Team Ireland professional Conor O’Rourke fired closing level par 71 to drop back to a tie for 6th place at the Alps Tour Grand Final at Lake Maggiore in Italy.
Going into the week, O’Rourke sat in 13th spot on Order of Merit rankings and needed a top 3 finish in Italy to break into the top-5 on the season long money list which would have given him a full category on the Challenge Tour next year.
Starting the final round in solo third place and well on track to push for a 2019 Challenge Tour card, the Naas man struggled to gain any momentum during his final round.
“I actually played really well again today and struck the ball nicely but just got nothing going on the greens, which was disappointing,” said O’Rourke. “I gave myself lots of chances and after missing a few early in the round I just struggled to convert and it just got the better of me.”
O’ Rourke may have fallen just shy this time but he already has his eye on the next hurdle as he is set to tee it up in European Tour Q-School stage 2 in two week’s time.
“Looking at the positives it’s another good week” he added. “I came here needing a performance and put a solid week together which is very pleasing. Today’s result doesn’t change anything at all, I will come home, regroup and get ready for Q School stage 2. I know if I bring the game I have had this week into stage two, I can have a good week so I am looking forward to getting going again and try and keep the season going as long as I can.”
At the top of affairs, David Borda (ESP) claimed the title with a total score of -19. It is Borda’s second victory on the Alps Tour this season. David Carey carded a final round 73 to drop back to a tie for 28th finishing on a one-over-par total for the week
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