Mark Power was disappointed to bogey two of his last three holes at the Irish Challenge but admitted that securing his place in next month’s Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg was a nice consolation.
Power had moved to within two of the lead on eleven-under with a birdie on 15 and he was aiming to post twelve-under and watch the leaders tackle the heavy rain that had arrived to drench a fiery Killeen Castle. Unfortunately the bad weather caught him out and he couldn’t get up and down from left of the par-3 16th before he took three blows on the 18th.
Still, the Mount Juliet man comes away with a closing 70 for a nine-under total and a season best finish of 9th place. There is also silverware in the Christy O’Connor Jnr Trophy which goes to the low Irishman this week.
“It was a bit up and down, few funny shots in to some of those holes on the front nine,” said Power who was level with Liam Nolan going into the final round.
“To get up and down on 6 felt like a birdie and I had a great crowd out there supporting me so I could feel them egging me on. I could feel the crowd pulling me on every shot it was great, can’t beat playing at home, would have been nice to give them a bit more to cheer about at the end but the Irish Open spot is always nice to get and the Christy O’Connor Jnr award is an honour to win.
“Hopefully I can move on to bigger and better things but it’ll do!
Power lamented his iron play all week as a new set of sticks didn’t behave. A scuttery approach to the first cost him a bogey but he restored parity with a birdie on the par-5 2nd. A poor iron shot left him in position Z right of the 6th green but he made a heroic par save which kickstarted his day and he replied with birdies on the par-5 7th and par-3 8th from kick in distance.
After opting to lay up on the par-5 12th, Power wedged and putted for a birdie before he set his sights on a grandstand finish. After leaking his drive right of 15 he hit a big cut around a large tree with a hybrid club to the back of the green and he comfortably two-putted for birdie to get within two of the lead.
At that stage with his place in the Irish Open secured with his closest challenger Liam Nolan struggling, the Kilkenny native wanted to put on a grandstand finish. It wasn’t to be but it is two tournaments in a row where he has put back to back weekend rounds together.
“Bittersweet, I thought when I got on to the 16th tee box I could really post a low number with that rain coming in and how tough the last few holes are I thought I had a chance of winning. Didn’t hit a great shot into 16 struggled with my irons all week. It’s a shame to three putt the last like that, plenty of positives to take but stings right now.
“That’s been my year I have made a lot of cuts and played a lot of solid golf which has been up and down the last couple of years. This year I feel I have given myself chances going into weekends but not putting it together. In the back of your mind you put pressure on yourself to do it and that doesn’t help. I feel like I am not playing my best but still getting those higher finishes so that’s definitely encouraging and hopefully I can finish the year.
“I feel like I am capable of putting myself into position going into Spain at the end of the year so we will see.”
His share of 12th should bump him into the top-70 in the Road to Mallorca Rankings which will qualify for the two China events which have more points on offer before the Grand Final.
With eight events remaining between now and the Grand Final, the 26-year-old is aiming to break into the top-45 and progress further up the rankings to give himself a chance of clinching one of the 15 DP World Tour cards available.
“A big goal of mine is to get into the top-70 to qualify for China in those big events that carry more points. I have higher expectations to try and get into the top-15.”
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