A battle of the brothers as Le Hurays set up semi-final

The two-time former junior island champion carded a level-par 70 in the Saffery Champness Island Men’s Championship 18-hole qualifier at L’Ancresse that pushed defending champion Jeremy Nicolle out of the semi-finals line-up and set up a last four showdown with his brother Tom on Saturday afternoon.

‘If he beats me, I’m not going to his 30th on Sunday,’ joked the younger Le Huray.

Former multiple champions Bobby Eggo and Danny Blondel will meet in the other semi.

But it was Sam Le Huray who produced the story of the day, the five-handicap admitting afterwards that it had been a while since he had been in such a good position in a big event.

‘I started off with a birdie and it was just solid from there really,’ he said, before detailing a couple of other highlights from his round.

‘I stuck it to about a quarter-of-an-inch from the hole at the eighth with my second shot – another half a roll and it would have gone in.

‘I also birdied 12 and I stiffed it to about 1ft on 16 for another birdie.’

All his good work over the first 17 holes meant that a three-putt at the last did not prove costly.

‘I pulled my tee shot on 18 to leave me about 60ft from the hole and when I got down to the green I asked Chris Walker what scores were already in, so I knew that even if I three-whacked or even four-whacked I would still be in the top four.’

Tom Le Huray, who will be looking to maintain his record of not having lost to his brother off scratch in matchplay, was solid in the qualifier, too, carding a 71 to take third place.

In his quest for a 12th island title, Eggo returned the best score of the day with a three-under-par 67 gross, finished in typical style with a great tee shot to the right-hand flag at the last to set up a short putt for a two that he converted for his fifth and final birdie of the round.

He was playing alongside Blondel, who made what proved to be a crucial birdie at the 17th thanks to three quality shots.

Both he and Nicolle had 72s, but the reigning champion lost out on fourth place on countback to the man he beat in last year’s final at La Grande Mare despite an eagle two at the 17th where he drove through the back of the green.

Unfortunately, illness caused defending women’s champion Rochelle Vaudin to withdraw from the championships early yesterday morning.

The four qualifiers in Division One are all past champions with Veronica Bougourd leading the way with an 80 gross, followed by Mandy Webber one shot back, Di Hudson on 83 and Sue Wellfair on 85.

Clare Tee had an impressive 86 gross to lead the way in Division Two, qualifying for the semi-finals along with Julie Creed, Helen Banks and Gill Burford, while juniors Chloe Domaille and Jennie Ballay made the top four in Division Three along with Nicky Wild and Claire Mapley.