Carey follows his own path to Alps Tour victory
David Carey
David Carey became an Alps Tour winner just five years after winning the Boys Home Internationals with the likes of James Sugrue, Robin Dawson and Paul McBride.
The Castleknock native (23) carded a record-breaking, 11-under 57 in the Cervino Open in the shadow on the Matterhorn in Italy, then followed up with a brace of one-under 67s before beating Italy's Edoardo Lipparelli with a birdie at the first playoff hole after they had finished on 13-under par.
"I did a 57, I won the playoff, things couldn't be better,” said Carey, who opted out of the GUI set up at 18, turned professional and set off on his big adventure. “Everything together is just perfect."
He led by two strokes from Federico Maccario and by four from Lipparelli with a round to go.
But while he made two birdies and a bogey in his 67 and Maccario slipped to tied fifth after a 69, Lipparelli birdied the 18th to card a five-under 63 and force sudden-death.
The 2013 Boys Home International team of Robin Dawson (Faithlegg), Paul McBride (The Island), Jack Walsh (Castle), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park), Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle), Sean Flanagan (County Sligo), Ronan Mullarney (Galway), Alec Myles (Newlands), Rowan Lester (Hermitage), David Carey (Carton House), James Sugrue (Mallow)
A birdie at the first playoff hole gave Carey his first professional victory, three years after losing out by a shot to Matt Wallace in Egypt, a cheque for €5,800 and a place in next month's Alps Tour Grand Final and the chance to win one of five Challenge Tour cards.
"I'm really happy," Carey said after moving up 26 places to 12th in the Order of Merit. "I hit three perfect shots there. I've played pretty well all week, but today the putts didn't really go in, but one went in the last when I really needed it. Birdie on the last hole."
Jonathan Yates tied for ninth, Peter Dallat 21st, Michael Dallat 39th and Simon Bryan 45th.
