The head says they can’t overcome the odds and get past the ambush of young tigers lying in wait in the Pierse Motors sponsored South of Ireland Amateur Open.
But the golfing romantics at Lahinch are hoping that 65-year-old veteran Arthur Pierse can finally win the title he needs to complete the provincial “grand slam” or that 30-year old John Greene, the 2010 winner, can prove he wasn’t just a one hit wonder.
Thoroughbred Pierse certainly has the game to gallop to victory but he admits it’s not his golf but his legs pose the biggest impediment to his chances.
Time waits for no man and Pierse has so many semi-final defeats to his name at Lahinch over the years that the most accurate figure he can come up with is “five or six”.
On Saturday he faces Castle’s Daniel Holland for a place in the quarterfinals and unlike Eugene Smith and John Ross Galbraith, who were oblivious to Pierse’s pedigree, the 26-year old Dubliner is well aware that he faces a tough task.
“Oh, I know all about Arthur Pierse,” said Holland, who reached the West of Ireland final at Easter. “He has had an amazing career.”
Following a 3 and 2 first round win over Smith, Pierse surprised international Galbraith – a former Irish Close and North of Ireland champion – by cruising to a 2 and 1 win and a last 16 appearance for the second time in four years.
“He’s still got it,” Galbraith said. “I was surprised how far he got the ball out there. He just doesn’t hit a bad shot.”
“I am not worried about any of them,” Pierse said with a big grin. He’s feeling no pressure.
“Can I win? The legs are the only thing. Sometimes you wake up and the adrenaline has gone. But I feel a bit better this time than I did the last few times I made it this far.
“I am playing as well as anyone. If there were 18 holes every day, I’d have a great chance. But two rounds a day? Who knows? As I said, I am not worried about any of them, just me.”
Pierse, who hits the ball as far as he did in his prime, made five birdies in his 35 holes against just two bogeys, playing metronomically from tee to green and putting beautifully.
In his youth, he beat Darren Clarke 7 and 6 in the semi-finals en route to his victory in the North of Ireland Championship in 1987, when Pormarnock’s Greene was just one year old.
The bearded 30-year old, champion in 2010, feels he is due another big run at Lahinch that would vindicate that famous win.
Six years ago he wielded his putter like a wand to see off Kealan McDonagh - currently a PGA trainee at Lahinch - and it was the same yesterday as he beat Ted Collins 4 and and then saw off title favourite Paul McBride from The Island at the 20th.
The Carlow native holed a clutch eight footer at the 18th to match McBride’s birdie and force extra holes, then pitched to eight feet from rough right of the 20th.
As McBride came up nine feet short with his third from the apron and grazed the hole with his birdie effort, Greene made another eight footer to secure a last 16 meeting with David Foy.
“I haven’t done anything here since I won,” said Greene. “I’ve gotten through a few rounds but I haven’t covered myself in glory. I don’t really enjoy being a one hit wonder so I want to prove it to a few people.”
