Paul Dunne returns to individual action at the BMW International Open this week hoping to pick up where he left off at the Made in Denmark last month.
The Greystones golfer collected a top-5 finish in Himmerland and looked almost back to his best as he enters an exciting run of events that includes the Irish Open at Lahinch on July 4th. Dunne has enjoyed a quiet couple of weeks with only a fleeting appearance on the golf course alongside Gavin Moynihan at the GolfSixes in Portugal a fortnight ago.
There, the defending champions were dumped out by eventual winners Thailand but Moynihan is another to return to the individual fold this week at Golfclub München Eichenriedhoping to find some form ahead of his own Irish Open ambitions.
Ballymoney’s Michael Hoey completes the travelling Irish trio as his schedule continues to improve each week. Hoey retired early last time out on Challenge Tour duty in France and after missing a first cut of the season a week prior at the Belgian Knockout, he’ll be looking to steady a ship that has seen nothing but smooth seas so far in 2019.
Ireland’s raiders will face a stiff task withdefending champion and in-form Matt Wallace taking his chance again this year. Wallace secured his third title in just his 39th European Tour appearance – and the second of three wins in 2018 – with his victory in Pulheim last season. His triumph at Made in Denmark a few months later took his tally to four titles in just two seasons, and the 29-year-old Englishman shows no sign of taking his foot off the gas.
With two runner-up spots on the European Tour already this season, a tied third finish at the US PGA Championship in May for his best placing in a Major Championship, and a tied 12th finish at the U.S. Open last week – which took him to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex – Wallace looks well-placed to become the first player to successfully defend the BMW International Open title.
Irish Tee times (Irish Time)
10:30am – Stuart Manley, Michael Hoey, Gavin Green
13.50 – Lee Slattery, Paul Dunne, Sam Horsfield
14.10pm – Nino Bertasio, Gavin Moynihan, Marc Hammer (Am)
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