Resilience pays off for Royal Portrush’s Madden

JACK Madden (Royal Portrush) fought back from a three-hole deficit to knock out pre-event favourite Robin Dawson (Tramore) at the West of Ireland Championship yesterday.

Madden showed resilience and skill at Co Sligo GC as he booked his place in today’s semi-final against Robert Brazill (Naas).

The 18-year-old was forced to return to the links early yester- day morning to finish his round two match, playing five holes before dispatching Gary Collins (Rosslare) on the 19th.

The Dungannon native, who will be off to Oklahoma City University in August, then beat Rory Williamson (Holywood) 4&3 before taking down Dawson.

Leading qualifier Kyle McCarron (North West) was forced to withdraw in his last-16 match.

McCarron suffered a recurrence of a wrist injury and could not continue, offering Portmarnock’s Jack Pierse a handshake walking off the fourth green.

Pierse was forced to do likewise in his last-eight match with the Castle’s Alex Gleeson after 11 holes, still feeling the effects of twisting his knee on Sunday. West of Ireland Championship Semi-finals: (8am) Alex Gleeson (Castle) v James Fox (Portmarnock); (8:15am) Robert Brazill (Naas) v Jack Madden (Royal Portrush)

Quarter-finals: Alex Gleeson (Castle) w/o Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) retired; James Fox (Portmarnock) bt Thomas O’Connor (Athlone) 2/1; Robert Brazill (Naas) bt Jack McDonnell (Naas) 2 holes; Jack Madden (Royal Portrush) bt Robin Dawson (Tramore) 19th. Third round: Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) w/o Kyle McCarron (North West) injured; Alex Gleeson (Castle) bt Reece Black (Hilton Templepatrick) 2/1; James Fox (Portmarnock) bt Shane McDermott (Co Cavan) 2/1; Thomas O’Connor (Athlone) bt Mark Power (Kilkenny) 4/3; Robert Brazill (Naas) bt B Anderson (Co Sligo) 2/1; Jack McDonnell (Naas) bt Paraic Connolly (Killeen Castle) 2/1; Robin Dawson (Tramore) bt Sean Flanagan (Co Sligo) 1hole; Jack Madden (Royal Portrush) bt Rory Williamson (Holywood) 4/3.

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