Report from PGA EuroPro Tour
Elliot Saltman, beaten in play-off,
earns £5,000 in Ireland
By ANTHONY LEAVER
Ivobank PGA EuroPr0 Tour Press Officer
Irishman Noel Fox held his nerve in a play-off against Scot Elliot Saltman to win the Faithlegg Irish Championship at Faithlegg in Waterford today.
The pair both finished on nine-under-par 207 on a fantastic final day to force a play-off down the 18th. Fox took the upper hand as Saltman’s tee shot struck the top of a tree close to the tee while Fox found the fairway.
With a tricky lie, Saltman scuffed the ball down the 17th fairway and his third shot to the edge of the green left him with a chip for a 4. With the pressure released Fox played a simple pitch onto the green, Saltman got close with his chip but it didn’t matter as Fox holed his birdie putt to scoop the trophy and £10,000, making it three Irish winners in a row on this year’s Tour.
“I’m over the moon,” said Fox. “An hour ago I didn’t think I’d be in this position but I had a good day today and I’m delighted to have won.”
Fox shot 67 in his final round while Saltman, who earned £5,000, had a putt at the last to win the tournament but he narrowly missed and had to settle for the play-off with a 68. Although the big Scot was disappointed, he was quick to praise his Irish opponent.
“I had two stupid bogeys today but credit to Noel, going 3-3-3 at the end is a great score,” said Saltman, who admitted he played a little too quick on the play-off hole.
“I went for a big one on 18 and clipped the tree. It landed in a divot mark and I just gave it everything to try to get it on but it just didn’t happen,” he said. Noel took full advantage but had sympathy for the runner-up.
“Elliot was unlucky with his drive, it wasn’t a bad shot at all,” said Fox. “My goal was just to get down in four as comfortably as possible.”
Adding to the par-birdie-birdie finished praised by Saltman, Fox chipped in at the eighth for an eagle in his five under final round of 67, adding to scores of 72 in the first round and 68 in his second round – a tournament total of 207.
The round of the day though went to Damian Mooney (Nevada Bobs Belfast) whose 63 is a new course record at Faithlegg. The Northern Irishman was one over going into the final round but his fantastic effort of four back to back birdies from the fourth hole got him going in style.
He repeated the feat down the back nine with four straight birdies from 13, and he picked up another at the last to beat Robert McGuirk's course record of eight under 64, set at this tournament last year – and he could have done even more damage with a little bit of luck.
“I actually missed a couple of putts – I lipped out on a few holes so it could’ve been even better but I’m delighted with how it went,” said Mooney.
“I‘ve been playing well recently but I got off to a bad start in the first round but I improved yesterday and obviously again today.”
Mooney finished tied second with Welshman Mark Laskey (The Shire) who shot 67 in the final round. Irishman Alan Murray (Greystones GC) continued his fine form on the tour with eight birdies in his 67 to finish in joint third place with Tom Haylock (HES) at seven under 209, tied for fifth.
Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool) and Andrew Bradley (Doncaster) were a shot behind them tied for seventh on 210, while 19 year-old South African Darryn Lloyd (Toft Hotel GC) continues to impress with a round of five under par 67 today taking him to five under 211 for the tournament, where he joined four other players in a tie for ninth spot.
The Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour takes a three-week break after a fantastic start to the Tour at Wensum Valley, The Shire, Collingtree Park and Faithlegg.
Keep checking www.europrotour.com before we head to Bovey Castle in Devon as we will be announcing more tournaments and the first Peak Performance Player of the Month award.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
207 Noel Fox (Ire) 72 68 67, Elliot Saltman (Sco) 70 68 68 (Fox won play-off at first extra hole to earn £10,000; Saltman £5,000).
208 Damien Mooney (NIr) 77 68 63, Mark Laskey (Eng) 73 68 67 (£2,100 each).
209 Alan Murray (Ire) 74 70 65, Tom Haylock (Eng) 70 71 68 (£1,300 each).
210 Ian Keenan (Eng) 72 70 68, Andrew Bradley (Eng) 72 67 71 (£950 each).
Other totals:
213 Graeme Brown (Sco) 74 68 71 (jt 17th) (£428).
214 Graham Gordon (Sco) 75 70 69, Mark Kerr (Sco) 74 70 70, Barry Hume (Sco) 71 71 72 (jt 20th) (£355 each).
earns £5,000 in Ireland
By ANTHONY LEAVER
Ivobank PGA EuroPr0 Tour Press Officer
Irishman Noel Fox held his nerve in a play-off against Scot Elliot Saltman to win the Faithlegg Irish Championship at Faithlegg in Waterford today.
