Robin Dawson raises hopes of home win

Tiarnan McLarnan and Eugene Smith, both 23, and Robin Dawson, 20, and Alex Gleeson, 21, have qualified to meet in this morning’s semi-finals of the AIG Irish Close Championship at Tramore.

The fact four young men for whom golf is an almost everyday exercise have reached the last four is the latest example of how little room there is at the top these day for those who work for a living, although the galleries at Tramore this week are not complaining because of the outstanding play they have seen.

And, of course, there is great excitement throughout Waterford given one of their own, Robin Dawson, a member of Faithlegg but also of the host club’s Irish Senior Cup winning team last year, is still standing and could repeat the victory of Tramore’s own Eddie Power in the championship when it was staged here in 1987.

Dawson now meets Alex Gleeson (Castle), another member of the Irish team that won the Home International Championship at Royal Portrush last week. This match has all the appearance of a mouth watering affair with Dawson assured of massive support. Indeed, Eugene Smith (Ardee), was so taken by the number of people following him yesterday that he commented: “It was like he had an army behind him”.

The local man made short work of another Waterford golfer, Ben Murray, in yesterday’s second round but if anything he was then confronted by an even fresher player in 22 year-old Robbie Pierse. Son of Morgan and nephew of former Walker Cup star Arthur, Robbie needed only 26 holes to come through his first two rounds on Thursday and yesterday morning won at the 11th against 16 year-old Thomas Mulligan.

In many ways, it was disappointing the youngster should have gone out in this way having equalled the course record in Wednesday’s second qualifying round but he was clearly exhausted after a busy few weeks that included an appearance in the fourth round of the British Boys Championship.

Dawson was ready for the challenge and he went on to win at the 17th. The turning point probably came at the long 9th where Pierse, one down at the time, was on in two shots but three putted and lost the hole when Dawson got up and down for birdie from a very tricky spot. The margin opened to three at the 10th and Pierse was unable to do enough stop the march of his highly impressive opponent.

Alex Gleeson, a health and performance student at UCD, has enjoyed a memorable season during which he captured the Irish Universities title and finished third in the East of Ireland before victory in the British Universities championship for the coveted Boyd Quaich at St Andrews a few days after the end of the Open Championship capped the lot. He went on to play his part in Ireland’s triumph at Portrush and defeated his Castle club mate Daniel Holland at the 16th in the quarter-final.

Tiarnan McLarnan (Massereene), winner of the Irish Youths title at Claremorris in 2013, has also enjoyed a good year highlighted by winning the North of Ireland Stroke Play. He played some fine golf in beating Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint) by 3 and 2. He now comes up against Eugene Smith who displayed outstanding fighting qualities in getting home at the 18th against Caolan Rafferty of Dundalk.

Today’s Tramore programme:

AIG Irish Close semi-finals: 8am, T McLarnan (Massereene) v E Smith (Ardee); 8.15, R Dawson (Faithlegg) v A Gleeson (Castle). Final: 1pm.