O'Rourke misses out in Alps Tour playoff
Conor O'Rourke. Picture © Alps Tour/Tristan Jones
Naas ace Conor O'Rourke moved up to ninth in the Alps Tour Order of Merit when he was beaten in a three-way playoff for the Alps de Las Castillas at Leon Golf Club
Alps Tour veteran Thomas Elissalde of France fired a nine-under 63 to set the clubhouse target and ended up in a playoff as O'Rourke shot 68 and Italy's Guido Migliozzi a 69 to tie with him on 14-under par.
Elissalde got up and down from a bunker at the first extra hole for par to stay alive, then birdied the second hole to win the €6,960 top prize.
Very enjoyable event this past week on @alpstourgolf
— Conor O' Rourke (@ConorORourke62) July 20, 2018
Came up just short in the end on 2nd play-off hole.
I really enjoyed the chase and thanks to @NaasGC , all the members and everyone else for the support.
Onwards and upwards 👊 pic.twitter.com/5cOuhtPQht
O'Rourke and Migliozzi claimed €3,900 each with the Kildare man now ninth in the race for five Challenge Tour cards to be awarded to the leading money winners at the end of the season.
It is the Elissalde’s fifth victory on the Alps Tour in his five years on the circuit.
"I’ve won one Alps Tour tournament each year since turning pro, it’s just great to win five times on the Alps Tour. I just want to share this victory with my friends and family and be ready for next week’s event."
