Cork's David Howard and John Doyle show Walker Cup potential at Lahinch
HOT START: David Howard watches on the green at Lahinch. Pic: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott
Impressing the Walker Cup captain is the goal this week and Cork men David Howard and John Doyle could declare mission accomplished after making hot starts to the 124th Pierse Motor Group-sponsored South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch.
The Fota Island men are just two of the players that skipper Dean Robertson is looking at this week as he prepares to name the 10-man team that will bid to win back the trophy when the west Clare links hosts the 51st Walker Cup from September 5-6.
Tired after his heroics in The Open, where he missed the cut by just two shots, Howard impressed Robertson with his performance at Royal Birkdale and his interaction with the potential Walker Cup players in action this week.
The Cork man played three six-hole matches against Amateur champion Stuart Grehan and likely team members Lewy Hayward and Dan Hayes on Tuesday and made five birdies as he opened with four-under 68 to share fifth behind two first-round pacesetter, Hayes.
“It's good to be in the mix,” Howard said.
“I know that he's looking at me and he followed me around a bit today. I shot four-under so it’s not bad. I’m sure he's happy enough with that.
“I’m tired after Royal Birkdale but managing it alright. So, we’ll see how the week goes.
“I got to the quarters last year and I played pretty solid today, made a few putts, so it was pretty stress-free. It was nice.”
Doyle made little on the greens but still shot a bogey-free 69 as 19-year-old English star Hayes made nine birdies in a two-club wind to shoot a seven-under 65 despite dropping a shot at the first and failing to birdie the par-five second or fourth holes.
“I thought it was going to be a bit of a rough day,” said Hayes, who went on to make six birdies and a par at the 10th in a seven-hole stretch from the sixth.
“But I went on a little run where I holed a few 10-footers, which were the ones that helped. And then just taking advantage of some of the par fives down the stretch.”
He leads by a shot from Athenry’s David Kitt and Malone’s Matt McClean, who also have a chance to battle their way into contention for a Walker Cup cap with a title run this week.
McClean played on the side that lost at St Andrews in 2023, and while he’s aware that a win would likely earn him a call-up, he’s focused on his game and a niggling back problem.
“Everyone wants to play Walker Cup, there’s no doubt about it,” McClean said. “So, I'm just going to play golf. I’ve got to keep my head out of all that sort of stuff. I can't do anything about it.
"All the Irish lads love it here and I play Lahinch well, so we'll see what happens. It's early doors now, but you just have to win these things.”
Skipper Robertson has been working closely with Paul McGinley on preparing for the clash with the highly fancied Americans, who will be bidding to deny GB&I their first win since five Irishmen played at Royal Lytham in 2015.
“The reason why we're here is to really learn the examination because Cypress Point was impossible to prepare for; it changed so dramatically in terms of the firmness during the week,” Robertson said.
“Links golf is easier to prepare for, for us. Lahinch is such a well-framed golf course, and it's one you can't overpower.
“You need to understand the contouring, especially around the greens, looking at it in different winds, and just getting an understanding of how to plot your way around the golf course.
“Paul McGinley and I are talking a lot. He knows this place well, I'm getting to know it better and so are the players.
“By the time the gun goes, we'll be fresh, but we'll be prepared.”
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