Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy started the PGA EuroPro Tour season with a sixth-place finish at the Cubefunder Shootout at Harleyford Golf Club in England.
The 28-year-old managed to pull himself back into the top-10 thanks to a four-under 68 in his final round in Buckinghamshire, ending his week at eight-under-par.
That left him six shots off winner James Allan; the Chelmsford man needing just a one-under 71 to maintain his overnight advantage and close out the one-shot victory over Benjamin Jones at 14-under-par.
It’s a promising start for McElroy who is looking to finish in the top-five on the Order of Merit at the end of the year and earn promotion to the Challenge Tour for next season, and he will be pleased with how he bounced back after a poor second round.
The Northern Irishman had seven birdies on his card – three of which arrived in his final five holes in a strong finish – to go with three birdies as he moved his way up the standings for an impressive week to open his year.
McElroy will split his time between the EuroPro Tour and the Challenge Tour over the next few months, as he is in line for several starts on the latter tour due to his Team Ireland backing, giving him two avenues to secure playing rights next season.
Meanwhile, Allan did just enough to secure his first EuroPro Tour victory as he opened up a buffer with two early birdies and added another at the 13th, meaning two late bogeys at the 14th and 18th proved not to be detrimental as his 71 secured the one-shot win.
Jones came up just short despite an eagle at the par-five 17th ramping up the pressure on Allan, but he would have to settle for second place as four birdies and four bogeys elsewhere in a two-under 70 was only good enough for 13-under.
Matty Lamb and Ashley Mansell would share third at 12-under as Will Enefer, who started the day second just a stroke adrift of Allan, fell away in round three with a two-over 74 to finish fifth at 10-under.
- Full scoring HERE
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