Rowan Lester swoops for late eagle to head the pack

A spectacular chip in for eagle at the final hole for a round of one under par 71 enabled Rowan Lester of Hermitage to ensure his place at the head of affairs after the second and final qualifying round of the Pierse Motors South of Ireland Championship at a wet and windy Lahinch yesterday.

It was the only round under par in the most trying of weather conditions over the two days and sends the 21 year-old into the match-play stages of the 116th South championship starting this morning with his confidence sky. A couple of weeks ago, he captured the North of Ireland Championship at Portrush and so his sights are set on joining Darren Clarke as the only winners of the two events in the same year.

As on Wednesday, a severe wind whipped in off the Atlantic, prompting the committee to push the tees forward at several holes with the dual intention of keeping the scoring average within the bounds of respectability and keeping the programme of matches on schedule — which wasn’t easy with groups taking over five hours to get around and the final groups in the first round coping with semi darkness.