt McClean from Malone.
South of Ireland Amateur Open, sponsored by Pierse Motors Volkswagen, Lahinch GC
Third round
R Knightly (Royal Dublin) bt M Kennedy (Royal Dublin) 1 hole;
TJ Ford (Co. Sligo) bt K Murphy (Arklow) 3/2
S Murphy (Portumna) bt D Marshall Jnr (Naas) 5/4
H O’Hare (Fortwilliam) bt J Hood (Galgorm Castle) 5/4
A Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown) bt J Doherty (Carton House) 3/2
P Conroy (Enniscorthy) bt M McClean (Malone) 4/3
J Hill (Galgorm Castle) bt P O’Keeffe (Douglas) 3/2;
A Fahy (Dun Laoghaire) bt A Marshall (Lisburn) 4/3
