Robert Moran chipped in for birdie on the 18th to clinch a dream Amgen Irish Open spot at the K Club next month after a stunning closing stretch saw him finish as the leading Irishman at Killeen Castle’s Irish Challenge.
Moran found himself struggling on one-under after eleven holes and four behind Paul McBride in the race for the Christy O’Connor Jnr Trophy but he clicked into gear at the right time, playing the last seven holes in five-under including holing a 45-foot birdie putt on 17 before chipping in from the back of the 18th green.
Moran will now make his Irish Open debut and join the likes of Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Tom McKibbin and Pádraig Harrington from September 4th to 7th.
“I’m buzzing for that, grown up watching the Irish Open on TV, I was at the K Club in 2016 on the Wednesday, I got myself onto the range and was just in awe of everything so that is a really cool memory to have,” said Moran who was five shots behind eventual winner Oihan Guillamoundeguy.
“It’s just down the road as well so I can stay in my own bed again. I have so many family members, probably hungover family because my cousin had a wedding on Friday and it was day two yesterday so it’s easy for them to come across. It’s just brilliant, really looking forward to it.”
A 4th place finish on six-under after a final round of 69 has granted Moran entry into next week’s HotelPlanner Tour event in Finland as well but it’s the Christy O’Connor Jnr Trophy and the rewards from that is what left the Castle golfer beaming from ear to ear.
“I would watch the majors and stuff but if I was to play any other event it would be the Irish Open. Just the excitement of it all and whatever happens, happens that week. It’s nice to be playing the next two Challenge Tour events as well.”
If you’re going to do it, do it in style. The Dubliner needed to find something special if he was to chase down McBride in the race for the Irish Open and he lit the touchpaper with an eagle on the par-5 12th after firing a 5-iron to three-feet.
A birdie on the par-3 14th brought him to within two of McBride, but Moran wasn’t done yet, he rolled in a birdie on the par-3 17th from 45-feet to draw level with the Island golfer who had bogeyed 16.
A poor wedge shot left Moran in a tricky spot on the back of the 18th green, but he dug out his chip very well and it hit the flagstick at the perfect pace and the 25-year-old let out a roar to match the cheers of the busy gallery around the green.
“It was quite smelly to be honest, the grass growing back towards me, thankfully someone had stepped in that area so it wasn’t a yard left or right it would have been a lot worse,” explained Moran who was indebted to some chipping tips from Cormac Sharvin.
“I have to thank Cormac Sharvin for a bit of short game magic he has taught me with those ones. I played it very differently to how I would have six months ago so I was just trying to hit the ball first and he was very good at helping me with that. It worked out very well I was trying to get it close so thank god for that!
“I was struggling. I was playing sloppy golf. Hit it in every second bunker on the golf course. Held a good five footer for par on eleven and felt a bit better. Had 248 into 12, downwind, I just knew left I had no chance of making birdie and that’s all I needed.
“I just thought, grow a set of balls if I hit it in the water it’s not the end of the world for an up and down so I hit it to three feet a five-iron. That helps. I kicked on then and to be honest I hit two pretty weak wedge shots on the last two holes but fortunately it was 45-feet and a chip in so patience.
“I picked good targets, didn’t hit the best shots but hit it in the right areas because there are places here you just can’t miss it in.”
Moran has been playing a full schedule on the Alps Tour and while he has been solid, his bid for promotion to the HotelPlanner Tour hadn’t built up a head of steam. But after this week at Killeen Castle, his summer now has momentum.
“You’re playing Alps Tour and this year has gone fine but I really need to finish strongly there so I was playing this week knowing it was a great opportunity and thankfully I took it. I have to thank Cormac and the team here for being sound and letting me out in Killeen Castle a few times.
“I honestly don’t think I’ve ever broken four-over off the back sticks before this week so to not shoot over par around here I am pretty happy with. What a golf course, we would all say it’s the best ran event and the golf course is really good, buzzing really.”
McBride will be disappointed to have let an Irish Open spot slip with bogeys on 16 and 17 but he dusted himself down in the moment to also birdie the last for a final round of 71 and a five-under total which preserved his place in the top-10 and earned him a share of fifth place and a start in Finland next week.
Liam Nolan secured a top-20 finish on one-under after a round of 71 while Alex Maguire was 29th after a final round of 76.
Liam Grehan was three-over while Max Kennedy and Jack Madden were plus five with Jonathan Caldwell a shot further back.
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