Mark Power has been forced to live on scraps with partial Challenge Tour status in 2024, but after a strong performance at the Irish Challenge that saw him take the Christy O’Connor Jnr. Memorial Trophy as leading Irishman and with it, an invite to the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down, the Kilkenny man has eyes on a big finish to the 2024 season.
And he couldn’t have gotten off to a much better start at the Finnish Challenge as his opening round of -8 sees him sit all alone at the top of the leaderboard.
“Yeah, very good,” was his assessment after firing seven birdies and an eagle at Vierumäki Resort. “My lowest round in a while. So, it was beautiful. Really good conditions, the course was really nice. Got off to a good start, so just set me up and just kept going.”
It was indeed a very good start, making par on his first hole – the 10th – and then reeling off three birdies in a row and closing out the nine with another on 18. The highlight of the round came on number one, rolling in an eagle putt to move to -6. Another birdie on three was cancelled out by a bogey – his only one of the day – on four, but he was back moving in the right direction on six and he signed off with his seventh birdie on nine, getting into the clubhouse at -8, two clear of his closest challenger from the early wave.
“It’s always [important] out here,” he said of his driving which was exemplary on the day. “Getting it in play off the tee, but especially here, because the greens aren’t too firm and they’re rolling really nice. And if you’re putting well you can make a lot.
“Thankfully, the putter got hot today, so yeah, just get it in play and rolling some putts.
“Driving’s been pretty good this year, but my putter definitely has been a bit colder, but thankfully recently, I’m starting to see some drops. So its just all confidence, really and I’m very confident at the minute.”
Despite being one of the leading Irish players at DP World Tour Q-School back in November, a poor finish meant low Challenge Tour status and starts have been inconsistent, meaning it was hard to build any sort of momentum. That could all change with a big result this week, but securing full Challenge Tour status for 2025 remains the top priority.
“Yeah, I was one shot out of the top 10 in Ireland a few weeks ago, but played really well,” he said. “And as I say, confidence is definitely big for me at the minute, just in a good headspace. And I suppose in this game, it always helps when you’re in a good spot.
“I suppose the situation I’m in right now, [I’m] trying to secure my card for next year before Q-School and then see what can happen at Q school. But I’m just trying to get a full full run at this tour next year.
“I kind of had a partial status this year. So, yeah, I definitely feel like I’m I’m good enough to be out here, so we’ll see what we can do.”
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