Reigning Channel Islands men’s champion Conor McKenna will be the only finalist to have won the silverware before after he and partner Lewis Marley saw off the challenge of Andy Chamberlain and Roland Mills last night at L’Ancresse.
In the other semi-final, Jack Mitchell and Stuart Wallbridge added to their impressive list of scalps this week as they maintained their excellent form to knock out two former winners in Rory McKenna and Jeremy Nicolle.
While both last-four ties finished on the 16th hole, it was the lead-off match that was the closer battle throughout the evening as the loaded top half of the draw came to a head, but it was Mitchell and Wallbridge who came up with the big shots when it mattered.
Twice in their semi-final Mitchell clattered into the flagstick with pinpoint-accurate approach shots.
The first time came at the fourth where he had a tricky pitch shot over a green-side bunker to negotiate but did so brilliantly and, with the assistance of the flag, the ball came to rest within a foot of the cup to edge him and his partner ahead.
On the back nine, it did not come to his aid at the 15th as his wedge shot hit the pin flush, halfway up, and the ball ricocheted back off the front of the green.
By that point he and Wallbridge were 2 up but in danger of having their lead halved by that slice of misfortune. However, they managed to save their par and they closed out the match in style at the 16th where Wallbridge stuck their second to within a couple of feet.
Marley and McKenna took control of the other semi-final virtually from the outset and were 4 up through the first six holes.
Mills and Chamberlain, who were also semi-finalists last year, battled hard to take the match as far as the 16th, but there McKenna wrapped things up outrageously by putting his drive to within 5ft of the hole.
Semi-final results
J Mitchell, S Wallbridge beat R McKenna, J Nicolle 3 & 2.
L Marley, C McKenna beat A Chamberlain, R Mills 4 & 2.
Final tomorrow at 4.45pm.
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