Power and Sugrue rescue disappointing Irish showing at Galgorm Castle

Mark Power (Kilkenny). Picture by Pat Cashman Photography

Dubai Duty Free may be undecided on its sponsorship of the Irish Open but the future looks bright for Irish golf after top performances by amateurs Mark Power and James Sugrue at Galgorm Castle.

While it was a bitterly disappointing week for many of our leading lights with Major winners Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington joining tour regulars Paul Dunne, Gavin Moynihan and Cormac Sharvin in missing the cut, Power (20) and Sugrue (23) provided no shortage of hope.

While Sugrue’s US Open exertions at Winged Foot undoubtedly caught up with him as he closed with an 80 to tie for 66th on 12-over, the Mallow man could hold his head high after leading the Irish challenge brilliantly through 54 holes by carding rounds of 67, 72 and 73.

James Sugrue (Mallow). Picture by Pat Cashman Photography

As for Power, the young Kilkenny man showed he has the game to compete with the very best already as he finished tied for 60th on his European Tour debut after a closing 72.

“If I was told I was turning pro tomorrow, I would fancy my chances to keep progressing and I can see it as a future job for sure, 100 per cent,” said Power, whose next event is likely to be the AIG Irish Close at Rosapenna in October.

Having started on the 10th, the Wake Forest star bogeyed five of his first six holes before covering the back nine three-under 31 to finish on 10-over, two shots behind leading Irishman Jonathan Caldwell, whose 74 left him joint 54th.

“I got off to a really slow start and struggled a little bit,” said Power, who was a beaten semi-finalist in last month’s Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale. “But I clicked on the back nine and had great birdie chances on nearly every hole. I must have scared the hole for birdie on the last six holes coming in.”

It was even more pleasing for Power to perform well having struggled to find his A-game and that’s given him renewed belief that he can before a tour player when he completes his studies at Wake Forest University in the US.

“I felt I have been playing great recently but my game just didn’t click this week so it was obviously a little bit frustrating,” he said. “But to get four rounds in was a massive confidence boost and to experience professional golf was obviously a big deal. 

“Just to be playing with guys you see on TV is cool. You can compare your game with them and see what it takes and having done that, turning pro eventually is a big goal of mine.”

Damien McGrane (49) was 66th on 11-over after a 72 as Glasson club professional Colm Moriarty shot 79 to share 69th on 16-over.