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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Kilfenora's Jonathan Keane ends Lahinch's 57-year wait for South of Ireland winner
They say it takes a village, and it was never more fitting in the case of Jonathan Keane, as he overcame a serious back injury with the help of two Lahinch members and a former champion to become the first home winner of the Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland title in 57 years. The 25-year-old Kilfenora schoolteacher completed a magical week over the famous west Clare dunes, rolling in a five-footer for a closing birdie to beat Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty one up and follow in the footsteps of his watching boyhood coach JD Smyth, who was the last Lahinch man to win the title in 1968. Keane dropped his putter and put his hands over his eyes in disbelief as his father, Johnny, and mother, Mary, ran onto the 18th green to envelop him in an emotional embrace. "I felt good over it because I have had that putt loads of times before, that back left pin," Keane said. "Just knew what to do. I wasn't feeling any nerves; I was feeling 100% confident. It was just a shock for about five seconds." The 18th was ringed with hundreds of spectators as Keane was chaired in victory by his supporters in a scene that summed up the magic of amateur golf at a venue that will host the Walker Cup next year. "I don't know what to say," Keane reflected after a day when he beat Edmondstown's Liam Abom 2&1 in the semi-finals as Rafferty confirmed his favouritism for the title by blitzing Grange's Jake Whelan 5&3 after playing the first five holes in five-under-par. "Absolutely delighted. This has been my dream since ever I joined this golf club, and for it to come true, it's absolutely unbelievable. Just thrilled. Thrilled." While overseas member Patrick Adler from Chicago won last year, several hundred locals turned out to watch one of their own lift the coveted trophy after a brilliant display of powerful hitting and sensational chipping and putting. He'd made two eagles and 24 birdies in five matchplay rounds to get to the final and did not let up when it mattered. All the hard work he did to recover from a herniated disc that kept him out of the game for nearly three years turned out to be worth its weight in gold. After the first two holes were halved in bogey-birdie figures, Keane birdied the third, then eagled the fourth from 35 feet to go two up. He had a chance from eight feet to go three up at the Dell, but while he missed that and lost the seventh to par after taking a penalty drop from deep rough, he won the eighth in par and turned two-up. Rafferty was spent after a gruelling week and both men made mistakes coming home. Rafferty won 11th in par, lost the 12th to Keane's birdie, failed to convert a slippery 10-footer for a win at the 13th and watched his rival get up and down from sand at the 14th to remain two up. It looked as though the tide would turn when Rafferty made a remarkable four at the 15th, flopping to a foot from heavy greenside rough, then hit to 12 feet at the 16th, where he was conceded the hole after Keane chunked into sand from heavy rough above the back left bunker. They were all square. Keane had been brilliant on and around the green all week and after Rafferty chipped close on the 17th, he cooly slotted home an eight footer for a half in fours to take the match to the last. Rafferty came up short in two, and with 240 yards to go and adrenaline pumping, Keane rifled a five iron to 50 feet and two putted for victory, dribbling in a five-footer for glory after his rival had chipped to the back fringe and missed his 15 footer. There were emotional scenes as the putt dropped, which was no surprise given Keane's battle with a back injury he picked up during COVID, when he had worked too hard in the gym and battered hundreds of balls on the beach without proper rest. "I was trying to drive the ball an absolute mile —the Bryson DeChambeau effect," he confessed. "I used to hit about 250 balls a day. And after about six months of doing that nonstop and doing too much gym, the body just gave up. "I had herniated discs in my lower back and it was very bad, and I couldn't play golf for two and a half years." Lahinch Golf Club stepped in to help, and thanks to two members — Dr Gerry O'Sullivan and Dr Conor O'Brien — Keane received the medical treatment he needed before embarking on a seven-month programme of strength and conditioning with former South of Ireland winner Robbie Cannon. He returned for the South in 2023 and put many sleepless painful nights behind him to achieve his dream yesterday, "I have to give credit to those three men there for helping me come back from that injury," he said. No wonder there were tears at the end of an epic, triumphant week for the amateur game. Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, Lahinch Semi-finals: Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) bt Jake Whelan (Grange) 5/3; Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) bt Liam Abom (Edmondstown) 2/1. Final: Keane beat Rafferty 1 up.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scots shine as Dean Robertson leads GB&I to St Andrews Trophy triumph
