Fox plays down expectations as youth and experience clash at Rosses Point
James Fox. Picture/Archive: Pat Cashman
Portmarnock’s James Fox continued his remarkable comeback from wrist surgery to clinch a surprise spot in the last 16 of the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point.
The 2023 North of Ireland champion (42) damaged the ECU tendon in his left wrist in May last year and eventually underwent surgery in November.
After going 11 months without hitting a ball, he began practising again just two-and-a-half weeks ago.
To his surprise, he qualified with a shot to spare on Friday and yesterday overcame Roscommon’s Simon Walker with a birdie at the 20th before beating 2006 runner-up Paul O’Hanlon 1-up to set up a last 16 clash with Warrenpoint teen Harry McArdle.
“It’s a similar injury to Jordan Spieth’s, but rest and injections weren’t working, so ultimately, we had to decide to have surgery,” said Fox, whose brother Noel won the West at Enniscrone in 1998.
“I had surgery in November, spent six weeks in a cast and had 12 weeks of rehab, and then hit my first shot about two and a half weeks ago.”
Fox had such low expectations that he had no accommodation booked and gratefully accepted an offer to stay with Portmarnock captain, Tom Coghlan, whose son, Jack, is caddying.
“My expectations couldn't be lower,” said Fox before heading off to ice his wrist. “I’m just happy that I'm getting through.
“Simon played really well but holed nothing, and Paul’s such a great competitor, I was delighted to win because they were two tough games.”
The last 16 is a mix of youth and experience with defending champion Keith Egan, Connemara’s Luke O’Neill and 2017 champion Barry Anderson (34) the three biggest names in the top half.
In the bottom half, former touring professional Stuart Grehan (32) faces his strength and conditioning coach Robbie Cannon (46) with the winner to face Fox or McArdle.
Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell (37) takes on Jack McDonnell for the right to face Portmarnock’s Harry Gillivan or Dooks’ Conor Hickey.
Grehan (32) is making his first championship appearance after seven years in the professional ranks.
But he’s bracing himself for a tough test against veteran Cannon (46), who is hoping to add the West to his wins in the South of Ireland, Irish Close and Irish Amateur Open and claim the fourth leg of the domestic grand slam.
“Robbie and I know each other very, very well, so I’m expecting a tough match,” said Grehan after he followed a scrappy 19th hole win over Galway Bay’s Eddie McCormack with a 3&2 win over Charleville’s Jordan Boles on a wet but largely calm day at County Sligo.
“There will be no love lost tomorrow, so looking forward to giving it a run.”
Grehan won the East and South of Ireland titles before turning professional, and he believes he’s a far better player now.
“I think my game is night and day, to be honest with you, and I have matchplay experience winning the South. So hopefully I can bring it on to this week.”
Cannon, who lost in the final to Jack Hume 11 years ago, is expecting to become a father for the second time over the next few weeks, while Grehan only became a father for the first time last summer.
Another expectant father, Sligo native Anderson, is looking to win the title for the second time in eight years. He followed a 3&2 win over Grange’s Sean Murphy with a one-up victory over Norwegian Oscar Bach to set up a third-round clash with Castleknock’s David Reddan.
While leading qualifier Robert Abernethy lost on the 19th to Greg O’Mahony in the first round, the Fota Island man fell to emerging Greystones talent Dylan Holmes, who now faces the always gritty Athenry man David Kitt.
Connemara’s Luke O’Neill is the only member of Ireland’s High Performance panel remaining in the draw after he consulted his father, PGA professional Hughie, between rounds.
Despite being five up with six to play against Monkstown’s Sean Desmond and six up at the turn against Castleknock International Paul Coughlan, he had to go to the 18th and 16th respectively to get over the line.
“You need a good start, but this golf course only starts on 13,” O’Neill said. “So you have to step up and hit good golf shots if you want to get through.”
While he’s playing out of Cork this year, Anderson is the only Sligo hope remaining.
Defending champion Egan defeated Co Sligo’s Aodhagan Brady 3&2 and now takes on Douglas’ James Walsh.
There is quality lurking at the bottom of the draw in the shape of Royal Dublin’s McDonnell and Warrenpoint’s hugely experienced championship winner Campbell.
McDonnell was four up after four holes but had to go to the 16th to beat Co Sligo’s Seán McLoughlin, while Campbell birdied the 12th and 14th and parred the 15th to beat Edmondstown’s Patrick Curran 4&3.
Meanwhile, Roisin Scanlon won the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open by five shots from Jessica Hall.
