Quentin Carew picked up his second Senior Scratch Cup of the season as he edged out Enniscrone’s David Shiel in a playoff on a thrilling Saturday afternoon in Castleknock.
The Irish Close champion roared out of the traps with a five-under 67 in tough windy conditions to build up a three-shot advantage heading into the second round in the afternoon.
A two-under front nine maintained Carew’s three-shot cushion on seven-under-par before a birdie on the 10th saw him stretch his lead to five and seemingly out of sight.
Carew moved to nine-under with two holes to play but he was no longer coasting to victory as Shiel applied serious pressure with a blistering run of four birdies in seven holes to shoot from level to six-under.
Shiel then birdied the 18th before Carew amazingly double bogeyed the closing par-3.
The tables turned once again in the playoff as the players went down the 18th. Both players came up short but Shiel found the water and cost him a double meaning Carew had two putts for bogey from 15 feet to seal the deal to rapturous cheers from his fellow members.
“Delighted to get the win,” said Carew. “It was a tough day out there, particularly in the second round, a lot of wind.
“I started off really well in the second round and got a good lead by a few shots on the lads. Made a few silly mistakes over the last five or six holes and David made some birdies to get back into it.
“After 18 it was all level again and it was tough to take after having a good lead and letting it slip. It was hard to refocus I was very down on myself and angry with myself, just silly mistakes.
“I got my head back into the right place and told myself I was still in it. The relief was unbelievable to be honest!
“The feeling of throwing it away is the hardest thing ever to get your head back into the frame of mind to refocus and get it done. I was delighted to get my head back in the right place and get it over the line, it will stand to me no doubt.”
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