McKibbin focuses on the positives but Irish golf has one win in 14 years on Challenge Tour

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 18: Tom McKibbin on 9th tee during day 2 of the Bain's Whisky Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club and Rondebosch Golf Club on February 18, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Tyrone Winfield/Gallo Images)

Holywood's Tom McKibbin showed he’s clearly a man for the future despite carding a one-over 73 to miss out on his maiden win in the Challenge Tour's Bain's Whisky Cape Town Open.

Two strokes ahead overnight, the teenager (19) finished in a three-way tie for third on 14-under, three shots behind defending champion JC Ritchie at a blustery Royal Cape.

"What I take from today is that I'm good enough to win," said McKibbin, who is looking forward to this week’s Jonsson Workwear Open at Durban Country Club.

“Just a few things didn’t go my way today but that was all. So onto the next one really. It was a good overall week and I enjoyed it.”

While McKibbin appears destined to win many times during his career, it’s worrying to note that Irish golf has not had a win on the Challenge Tour since Simon Thornton in 2013 — nine years ago.

Before that, it was Michael McGeady, Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey in 2008

Ritchie holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the last for 68 and a one-stroke win over Belgium's Christopher Mivis, who had set the target at 17-under after a closing 66.

Niall Kearney tied for 29th in eight-over after a 71 with Paul Dunne a shot further back in joint 36th after a 69 for his best finish in 10 months.

McKibbin finished on 15-under as he bogeyed the third and fourth, birdied the par-five fifth and seventh but then bogeyed the short eighth before coming home in level par.

“It was tricky I thought I played pretty good just a few par-three tee shots,” he said. “The wind sort of switched to turn from downwind to into the wind and ended up missing the green short.”

He added: “I am looking forward to next week now I definitely take a lot of confidence from this week, especially going out there today I didn’t feel like I was too bad I was close enough.”