Cameron Adam is star man in Spain as Connor Graham also endorses Walker Cup claim Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Cameron Adam and Connor Graham look certain to be heading to California for the Walker Cup after the Scottish duo helped Great Britain & Ireland secure an impressive win in the St Andrews Trophy. Dean Robertson's side beat Continent of Europe 16.5-8.5 at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro in Spain, meaning Great Britain & Ireland now hold the Curtis Cup, the Vagliano Trophy and the St Andrews Trophy after a hat-trick of successes inside the last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad GB&I captain Dean Robertson and his players show off the trophy after winning the St Andrews Trophy in Spain | The R&A Royal Burgess left-hander Adam was the star man for Robertson, winning all four of his matches, while Blairgowrie teenager Graham picked up three points. The impressive contributions came after both players had made their major debuts in The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush. It now seems almost certain that Adam and Graham will be selected for the Walker Cup, which takes place at Cypress Point in early September. 'I'm absolutely thrilled,' said Robertson of GB&I regaining the trophy after a defeat at Royal Porthcawl last year. 'There has been a real togetherness and cohesion. It's been great getting to know the players over the last 18 months. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The preparations for this week started at the back end of last year, watching them play and learning about their games. 'For them to come here, prepare as well as we did and then to execute by winning all four sessions certainly surpassed my expectations. It was a brilliant, brilliant performance and I'm so proud of them all. Royal Burgess man Cameron Adam won all four of his matches at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro in Spain | The R&A 'Everyone contributed to the points total. GB&I winning three team trophies in the last year (at men's and women's level) is very impressive and I'm absolutely thrilled.' Luke Poulter, Ian's son, sealed the win in style as he holed a bunker shot for an eagle on the 18th to beat Gunnlaugur Arni Sveinsson from Iceland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Luke's finish was incredible,' added Robertson. 'There was great drama on the final green and his holed bunker shot was a fitting way to sign off the team victory. Cameron (Adam) was an outstanding leader within the team and there is some phenomenal talent overall. 'We're going to enjoy this, celebrate it, reflect on it and then take a wee trip to face the USA in the Walker Cup. We're the underdogs and we'll give it our best shot.'
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Keane dreaming of home glory as Rafferty eyes second South win
Lahinch's Jonathan Keane says it would "mean everything" to win the Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland, but he knows he must stick to the one-shot-at-a-time cliché if he's to make his dream come true. The Kilfenora man (25) gave up the accordion to focus on his golf, and while he faces a tough semi-final against Edmonstown's Liam Abom (22), he knows he has the local knowledge, the support and the game to make the final. Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty, the 2018 champion, is the hot favourite as he faces Grange's Jake Whelan, a former semi-finalist, in the other big match of the morning. But if former Walker Cup star Rafferty is the virtuoso performer, as he showed when reeling off a brace of 5&3 wins over Monkstown's Sean Desmond and Athenry's David Kitt, Keane showed he has the grit to go all the way. He played excellent golf to beat Galway veteran Joe Lyons 5&4 in the third round before using his short game to see off the highly experienced Carton House man Paul O'Hanlon 2&1 in the afternoon. Just one up with seven to play, he got up and down on the 12th for a birdie to double his lead, lost the 13th to a three, but got up and down again on the 14th for a half before repeating the trick to win the 15th and 16th with pars. A two-putt par got him over the line on the 17th, and he admits winning a championship he first saw contested a decade ago would be like winning a major. While overseas member Patrick Adler, now a pro, won last year, Keane would be the first local member to win since JD Smyth in 1968. "It'd be great to win it after him," said Keane, who joined the club in 2011 and first saw the final in 2015 when Stuart Grehan beat Colin Fairweather in a downpour. "He used to coach me when I was younger. I have to give credit to him now for the up and downs. He really was a short game wizard." Abom had to dig deep to beat the talented Roganstown teenager, Mark Cadden, one up in the morning, and it was a dogfight in a quality afternoon quarter-final with Fota Island's David Howard. He won by two holes, getting revenge for his younger brother Thomas' 20th-hole defeat to the Corkman in the morning. Thomas won the Irish Close last year and Liam admits