Robin Dawson will look to keep his run of home soil success going when he tees it up at the Stone Irish Challenge at Headfort Golf Club this week (10-13 October).
Throughout his career, the Tramore native has assembled a fine list of accomplishments at home, having won the Irish Boys Amateur Open in 2013 and the Irish Amateur Championship by four strokes at Royal County Down last year.
Following an impressive runner-up finish in the Amateur Championship later in the 2018 season, the then 22-year-old turned professional and began his journey towards a career on the European Tour.
The learning curve can be steep in the paid ranks—teeing it up in fields filled with former national amateur champions and global superstars, but he found his form at the perfect time and in the perfect place— this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Lahinch Golf Club.
Making only his fourth career start on the European Tour, Dawson began the week steadily with a two-under par round of 68 and despite carding a 71 in the second round, he was through to the weekend in his first Rolex Series appearance.
The third round of a golf tournament is often referred to as moving day, and on Saturday morning, amidst a true Irish mixture of rain, wind, calm and sun, Dawson showed why.
Beginning the day in a share of 53rd place, he executed a flawless trip around the County Clare links, carding six birdies and signing for a bogey-free round of 64.
The sublime effort catapulted him into a share of 14th heading into the final round and along with fellow Challenge Tour player Cormac Sharvin, the two golfers stood as the low-home players ahead of the last 18 holes of their National Open.
While surrogate Irishman Jon Rahm stole the trophy with an out-of-this-world final round 62, the week was a resounding success for Dawson—and Sharvin— who finished in tied 27th and tied 15th respectively, as they both got the better of home heroes Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington, Seamus Power and Graeme McDowell.
Now, the rookie professional will look to continue his pattern of success, and capture his first win in the paid ranks, when he tees it up at the Stone Irish Challenge.
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