The wind abated, and the shocks halted. Yet, as a hint of civilised weather descended on the immaculate Enniscrone links yesterday, anyone wishing to survive in the West of Ireland Amateur Championship, sponsored by Ulster Bank, still had to demonstrate a great deal of fortitude.
And the four survivors into the semi-finals know a thing or two about mental toughness. All are proven competitors and, in the quartet of Jody Fanagan, Noel Fox, Eddie Power and Pat Lyons, there is an unmistakable touch of class which befits a championship that has seen many famous names inscribed onto the trophy in its 74-year history.
Ironically, on a day when the wind died down to acceptable levels and the arctic nip was missing from the air, Finland's Henri Salonen departed the scene. The elegant left-hander had brought more than a mere curiosity level to the event, his eventual conqueror Fox remarking: "He was a more than decent player, very solid and unlikely to make too many mistakes." In short, Fox was more than happy to claim his scalp.
Fox, though, made harder work of the quarter-final tussle than appeared necessary, committing what he called "schoolboy errors" at a number of holes. A missed putt from three feet (which would have put him two up) at the eighth and a poor drive into the dip at the ninth particularly annoyed him. "I was standing on the 10th tee thinking I should be two up," said Fox, who proceeded to lose that hole and go one down for the first time in the match.
However, the Irish international from Portmarnock got back on level terms by winning the 12th with a birdie. Then, at the 368yard 14th, he drove over the back of the green, pitched back and sank the putt for a another birdie to regain the lead. In his third round morning match with Pat Murray, he'd actually achieved an eagle two after also driving the green.
But Fox lost the 15th to Salonen when three-putting from the back of the green and, frustratingly, after a massive drive to the signature Par 4 16th left him with a mere nine iron approach, he again three-putted to only halve the hole. Fox kept his composure, though, and flighted in a lovely seven iron tee-shot to the short 17th and sank the 12-foot birdie putt to go one up. A regulation par four at the last was sufficient to book his place in the semi-finals.
"Up until this year, I'd describe the West as my nightmare tournament - I've never previously got past the second round," said Fox, a member of the British and Irish Walker Cup training panel. "I'm striking the ball well, and I'm really looking forward to playing against Jody. We're good friends and get on well, but there'll be good rivalry."
For his part, Fanagan was happy to have survived a potentially tricky assignment against Knock's Michael Sinclair in his quarter-final having accounted for Mark Campbell by 2 and 1 in the third round. "It was my first tight one and I was glad to get through," admitted Fanagan.
Fanagan eventually carved out a one-hole victory over the Ulster interprovincial and, although he never trailed, there was never more than one hole between them. In fact, when Sinclair won the 13th with a par three, the duo were locked together until they reached the next short hole, the 17th, which is reminiscent of the Postage Stamp at Troon.
There, Sinclair's tee-shot landed in a grass bunker to the right and he failed to get up and down. A par was sufficient to win the hole for Fanagan, the defending champion, and he sank a 23-footer for birdie on the last (after Sinclair sent in a lovely approach to five feet to set up a birdie chance) to close out the match.
The other two quarter-final matches were more clear-cut, although Lyons had to come from being two down after three holes to beat Hermitage's Stephen Browne 3 and 2. Lyons, a former international who last represented Ireland in 1986, has played some sparkling golf and the Ulster Bank official from Cork City appears to be undergoing a rejuvenation of sorts; in 62 holes since Friday, he has had 10 birdies and just three bogeys.
Lyons didn't let Browne's hot start get to him. "I knew I was playing well and striking the ball well, so I just kept firing in the pars," said Lyons. By the seventh hole, he was back on level terms - and he never looked back. Lyons won the ninth and 10th to go two up, lost the 12th to par after finding a fairway bunker, and hit a fine two iron tee-shot into six feet and sank the putt for a winning birdie on the 13th. The seasoned campaigner then wrapped up matters by winning the 16th in regulation.
His Munster colleague, Power, had a steadier passage into the semi-finals. Power, winner of the Irish close over this links in 1993, won the opening three holes and such a cushion proved too great for his opponent Colin Cunningham to negotiate.
Power was two-up at the turn, won the 10th with par, holed a 20footer for a winning par on the 11th to be four up again and coasted in for a 4 and 3 win. "I'm hitting the ball well and playing solid golf," said Power, adding: "I've won two Irish Close titles, but I'd like to win one of the provincial ones.
To do so, Power's next step is to overcome Lyons, a clash which won't hold any secrets given how well they know each other. "We've met each quite a lot over the years, and I'd say we're about all square," said Lyons. All of which suggests two close semi-final encounters today, and the prospect of another quality final in this popular championship.
Third Round - S Browne (Hermitage) bt J Hutchinson (Royal Dublin) 2 and 1; P Lyons (Cork) bt G McDowell (Rathmore) 4 and 2; E Power (Kilkenny) bt A Thomas (Tramore) 2 and 1; C Cunningham (Mullingar) bt J Brady (Edenderry) at 20th; J Fanagan (Milltown) bt M Campbell (Stackstown) 2 and 1; M Sinclair (Knock) bt P Killeen (Claremorris) 1 hole; N Fox (Portmarnock) bt P Murray (Tipperary) 1 hole; H Salonen (Finland) bt C Brown (Royal Portrush) 5 and 4. Quarter-finals - Lyons bt Browne 3 and 2; Power bt Cunningham 4 and 3; Fanagan bt Sinclair 1 hole; Fox bt Salonen 1 hole.
Today's draw: Semi-finals - 8.30 a.m.: Lyons v Power; 8.40 a.m.: Fanagan v Fox. Final at 1.30 p.m.
