Hurley to learn from spaghetti western day
Gary Hurley hits at the par three 7th during round three of the Irish Open at Fota Island. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
Amateur ace Gary Hurley promised to learn from an 81 that was like a scene from The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.
The West Waterford star, 21, shot a sensational 66 on Friday but followed up with a 10 over effort yesterday that was a real rollercoaster.
He had an eagle and three birdies, he was rocked by a double bogey, two triple bogeys and a quadruple bogey eight at the ninth.
Vowing to learn from the experience, he said: “Yesterday took a lot out of me and today as well. Hopefully I can take a lot out of it and do better next time.”
A triple bogey seven at the first rattled him before he made a sensational eagle three from 40 feet at the fourth and a brilliant birdie four at the fifth to get back to level.
But his mind was scrambled when he made another triple bogey seven by taking five to get down at the eighth and then drove out of bounds at the ninth and made a quadruple bogey.
He said: “The eighth just killed me mentally. I tried hard but I just couldn’t commit to any shots.
“It was so hard just to think properly and commit to anything and while I got it back together for a few holes, it kept coming back to my mind.
“I just got in a bad mindset and I was trying to tell myself it was alright. It was tough with so many clapping and cheering to encourage me.
“But It was still a good learning experience and hopefully I can do better tomorrow.”
Marcel likes a pint
German ace Marcel Siem got just three hours sleep on Thursday night and crashed out of contention with a 74.
But he found a solution on Friday at Fota Island Resort that took two shots off his score — Guinness.
After a 71, he grinned: “I was better last. I had two pints of Guinness. Slept like a baby.”
Oh Boy Danny
Danny Willett’s joy at his second tour hole-in-one didn't last long.
The Sheffield ace, 26, won a Volvo V40 Cross Country after making his first ever hole in one at the Volvo China Open in April.
There was a shiny BMW on offer for an ace at the 13th at Fota Island but Willett holed an eight iron at the 165-yard seventh for his second ace.
His prize? Absolutely nothing.
Kelly a hero
Irish PGA No 1 John Kelly is on course for a major pay day at Fota Island.
A three under 68 left the St Margaret’s man in the top half of the field on three under.
After topping the Irish PGA Order of Merit last year with €17,525 he could make that much by finishing 30th today.
Beef or lamb
Rookie pro Matthew Fitzpatrick might be one eighth Irish but he had to laugh at a typically “Irish” situation over dinner on Friday.
Spotting “Lamb Special” on the menu, he asked the waitress what it was.
“Roast beef,” came the reply.
