McElroy claims maiden win with stunning 64
Dermot McElroy. Picture: PGA Europro Tour
Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy took a giant step towards winning a Challenge Tour card when he closed with a stunning eight-under 64 to claim his maiden professional win in The Cubefunder Championship on the PGA Europro Tour.
The 2015 West of Ireland champion (28) won by two shots at Luton Hoo Hotel Golf & Spa to claim the €14,700 first prize and a start at The B-NL Trophy on the Challenge Tour. Scores
Up to fourth in the Order of Merit with the top five guaranteed Challenge Tour cards, he believes he’s ready to step up to the next level.
“I am absolutely delighted to win,” said the former Irish international, who tied for fourth in the Irish Challenge at Portmarnock Links and 19th in the European Tour’s ISPS HANDA World Invitational but failed to get any points in the Road to Mallorca or Race to Dubai standings as he did not take out €300 membership of the tour this year.
“I’ve proved to myself that my game is holding well under pressure and that gives me a lot of confidence to get over the line. I would say I’m quietly confident playing any event at the moment; I know what it takes to compete at the Challenge Tour and European Tour level.”
He went into the final day at six-under-par, four strokes off the lead but he was soon right amongst it, going out in six-under 30 before continuing the good form on the back nine with a further three birdies to his name.
He will have another chance to consolidate his position in the Order of Merit in next week’s NI Masters hosted by Jonathan Caldwell at Clandeboye.
“I like Clandeboye as a golf course and club. It’s always in great shape and the members are good fun as well. I am really looking forward to teeing it up there,” McElroy said.
On the European Tour, Niall Kearney is just four shots behind Wales’ Rhys Enoch and England’s Dale Whitnell heading in the final two rounds of the Cazoo Classic at London Golf Club.
Looking to secure his card for next season, the Royal Dublin man made three birdies in a two-under 70 to share eighth place on six-under.
Caldwell was tied 46th on two-under after a 72 but Cormac Sharvin came home in a nightmare 44 and shot 82 to miss the cut on 10-over.
On the Challenge Tour, Michael Hoey and Tom McKibbin shot level par 71s to lie eight shots behind Scot Ewen Ferguson and France’s Felix Mory heading into the final round of the Made in Esbjerg Challenge in Denmark.
On the PGA Tour, Olympic silver medalist Rory Sabbatini held fired a six-under 64 to share the clubhouse lead in the Wyndham Championship with Webb Simpson and Scott Piercy on 10-under.
Pádraig Harrington shot 76 to miss the cut on two-over while Seamus Power was a later starters.
Meanwhile, Leona Maguire’s battling 72 left her tied 28th on one-under, eight behind leader Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn in the Trust Golf Scottish Women’s Open.
She was three over for her round and two over for the tournament through eight holes but birdied the 11thm 13th and 15th to move back into the top half of the fieid.
