Double top for McCarroll in Austria
Brendan McCarroll (second from left) celebrates with a beer.
Team Ireland’s Brendan McCarroll overcame a late double bogey to retain the Gosser Open in Austria and soar to second place in the Alps Tour’s Order of Merit.
The 27-year old from Ballyliffin went into the final round tied for the lead with tournament co-sponsor Martin Wiegele, opening up a two shot lead with four to play only to double bogey the par-three 15th to fall into a share of top spot with the former European Tour regular.
Both men then birdied the par-five 16th and went to the last tied for the lead on 14 under at GC Erzherzog Johann near Maria Lankowitz.
But it was the Austrian who cracked, making bogey for a 69 to finish tied for second with Welshman Rhys Enoch as the Donegal man made a solid par four for a 68 and a one shot win and his third victory on the Alps Tour in the last 12 months.
McCarroll birdied the first and fourth and then eagled the par-five ninth to turn in 32 and lead by one.
A birdie at the 10th helped him remain one clear before Wiegele bogeyed the 14th to fall two back.
Wiegele was involved in the longest ever playoff in the Alps Tour in 2008 - eight holes - but his late error denied him the chance of more sudden-death glory.
Seventh on the money list last season, McCarroll is now second in the Order of Merit with the top five gaining automatic promotion to the Challenge Tour next season.