Paul Dunne / Image from Getty Images
Paul Dunne, Gavin Moynihan and Michael Hoey return to action having all impressed at last week’s ISPS Handa Vic Open in Australia.
The Australian adventure continues this week for Ireland’s Paul Dunne, Gavin Moynihan and Michael Hoey as the trio prepare to take part in this little beauty – the ISPS Handa World Super 6 in Perth.
All three players enjoyed solid finishes at last week’s ISPS Handa Vic Open with Northern Ireland’s Hoey and Greystones golfer Dunne locked in a tie for 17thon 10-under par at the finish.
Meanwhile Moynihan made history on the final day as part of the first mixed group to play together as part of a European Tour/LPGA Tour event, and the unfamiliar surroundings did little to dent his fine play with the Mount Juliet professional claiming a share of 27thspot on seven-under par and a cheque worth €9,188 to go with it.
This week the players are in Perth for the third Australian event to take place on the 2019 Race to Dubai at Lake Karrinyup Country Club. And if ever there was a format to suit at least two of Ireland’s hopefuls, this is it.
156 players will compete over the first 36 holes with the top-65 and ties progressing to the weekend. Following round three the field size is cut to 24 players – with a sudden-death play-off taking place if required to reach that number.
The fourth and final round will see players battle head-to-head in a six-hole match play knockout format. The players will eventually be whittled down to the final two before the winner is crowned in the final.
Given Moynihan and Dunne’s joint exploits in winning the Golf Sixes back in Centurion club last May, the pair will no doubt be licking their lips at the prospect of revisiting a format that harboured such success for them last season.
Former University of Alabama star Moynihan in particular will be relishing the challenge, having almost doubled his career earnings at the Golf Sixes last year. The Dubliner has been enjoying the two-week stretch Down Under – taking in one of the finest courses he’s ever stepped foot on in Royal Melbourne before catching up with his old collegiate compatriot, Stephanie Meadow last week in Victoria. He’ll be hoping that more good memories can inspire a continued upsurge in his play.
Meanwhile it’s a landmark week for Australia’s association with the European Tour this week. Not only will it see the third edition Super 6 Perth take place in Western Australia, where home favourite Brett Rumford clinched the inaugural title in 2017 before Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat won his fourth European Tour title 12 months ago in the Aussie sunshine.
It also means, following the ISPS Handa Vic Open in Victoria last week, that it will be the first back-to-back week of European Tour action on Australian soil for 15 years.
First their dubious Eurovision Song Contest qualification and now this? It won’t be too long ‘til they’re chucking shrimps on the barby in Glenamaddy and Ros Muc!
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