Arthur Pierse was 50-yearsold yesterday. And by way of celebrating the milestone, he has entered as an amateur for the US Senior Open at Salem CC at the end of June and the Senior British Open at Royal Co Down four weeks later.
But there is a problem: he will have to pre-qualify for both events. "It's something I've been thinking about for some time and I'm heading to the US for qualifying on June 8th," he said yesterday. "I will have to go through the same process for Newcastle."
Winner of four provincial championships - the East of Ireland in 1979, the West of 1980 and 1982 and the North of 1987 - Pierse has kept his game in good shape, as can be gleaned from a current plus-one handicap out of Tipperary GC. He can also reflect on Eisenhower Trophy selection in 1982 and Walker Cup honours the following year.
"Depending on how I fare in the two senior events, and obviously I've got to qualify first, I may then look at going to the European seniors' tour school later in the year," he added. "It's not about the money. I simply want to see whether I would be capable of competing at that level."
His position is not unlike that of former US amateur Jay Sigel who turned professional as a 50-yearold after the Walker Cup matches at Interlachen in 1993. And, of course, a former contemporary, Denis O'Sullivan, finished third on the European Senior Order of Merit last season.
"I had thoughts of a professional career when I was younger but at the critical time, my life took a different direction," Pierse added. This was a reference to the garage business in which he joined his twin brother Gerry in 1980 in Tipperary town.
One of the finest ball-strikers in the history of Irish amateur golf, Pierse retired from international competition after the Triple Crown breakthrough at Lahinch in 1987.
Meanwhile, current competitors aspiring to follow him into Walker Cup ranks will face the first challenge this coming weekend in a concerted push for selection. The GUI have nominated a six-member line-up to compete in the 72hole Lytham Trophy on Saturday and Sunday.
They are: Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Michael Hoey (Shandon Park), Tim Rice (Limerick), Michael McDermott (Stackstown), Johnny Foster (Ballyclare), Andrew McCormick (Scrabo).
Other forthcoming events at which the Royal and Ancient selectors will be in attendance are: May 11th-13th - Irish Open Strokeplay at Royal Dublin; May 18th-20th - Brabazon Trophy at Royal Birkdale; May 26th and 27th - St Andrews Links Trophy at Old and New Courses, St Andrews; June 4th-9th - British Amateur Championship at Prestwick and Kilmarnock Barassie; June 16th and 17th - Scottish Strokeplay at Nairn and Nairn Dunbar; June 16th-20th - Irish Close at Co Sligo; June 22nd-24th - Welsh Strokeplay at Llandudno (Maesdu).
The team to defend the trophy against the US on the Ocean Forest Course, Sea Island, Georgia on August 11th and 12th, will be selected after the European Men's Amateur Team Championship in Sweden on July 3rd to 7th.
At this stage, it seems clear Ireland's Graeme McDowell will be virtually an automatic choice in the team. And the likelihood is Ireland will have only one other representative, which means a straight fight between Fox and Hoey.
Despite a disappointing performance when losing the final of the West to McDermott at Easter, Hoey has the edge over his Portmarnock rival, which means Fox may have to do something rather special over the next two months to secure selection. Indeed he may have to win an event, which Philip Walton did in 1981 when he made certain of Walker Cup selection by capturing the Scottish Strokeplay title.
