Mark Power is developing a habit of eagling the 18th and he did so again to grab a top-20 finish on his first HotelPlanner Tour start of the season at the DP World PGTI Open.
Power closed with a 67 for a thirteen-under total and share of 17th place and there will be reason to be encouraged for the Kilkenny man who had finishes of 1st, 48th, 2nd and 4th worldwide before this week.
The Mount Juliet star began with a bogey but four birdies in five holes either side of the turn kickstarted his round. A bogey followed on eleven but he finished in style with a birdie on the par-5 14th and a closing eagle three.
Conor Purcell took 26th place on ten-under after a 70 while Gary Hurley bookended his week with rounds of 68 for nine-under and a share of 31st place.
MJ Daffue produced a bogey-free final round to seal a second HotelPlanner Tour title in two months on a thrilling final day.
The South African, who started Sunday with a four-stroke lead, signed for a 69 to reach 21 under par and finish one shot clear of Jhared Hack and Saptak Talwar.
The victory sees Daffue catapult to the top of the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings.
“I’m really pleased,” he said. “The first one gets something off your back, but this time, I believed I could do it.
“I knew I was comfortable, and I have brought some momentum from the last few weeks.
“I’ve been patient. I’ve been working with a sports psychologist, and my moto has been ‘dogged, determination and patience’ and that helped me out there today.”
Daffue had six holes of his third round remaining when he returned to Classic Golf & Country Club on Sunday morning, the 37-year-old carding a 67 to move to 18 under par after round three.
A slow start to his final round saw him level thru eight holes before a solitary birdie at the ninth was followed by an eagle on the par five fourteenth.
“It wasn’t easy. The greens were a bit tricky, but I made some great swings, and my eagle was probably my only putt outside of six feet today.
“Momentum is a funny thing; it comes and goes. I have never shot an eleven under in a tournament, so all facets of my play were going well. I was putting well earlier on in the week, and I adjusted well to the course.”
America’s Hack and India’s Talwar shared second place on 20 under par, one shot ahead of Austria’s Lucas Nemecz in third.
The win sees Daffue put himself firmly in first place on the Road to Mallorca, with Englishman Will Enefer overtaking South African MJ Viljoen, to retain second place. Viljoen drops to third, with South African Deon Germishuys and American Davis Bryant rounding out the top five.
The Road to Mallorca heads to Italy next, for the Italian Challenge Open taking place at Golf Nazionale from May 7-10.
Leave a comment