She carded a one-under 71 to win on four under par and follow in the footsteps of Martina Gillen (2005), Leona Maguire (2009), Danielle McVeigh (2010) and Olivia Mehaffey (2015),
Oughterard’s Kate Dillon was sixth on four-over.
West of Ireland Amateur Open (sponsored by Connolly Motor Group), County Sligo GC (Par 71)
First round
G O’Mahony (Fota Island) bt R Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire) 19th;
D Holmes (Greystones) bt A Smith (Mullingar) 2/1;
L Gowdy (Bangor) bt O Murphy (Royal Portrush) 4/2;
D Kitt (Athenry) bt C Stapleton (Westport) 21st;
R Walsh (Douglas) bt S Nesbitt (Royal Portrush) 4/2;
J Keane (Lahinch) bt S Dorman (Bangor) 3/2;
L O’Neill (Connemara) bt S Desmond (Monkstown) 1up;
P Coughlan (Castleknock) bt E Sullivan (Portmarnock) 6/5;
B Anderson (Cork) bt S Murphy (Grange) 3/2;
O Bach (Oslo GC) bt R Nelson (Belvoir Park) 2/1;
D Reddan (Castleknock) bt D Howard (Fota island) 4/3;
A Marshall (Lisburn) bt S Cullen (PGA National Slieve Russell) 3/2;
J Walsh (Douglas) bt S Downes, (Royal Dublin) 3/2;
R Latimer (Knock) bt E Monaghan (Tullamore) 3/2;
A Brady (Co Sligo) bt M Crowe (Elm Park) 4/3;
K Egan (Carton House) bt G Lenehan (Portmarnock) 4/3;
D Flynn (Carton House) bt Q Carew (Castleknock) 3/1;
R Cannon (Balbriggan) bt A Allahbachani (Powerscourt) 2/1;
S Grehan (Co Louth) bt E McCormack (Galway Bay) 19th;
J Boles (Charleville) bt C Clarke (Balmoral) 4/3;
H McArdle (Warrenpoint) bt J Whelan (Grange) 1up;
J Sommer (Golf & CC Zurich, SWI) bt A Naughton (Hermitage) 4/2;
J Fox (Portmarnock) bt S Walker (Roscommon) 20th;
P O’Hanlon (Carton House) bt. E O’Carroll (St Anne’s) 4/3;
D Mallon (Dungannon)bt S Flanagan (Portmarnock) 2/1;
H Gillivan (Portmarnock) bt S Kelly (The Island) 2up;
L Abom (Edmondstown) bt L Hutchinson (Royal Dublin) 1up;
C Hickey (Dooks) bt D Brady (Straffan) 3/2;
S McLoughlin (Co Sligo) bt D Kelleher (Blarney) 19th;
J McDonnell (Royal Dublin) bt I O’Connell (Castleknock) 1up;
P Curran (Edmondstown) bt S Sweeney (Gweedore) 3/1;
C Campbell, (Warrenpoint) bt T Abom (Edmondstown) 3/1.
Second round
D Holmes (Greystones) bt G O’Mahony (Fota Island) 6/4;
D Kitt (Athenry) bt L Gowdy (Bangor) 4/3;
J Keane (Lahinch) bt R Walsh (Douglas) 7/6;
L O’Neill (Connemara) bt P Coughlan (Castleknock) 3/2;
B Anderson (Cork) bt O Bach (Oslo GC) 1up;
D Reddan (Castleknock) bt A Marshall (Lisburn) 2/1;
J Walsh (Douglas) bt R Latimer (Knock) 5/3;
K Egan (Carton House) bt A Brady (Co Sligo) 3/2;
R Cannon (Balbriggan) bt D Flynn (Carton House) 7/6;
S Grehan (Co Louth) bt J Boles (Charleville) 3/2;
H McArdle (Warrenpoint) bt J Sommer (Golf & CC Zurich, SWI) 2&1;
J Fox (Portmarnock) bt P O’Hanlon (Carton House) 1up;
H Gillivan (Portmarnock) bt D Mallon (Dungannon) 20th;
C Hickey (Dooks) bt L Abom (Edmondstown) 19th;
J McDonnell (Royal Dublin) bt S McLoughlin (Co Sligo) 2/1;
C Campbell, (Warrenpoint) bt P Curran (Edmondstown) 4/3.
Round three
8:00 D Holmes v D Kitt;
8:10 J Keane v L O’Neill;
8:20 B Anderson v D Reddan;
8:30 J Walsh v K Egan;
8:40 R Cannon v S Grehan ;
8:50 H McArdle v J Fox;
9:00 H Gillivan v C Hickey;
9:10 J McDonnell v C Campbell.
