Irish ride out German storm to seal final berth

IRELAND remain very much in contention for a second successive European Seniors Championship but luck was very much on their side in yesterday’s semi-final against Germany at Shannon.

Any complacency in the Irish camp will have been dispelled after this close call, with team captain Tommy Basquille and his players also well aware of the quality in the Scottish team in this afternoon’s final.

Even though they were fourth and last of the top flight qualifiers after the stroke qualifying rounds, the German were always going to be extremely difficult opposition. They led in all five matches approaching the turn, and it was only then that things turned against them.

Karl Heinz Noldt and Benno Wimmer were coasting along nicely and two ahead in their foursomes clash with John Carroll and Hugh Smyth, when Wimmer complained of feeling unwell. Medical assistance was called and after examination it was decided he could not continue and the Germans had to concede the match. Ironically, Wimmer only came into the proceedings as a replacement for Wolfgang Teske, who was ruled out by a back injury.

From that point, the match swung slowly but surely in Ireland’s favour. Adrian Morrow found himself two down after eight against Michael Reich but he gradually fought his way back into the match, eventually moving one ahead at the 16th and making sure by also claiming the 18th.

Liam MacNamara, however, was unable to make up lost ground against Christoph Stadler and that left Ireland still needing one more point to be sure of a final place. It finally came their way when Maurice Kelly proved his mettle by beating the formidable Hans Gunther Reiter by 2 and 1.

In the remaining match, Arthur Pierse proved that his renowned long game is still in great shape as he cracked two mighty woods onto the green at the long 18th to draw level with Veit Pagel. They didn’t need to go to tie holes because Kelly had just decided the issue in Ireland’s favour, but it was that close.

“We certainly got a fright and I was pretty worried in the early stages,” admitted skipper Basquille. “We knew Germany had a strong all-round side and they certainly proved that. Who knows how it might have gone had it not been for the illness that struck Benno Wimmer, but we’re just delighted to be still in with a chance of the title. The lads have played some great golf so far, and now we face another stiff test against Scotland in the final for the second successive year.”

Scotland came out at the right end of a nail-biting semi-final against England, winning two of the five matches on the 18th and another at the 17th. They retain two members of last year’s team, Gordon MacDonald and Ian Hutcheon, while Hugh Smyth and Maurice Kelly will again be doing battle for the Irish. Meanwhile, England and Germany also meet today to decide 3rd and 4th places.