"South" semis: Holland to face Lester; Purcell to test Campbell

Daniel Holland (Castle) on the 7th tee during his quarter-final win over Arthur Pierse in the South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Lahinch Golf Club. 23rd July 2016. Picture:  Golffile | Thos Caffrey

Castle’s Daniel Holland kept his hopes of an international call up alive when he ended veteran Arthur Pierse’s dream of South of Ireland glory before seeing off Sean Flanagan to make Sunday’s semi-finals at Lahinch.

The 26-year old Dubliner knows he must win his first amateur title to force to the Irish selectors to consider him for next month’s Home Internationals.

But after beating 65-year old Pierse and North of Ireland winner Flanagan by identical 5 and 4 margins, he’s highly fancied to go all the way and lift his first major.

Beaten in the final of the West of Ireland Championship at Easter, former Mullingar Scratch Trophy winner Holland now faces the talented Hermitage international Rowan Lester in the semi-finals with Irish Amateur Open champion Colm Campbell from Warrenpoint taking on 19-year old Portmarnock sensation Conor Purcell.

Serious golf today. Standard very high. Here's @conorp45 who is 2 up after 16 v Stephen Watts http://pic.twitter.com/G59dpktk7x

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 23, 2016

While Campbell was impressive as he edged out Portmarnock’s James Fox at the 18th and then beat Tramore’s Robin Dawson 4 and 3, Purcell beat Boys international Thomas Mulligan 4 and 3 before defeating Cairndhu’s Stephen Watts 3 and 1 in a high quality quarter-final.

Victory for Purcell, who is a son of Portmarnock professional Joe Purcell, would rubber stamp his almost certain call up for the Home International matches. which start at Nairn in Scotland on August 10.

The team will be picked on Sunday and named next week.

FULL REPORT TO FOLLOW...

South of Ireland Amateur Open, sponsored by Pierse Motors Volkswagen

Lahinch Golf Club (Par 72)

Semi-finals, Sunday

1. 0830 Rowan Lester (Hermitage) v Daniel Holland (Castle) 
2. 0845 Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint) v Conor Purcell (Portmarnock)

(Final, Sunday at 2pm)

Quarter-finals

1. Rowan Lester (Hermitage) bt David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 2/1
2. Daniel Holland (Castle) bt Sean Flanagan (Co Sligo) 5/4 
3. Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint) bt Robin Dawson (Tramore) 4/3
4. Conor Purcell (Portmarnock) bt Stephen Watts (Cairndhu) 3/1.

Round three

1. Rowan Lester (Hermitage) bt Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) 5&4 
2. David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) bt John Greene (Portmarnock) 19th 
3. Sean Flanagan (Co Sligo) bt Jake Whelan (Newlands) 1 Hole 
4. Daniel Holland (Castle) bt Arthur Pierse (Tipperary) 5&4 
5. Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint) bt James Fox (Portmarnock)  1 Hole 
6. Robin Dawson (Tramore) bt Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle)      2&1 
7. Conor Purcell (Portmarnock) bt Thomas Mulligan (Co Sligo) 4&3 
8. Stephen Watts (Cairndhu) bt Alex Gleeson (Castle) 20th.

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