it would be nice to claim back some bragging rights by going all the way this week. "I'd say that was my best performance," Abom said after making seven birdies against Howard with his birdie-birdie-par run from the 13th key to his win. "I feel like I'm playing freely and I'm not worried about the consequences as much." Fatherhood has made Rafferty a more mellow character, but he remains the man to beat, as Whelan explained after his 2&1 win over Donegal's Ryan Griffin. "He's one of the best in Ireland, if not the best," said Whelan (30), a former Mullingar Scratch Cup winner who is looking for his first championship win. "He does everything well, and he's been one of the top one or two players in the country now for five or six years." Whelan feels he's a far better player now than he was in 2019, when he lost 5&3 to Keith Egan in the semi-finals. "Everyone here can play, so I'm just going to have to shoot a good few under tomorrow and see where that leaves me," he said, believing that playing the course rather than the man is the best tactic. Rafferty has won the South, East and West of Ireland titles, but he never tires of winning, "Every championship is the same, it's the best feeling ever," he said. "That's why we play golf. This will be a wee bit more special, be the first one that the child will be here, to have that as well. So that's an addition to it this time." Having done it all in the amateur game, he's more relaxed than ever. "No pressure, it's another day of golf and just see what happens," he said. "I'm definitely playing less golf (as a father). "Probably a little bit uptight at times with golf like we all do. But no,nice and relaxed. Just let the clubs hit the ball and find it and hit it again.' Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, Lahinch Third round Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) bt Seán Desmond (Monkstown) 5 & 3; David Kitt (Athenry)bt Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle) 19th; Ryan Griffin (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) bt Dylan Holmes (Greystones) 21st; Jake Whelan (Grange) bt Luke O'Neill (Connemara) 2/1; Jonathan Keane (Lahinch)bt Joe Lyons (Galway) 5/4; Paul O'Hanlon (Carton House) bt Conor Stapleton (Westport) 2/1; David Howard (Fota Island) bt Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) 20th Liam Abom (Edmondstown) bt Mark Cadden (Roganstown) 1 up Quarter-finals: Raffertybt Kitt (Athenry) 5/3; Whelan bt Griffin 2/1; Keane (Lahinch) bt O'Hanlon 2/1; L Abom bt Howard 2 up. Sunday Semi-finals: 8:30 Rafferty vWhelan; 8:45 Keane v L Abom.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma State duo Ethan Fang, Preston Stout named to U.S. Walker Cup team at Cypress Point
It's a good summer to be an Oklahoma State Cowboy. Ethan Fang, 20, and Preston Stout, 21, were named members of the 2025 United States Walker Cup team, it was announced Friday. The duo, both rising juniors at OSU, join Jackson Koivun, Ben James and Michael La Sasso on what will be a 10-man roster, leaving five spots open with three weeks remaining in the selection period. The roster will be fully announced at the conclusion of the 2025 U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club in San Francisco. 'Ethan and Preston are excellent additions to further solidify this year's team,' captain Nathan Smith said in a release. 'These two players have worked tirelessly to put themselves in a position to be selected to this team and I'm thrilled to see their hard work rewarded. I look forward to having them on our side at Cypress Point.' Last month, Fang captured the 130th Amateur Championship at Royal St. George's in England, becoming the first American in 18 years to win. He also went 2-1 for OSU in match play, helping the Cowboys win their 12th national title in school history in May at Omni La Costa. Stout also went 2-1 in match play at the NCAA Championship, and he also captured the title at the 2025 Northeast Amateur last month at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rhode Island. He's also a back-to-back Big 12 Conference individual champion. The USGA's International Team Selection working group could name additional players to the Walker Cup team before the U.S. Amateur. The winner of the U.S. Amateur and the recipient of the 2025 McCormack Medal, if they're American, will earn automatic spots on the Walker Cup Match is a 10-man amateur team competition between the USA and Great Britain and Ireland. Cypress Point Club previously hosted the 1981 Walker Cup, when the USA defeated GB&I, 15-9, led by Corey Pavin, Jay Sigel and Hal Sutton. The 50th Walker Cup is set for Sept. 6-7.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Howard focusing on the title not the blazer after making last 16 at Lahinch
