Round-up: Lowry in shootout; Houston launch Pad; Med blues; Leona gong
Irish Tour Pro Series — The inaugural Irish Tour Pro Series Shootout went well at Carton House, according to Damien McGrane, the man who came up with the idea of established tour players giving up-and-coming pros a chance to compete, make money and pick the brains of the experienced players in a relaxed atmosphere.
Headfort assistant Joe Dillon and another Headfort man, the Challenge Tour player Brian Casey, shot two under 70s over the Montgomerie Course to win the money with world No 25 Shane Lowry finishing tied third and giving generously of his time during his break before playing the WGC-Dell Match Play, the Shell Houston Open and the Masters.
We'll have more news on Wednesday about the first event of what could be come a great addition to the Irish golfing landscape.
Houston Launch Pad
European Tour — Pádraig Harrington jetted from the Valspar Championship in Tampa to New Delhi for the Hero Indian Open this week. After that he's heading back to the US to compete in the Shell Houston Open, which says it all about his desire to play in a 16th Masters Tournament. He has to win in Texas to make the field for Augusta National and he's not prepared to have any regrets.
"If I sat home and didn't give myself a chance, I would feel I was letting myself down if I didn't try," Harrington told AP's Doug Ferguson at the Valspar.
Harrington spoke to the Priyanka Sharma of AsianAge.com about the Hero Honda Indian Open, the chances of an Indian winning a major soon and his hope that he can play the European Tour after the age of 50.
As for winning at a very tight Delhi Golf Club, where he is joined by Paul Dunne, he knows he has to stay out of the trees.
“It is difficult off the tees," he told EuropeanTour.com. "You get the ball going the wrong way and it might end up into the trees. A lot of intimidating factor off the tees but the goal is conservative off the tees and aggressive attacking the greens.
“You have to accept that you will make a few mistakes which results in double bogeys but hopefully you make enough birdies to counter that.”
Leona Maguire named the ACC Women’s Co-Golfer of the Month
College Golf — Duke sophomore Leona Maguire has been named the ACC Women’s Co-Golfer of the Month for February, which was announced Tuesday by the league office. Maguire shared the honour along with Florida State’s Kim Metraux.
Opening her spring season at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, Maguire turned in her 10th straight top-10 finish with rounds of 69, 76 and 70 for a total of 215, which tied for eighth overall against a very challenging field that included five teams ranked in the top 10.
Her run of Top 10 finishes came to an end on March 6, when she finished tied 17th in the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate
Mediterranean Tour Blues for Tommy
Mediterranean Tour — Liam Murray is tied for third after an opening 71 in the Palm Hills Championship at the Jack Nicklaus designed course overlooking the pyramids in Egypt.
Murray is tied with 015 Order of Merit winner Xavi Puig and HP Bacher, three shots behind England's Steven Uzzell, who sot a 68 to lead by one from compatriot James Scade.
Tommy O'Driscoll had a forgettable 86 to share 42 while his brother Dylan, an amateur, shot 90.
Scores
The three day tournament ends on St Patrick's Day with two more events planned for Allegria Golf Club (Mar 21-23) and Dreamland Golf Club (Mar 27-29).
