McGrane comes up short after late PGA Play-Offs charge
BRAUNTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Damien McGrane plays a shot during day four of The 2016 PGA Play-Offs on October 27, 2016 in Braunton, England. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images)
A sensational final round charge from Damien McGrane ultimately ended in double disappointment at the PGA Play-Offs.
The Kells golfer began the day seven shots behind the eventual champion, Matthew Cort (Beedles Lakes GC), but forced himself into the reckoning with a blistering run of six birdies over the opening 10 holes at Saunton in southwest England.
“At that stage, I could have been looking at a nine under par round,” said Damien.
The 45 year old briefly led midway through the final round but his putter suddenly went cold on the back nine and a bogey at the par four 16th effectively ended his chances.
He signed for a best of the day five under par 66 but knew it could have been so much more.
He continued: “I gave myself chances on every hole on the first nine and slowly I picked off some of the birdies. Then it was back to my usual itchy, scratchy self on the back nine and I stopped holing the putts.
“To come here for four days and only have one decent score is very disappointing. The other three days I was not at the races at all.”
McGrane finished the tournament in a share of third place but then lost out on a place on the PGA Cup team to Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) who birdied the first play-off hole.
His consolation is that he has earned a trip to play in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next year alongside Neil O’Briain who closed out his tournament with a three under par 68 to finish in fifth.
The Old Conna pro was pleased with his performance, saving his best round until last, which was bolstered by a chip in birdie at the 17th.
“I am very, very satisfied with the way that I played. I didn’t score as well as I should have but I’m very happy with the way that I hit the ball and controlled it in the wind,” said Neil.
“I have been working a lot on my swing and spending plenty of time practising my putting too.
“It will be nice to go home and tell my dad that I will be playing at Wentworth.”
Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance) fired a final round one over par 72 to slip down to 11th place overall and outside the top 10 places guaranteed a start at the BMW.
BRAUNTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Neil O' Briain of Old Conna Golf Club plays his first shot on the 1st tee during day four of The 2016 PGA Play-Offs on October 27, 2016 in Braunton, England. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images)
David Higgins signed for a final round 71 that saw him end the tournament on four over par, tied for 16th.
Cort, who had twice finished a runner-up in the event, was delighted to finally get over the line.
“This caps off a great season. It is great to finish it number one,” he said.
As well as the £2,000 winner’s cheque, Cort has secured automatic places in next season’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the British Masters. He will also play in the PGA Cup side along with second place Robert Coles and Hutcheon.
He added; “Scoring and ball striking-wise – this has been one of the most consistent years of my career. That gives me confidence to go on for next year.”
PGA Play-Offs, Saunton Golf Club, East (Par 71)
277 Matthew Cort (Beedles Lake) 69 69 68 71 (£2,000)
278 Robert Coles (Maylands Golf & Country Club 76 65 70 67 278 (£1,500)
279 Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchma) 71 69 72 67; Damien McGrane 70 70 73 66 (£1,100 each)
281 Neil O’Briain (Old Conna) -3 F -3 70 70 73 68, Phillip Archer (Birchwood) 73 70 69 69 (£800 each)
283 Chris Gane (Left Handed Golf at Silvermere) 76 67 73 67, Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) 73 68 68 74, Paul Streeter (Lincoln Golf Centre) 69 68 73 73, Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) 75 68 73 67 (£625 each)
284 Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance Limited) 69 72 71 72, Mark Pilkington (Pwllheli) 75 73 69 67 (£487.50 each)
285 Ian Campbell (Cheshunt Park) 74 69 71 71 (£450)
286 Andrew Willey (Bulwell Forest) 71 69 77 69 (£425 each)
288 Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court Golf Complex) 72 73 71 72, David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links) 72 75 70 71 (£387.50 each)
289 Adam Wootton (Oxford Golf Centre) 75 67 72 75 (£355)
291 Andrew Raitt (St Georges Hill) 76 72 73 70 (£340)
292 Paul O’Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure Ltd) 76 70 75 71 , Garry Houston (Carden Park Golf) 72 76 72 72, James Ablett Lee-on-The-Solent) 74 73 71 74 (£321.67 each)
293 James Webber (Three Rivers Golf & CC) 78 73 72 70(£310)
295 Liam Bond (Marriott St Pierre Hotel & CC) 77 71 77 70 (£305)
302 Mathew Webb (Bedlingtonshire) 81 78 72 71 (£300)
