South of Ireland win sets Conor Purcell up for an Ireland call

Another young golfer of considerable potential burst on the scene at Lahinch yesterday when 19-year-old Conor Purcell performed with the assurance and skill of a veteran when beating Rowan Lester of Hermitage by 4 and 3 in the Pierse Motors South of Ireland Championship.

Purcell, a member of Portmarnock, sat his Leaving Certificate at Malahide Community School in June, and became one of the youngest ever winners of the title in modern times. Limerick’s Cian McNamara, nowadays the professional at Monkstown, was a year younger when he triumphed in 2004.

Lahinch is certainly proving a happy hunting ground for the Purcell family. Conor’s father, Joey, garnered 5½ points from a possible six to help Leinster win the Interprovincial Championship there in 1973 and his immediate reward was selection on the Irish team for the Home Internationals. Now there is little doubt that Conor will follow in his footsteps when the side to defend the title at Nairn, Scotland, next month is announced this week.