Home Internationals: Ireland's chances of winning their second Amateur Home International title in four years disappeared yesterday when they squandered a foursomes advantage against England at Pyle and Kenfig in South Wales and crashed to a disappointing 9-6 defeat.
Things looked pretty rosy at lunchtime after the Irish had established a 3½-1½ foursomes lead. But the afternoon was so very different as England used their vast experience to demolish the Irish challenge.
In a cracking match at the top of the order, Holywood's Irish and European champion Rory McIlroy succumbed to Oliver Fisher, Britain's youngest Walker Cup player, by 2 and 1.
Both players had a fair sprinkling of birdies and eagles.
Fisher was three up after four holes, but then lost four in a row for McIlroy to edge in front, and the Irish teenager stayed one up with four to play, but then lost three on the trot to slip to defeat.
Lurgan's Gareth Shaw was unlucky to lose on the last to Jamie Moul, but Darren Crowe had no answer to the brilliant golf of Richard Dinwiddie, winner last year of the Scottish, Welsh and English open strokeplay titles.
Dinwiddie was five under par in sweeping to a 7 and 5 success.
Shane Lowry was impressive against Stephen Lewton being four under par in winning on the final hole, and Jonathan Caldwell got a point. But generally it was a bad day at the office.
Scotland beat Wales, also 9-6, so play England today for the title, while the Welsh and Irish battle to avoid the wooden spoon.
MEN'S AMATEUR HOME INTERNATIONALS (at Pyle and Kenfig, Porthcawl, South Wales) - Day Two
Scotland 9 Wales 6 (Scotland names first) Foursomes: L Saltman, G Murray bt C Cousins, C Mills 4 and 2; R Ramsay, S Jamieson halved with C Evans, L Matthews; G Campbell, P O'Hara bt N Edwards, R Thomas 2 and 1; K McAlpine, S Henry lost to R Davies, Z Gould 2 holes; J Gallagher, J King lost to T Dykes, B Westgate 4 and 2. Foursomes result: Scotland 2½ Wales 2½. Singles: Saltman halved with Matthews, Ramsay bt Edwards 6 and 5, Campbell bt Cousins 3 and 1, Jamieson halved with Gould, O'Hara lost to Mills 1 hole, McAlpine bt Westgate 4 and 3, Henry halved with R Enoch, K McNicholl bt Evans 4 and 2, Gallagher bt Dykes 2 holes, Murray lost to Davies 6 and 4. Singles result: Scotland 6½ Wales 3½.
England 9 Ireland 6 (England names first) - Foursomes: O Fisher, B Parker lost to R McIlroy, J Caldwell 1 hole; G Wolstenholme, J Moul bt P Murray, S Lowry 1 hole; R McGowan, G Boyd halved with D Crowe, G Shaw; S Lewton, P Waring lost to N Kearney, A O'Callaghan 3 and 2; E Richardson, A Gee lost to S Ward, C Doran 5 and 4. Foursomes result: England 1½ Ireland 3½. Singles: Fisher bt McIlroy 2 and 1, Wolstenholme halved with Murray, Moul bt Shaw 1 hole, R Dinwiddie bt Crowe 7 and 5, McGowan bt Ward 3 and 2, Parker bt Doran 3 and 2, Waring lost to Caldwell 3 and 1, Lewton lost to Lowry 1 hole, Boyd bt O'Callaghan 4 and 3, Richardson bt S Power 2 and 1. Singles result: England 7½ Ireland 2½.
