Rónán MacNamara in Killeen Castle
Paul McBride admits he feels a lot older than 29 but he still has time on his side and he hopes that a good result this weekend could provide the springboard he needs to better times ahead.
McBride put on an early morning assault at Killeen Castle in round three of the Irish Challenge, birdieing three of his last five holes to card a 67 and move into a share of tenth place with the leaders just underway.
At the time of signing his card, the Dubliner was just two shots off the pace on four-under-par, he now finds himself five back. A top-10 finish on Sunday would get him into the Vierumaki Finnish Challenge, but for now he will sit back in comfort this afternoon.
“It’s so nice going out early in the morning and shooting a good score you can sit back for the rest of the day. Especially on a course like this where it is tough and it is hard,” said the Island golfer who topped regional qualifying at the links venue last month.
“I knew making the cut I was thinking it’s one of those courses where if you put two good rounds together you can have a good result and I’m happy I did that today.”
McBride started well with back to back birdies on the second and third holes and his only blemish of the day came on the fourth. From there, the 2017 Walker Cup star found his groove and although he was only one-under for the par fives, he carded twos on the 8th, 14th and 16th before stitching a wedge to kick in distance on the last for three birdies in his last five holes – supposedly the tougher stretch!
“Early on in the round, holes 2, 3, 5 and 7 are all playing fairly handy. It’s around the middle where it gets tough, 13, 14, 16, 18 are pretty difficult. Someone could shoot five-under easily at the top and be out to twelve so you don’t know.
“I was saying to my caddie going up the last that I was only one-under for the par fives today! I had some good chances and missed them but I made up for them with some good putts on the other holes.”
McBride is on course for his best HotelPlanner Tour finish since finishing 12th at the 2023 Vierumaki Finnish Challenge and he feels if he could back up today’s 67 it would give himself a sense of validation for the good golf he has played despite not getting the results.
“My game has been a lot better than the results suggest I feel,” said McBride who was second on the ClutchPro Tour last month and is making his first start of the HotelPlanner Tour season due to having no invites this year.
“I have made loads of cuts but haven’t played very well. I’ve been happy enough and just waiting for a decent three rounds on Clutch or four rounds out here. It’s been fairly normal solid golf without doing anything special. I don’t have any invites at the moment so I would like to play well tomorrow and see where it leaves me.”
At 29, McBride still has time on his side. He had aspirations of reaching the heights of his Wake Forest teammates Cameron Young and Will Zalatoris but he hasn’t given up hope of clicking into gear in his own career.
“I’d want to get going fairly soon. I’m 29 but I feel a lot older in this game now where there are lads coming out at 20 and like I’m playing with lads who were born in the 2000s you’re like my God. I’d like to kick on.
“A good round tomorrow would really give me a boost so looking forward to tomorrow.”
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