The pair both finished on nine-under-par 207 on a fantastic final day to force a play-off down the 18th. Fox took the upper hand as Saltman’s tee shot struck the top of a tree close to the tee while Fox found the fairway.
With a tricky lie, Saltman scuffed the ball down the 17th fairway and his third shot to the edge of the green left him with a chip for a 4. With the pressure released Fox played a simple pitch onto the green, Saltman got close with his chip but it didn’t matter as Fox holed his birdie putt to scoop the trophy and £10,000, making it three Irish winners in a row on this year’s Tour.
“I’m over the moon,” said Fox. “An hour ago I didn’t think I’d be in this position but I had a good day today and I’m delighted to have won.”
Fox shot 67 in his final round while Saltman, who earned £5,000, had a putt at the last to win the tournament but he narrowly missed and had to settle for the play-off with a 68. Although the big Scot was disappointed, he was quick to praise his Irish opponent.
“I had two stupid bogeys today but credit to Noel, going 3-3-3 at the end is a great score,” said Saltman, who admitted he played a little too quick on the play-off hole.
“I went for a big one on 18 and clipped the tree. It landed in a divot mark and I just gave it everything to try to get it on but it just didn’t happen,” he said. Noel took full advantage but had sympathy for the runner-up.
“Elliot was unlucky with his drive, it wasn’t a bad shot at all,” said Fox. “My goal was just to get down in four as comfortably as possible.”
Adding to the par-birdie-birdie finished praised by Saltman, Fox chipped in at the eighth for an eagle in his five under final round of 67, adding to scores of 72 in the first round and 68 in his second round – a tournament total of 207.
The round of the day though went to Damian Mooney (Nevada Bobs Belfast) whose 63 is a new course record at Faithlegg. The Northern Irishman was one over going into the final round but his fantastic effort of four back to back birdies from the fourth hole got him going in style.
He repeated the feat down the back nine with four straight birdies from 13, and he picked up another at the last to beat Robert McGuirk's course record of eight under 64, set at this tournament last year – and he could have done even more damage with a little bit of luck.
“I actually missed a couple of putts – I lipped out on a few holes so it could’ve been even better but I’m delighted with how it went,” said Mooney.
“I‘ve been playing well recently but I got off to a bad start in the first round but I improved yesterday and obviously again today.”
Mooney finished tied second with Welshman Mark Laskey (The Shire) who shot 67 in the final round. Irishman Alan Murray (Greystones GC) continued his fine form on the tour with eight birdies in his 67 to finish in joint third place with Tom Haylock (HES) at seven under 209, tied for fifth.
Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool) and Andrew Bradley (Doncaster) were a shot behind them tied for seventh on 210, while 19 year-old South African Darryn Lloyd (Toft Hotel GC) continues to impress with a round of five under par 67 today taking him to five under 211 for the tournament, where he joined four other players in a tie for ninth spot.
The Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour takes a three-week break after a fantastic start to the Tour at Wensum Valley, The Shire, Collingtree Park and Faithlegg.
Keep checking www.europrotour.com before we head to Bovey Castle in Devon as we will be announcing more tournaments and the first Peak Performance Player of the Month award.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
207 Noel Fox (Ire) 72 68 67, Elliot Saltman (Sco) 70 68 68 (Fox won play-off at first extra hole to earn £10,000; Saltman £5,000).
208 Damien Mooney (NIr) 77 68 63, Mark Laskey (Eng) 73 68 67 (£2,100 each).
209 Alan Murray (Ire) 74 70 65, Tom Haylock (Eng) 70 71 68 (£1,300 each).
210 Ian Keenan (Eng) 72 70 68, Andrew Bradley (Eng) 72 67 71 (£950 each).
Other totals:
213 Graeme Brown (Sco) 74 68 71 (jt 17th) (£428).
214 Graham Gordon (Sco) 75 70 69, Mark Kerr (Sco) 74 70 70, Barry Hume (Sco) 71 71 72 (jt 20th) (£355 each).
Labels: EUROPRO TOUR
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See story on its own page | Friday, May 23, 2008
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