Fota Island's David Howard slipped one arm into an Irish blazer when he eased his way into the last 16 of the Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Lahinch. Ranked second in the Order of Merit with the top two automatically selected tomorrow night for next month's matches at Woodhall Spa, he beat Palmerstown House's Ross McCormack 2&1 before seeing off Charleville's Jordan Boles 6&5 to set up a last 16 clash with Irish Close champion Thomas Abom from Edmonstown. It was an intense 24 hours for the reigning East of Ireland champion, who had to dig deep just to make the cut and keep his hopes of an international cap alive. But having played his last six holes on Thursday in five-under to qualify, he continued his excellent play in a light westerly breeze yesterday, making five birdies in the morning and another four in the afternoon. 'It's a long day, long week, and I have a few things hanging over me.' said Howard, who has decided not to worry about the mathematics of who might overtake him in the Order of Merit and focus instead on winning the championship. 'I need to say second to the guaranteed a pick for the Homes but while I try to not think about and play my golf, obviously it's in the back of my mind.' West of Ireland champion Dylan Holmes, who beat Keith Egan and Niall Hearns to make the last 16 and set up a meeting with Donegal man Ryan Griffin, could overtake Howard if he wins the title. But Howard is focusing on his battle on the opposite side of the draw, where Galway veteran Joe Lyons faces Lahinch's Jonathan Keane and Conor Stapleton from Westport faces Paul O'Hanlon, a 19th hole winner over 2023 champion Colm Campbell. 'If I win this week, no one else can get in the way,' said Howard, who feels his putting is coming together after some recent work with Kevin Morris at Fota Island. He faces a tough task against Thomas Abom, who chipped in for birdie at the 18th to take Tralee's Mark Gazi into extra holes before two-putting for a winning birdie from long range at the 20th. The winner will face Roganstown's Mark Cadden or Abom's brother Liam, who beat Galgorm Castle's Josh Hill one up. Cadden held off a back nine comeback from veteran Pat Murray to win his morning match one up before ousting former Irish Close champion Quentin Carew 2&1 in the afternoon. At the top of the draw, leading qualifier Dylan Keating fell in round one to Monkstown's Sean Desmond, who was the last man to qualify, and went on to beat East Clare's Eoin Magill. He now takes on 2019 winner and former Walker Cup star Caolan Rafferty, who came back from three down with five to play to edge out Berehaven's Joe O'Neill on the 18th. The Dundalk man won the 14th, 15th and 17th to level the match before O'Neill hit his approach too close to the wall at the 18th to make a full backswing and conceded after twice failing to get on the green. 'It was just a rough spin in for Joe,' Rafferty said. 'I just kept hitting fairways and greens and what happened on 18, it's not nice when something like that happens to a nice guy like Joe.' The winner of Desmond-Rafferty will take on Galgorm's Jordan Hood, who beat the combative Douglas man Barry O'Connell one up, or the steady Athenry grinder David Kitt. Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, Lahinch First rd: S Desmond (Monkstown) bt D Keating (Seapoint) 1 up E Magill (East Clare) bt B Oberholzer (Clandeboye) 2/1 C Rafferty (Dundalk) bt P Curran (Edmondstown) 5/4 J O'Neill (Berehaven) bt J Butler (Naas) 3/1 B O'Connell (Douglas) bt A Buchanan (Royal Portrush) 1 up J Hood (Galgorm Castle) bt C Clarke (Balmoral) 2/1 D Kitt (Athenry) bt R Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire) 5/3 C Cooley (Belvoir Park) bt D Reddan (Castleknock) 1 up R Griffin (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) bt R Latimer (Knock) 3/2 A McCormack (Castletroy) bt E O'Carroll (St Annes) 6/5 D Holmes (Greystones) bt K Egan (Carton House) 3/2 N Hearns (Mountrath) bt J Foley (Elm Park) 2/1 L O'Neill (Connemara) bt S Downes (Royal Dublin) 23rd F Dobbin (Malone) bt E Sullivan (Portmarnock) 3/2 J Whelan (Grange) bt J Rackard (Bunclody) 3/2 A Smith (Mullingar) bt D Lally (Blainroe) ) 5/4 J Lyons (Galway) bt C Hickey (Dooks) 5/3 B Cahill (Dundalk) bt S Barry (Fota Island) 1 up S Loftus (Lahinch) bt J Maginn (Mourne) 19th J Keane (Lahinch) bt G O'Neill (Malahide) 4/3 C Stapleton (Westport) bt T Scroope (Nenagh) 3/2 G Donohoe (Enniscorthy) bt R Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) 2 up P O'Hanlon (Carton House) bt J Walsh (Douglas) 6/5 C Campbell (Warrenpoint) bt K Bornemann (Douglas) 3/2 T Abom (Edmondstown) bt M Gazi (Tralee) 20th J Sutherland (Galgorm Castle) bt C Woodroofe (Dun Laoghaire) 4/2 J Boles (Charleville) bt D Hogg (Belvoir Park) 6/5 D Howard (Fota Island) bt R McCormack (Palmerstown House) 2/1 L Abom (Edmondstown) bt D O'Sullivan (Tralee) 3/1 J Hill (Galgorm Castle) bt TJ Ford (Co Sligo) 21st Q Carew (Castleknock) bt B Howlin (The Heritage) 19th M Cadden (Roganstown) bt P Murray (Adare Manor) 1 up. Second rd: Desmond bt Magill 1 up Rafferty bt O'Neill 1 up Hood bt O'Connell 1 up Kitt bt Cooley 3/2 Griffin bt McCormack 1 up Holmes bt Hearns 5/3 O'Neill bt F Dobbin 5/3 Whelan bt Smith 5/4 Lyons bt Cahill 6/5 Keane bt Loftus 3/2 Stapleton bt Donohoe 1 up O'Hanlon bt Campbell 19th T Abom bt Sutherland 2/1 Howard bt Boles 6/5 L Abom bt Hill 1 up Cadden bt Carew 2/1. Today - Third rd.: 8:00 Desmond v Rafferty 8:12 Hood v Kitt 8:24 Griffin v Holmes 8:36 O'Neill v Whelan 8:48 Lyons v Keane 9:00 Stapleton v O'Hanlon 9:12 T Abom v Howard 9:24 L Abom v Cadden.
