Golf: Hoey on course for Amateur Ch'ship

Ireland’s Michael Hoey and Ian Campbell from Wales will contest the 106th Amateur Championship final after both came through their semi-final encounters at Prestwick yesterday.

Hoey, a former Irish champion from Belfast, overcame Scotland’s Simon Mackenzie in an epic tussle to eventually win at the 25th hole.

Mackenzie had been two up with three to play but a rousing fightback by his opponent saw Hoey square the match at the death.

Not since Hugh Campbell beat Michael Bonallack at Ganton in 1977 had a semi-final dragged on as long, but Mackenzie and Hoey managed to top that particular record.

Matching each other hole-for-hole, it was Hoey who eventually secured a final berth at the seventh extra hole with a par as Mackenzie stumbled to a bogey.

‘‘I’m delighted to get through,’’ said Hoey after his marathon. ‘‘It was an amazing match and it was just a shame someone had to lose.’’

Campbell meanwhile edged out Stuart Davis from Derbyshire at the 20th hole of an equally tense affair.