It seems appropriate somehow that a pair of Irishmen have advanced to the semifinals of the 41st U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Erin Hills. Erin is the poetic name for Ireland in Gaelic, and the 16-year-old course’s logo is a three-leaf clover. Cottages on the property are named for iconic Irish venues such as Ballybunion and Lahinch, and the pub has an Irish theme.
While the layout might not remind anyone of the historic links courses in Ireland, Hugh Foley, 25, and Matthew McClean, 29, have found the surroundings to their liking. And on a glorious Thursday – temperatures in the 70s with breezes in the 10- to 20-miles-per-hour range – the two Irishmen advanced to the semifinals in their first-ever appearance in this championship.