Purcell and Hurley take the positives and head for Rome
Conor Purcell. Picture © AlpsTourGolf.com
Portmarnock's Conor Purcell and West Waterford's Gary Hurley were looking at the positives after enduring contrasting days in the final round of the Alps Tour's Winter Series Terre dei Consoli.
Hurley went into the final round tied for fourth on eight-under, three strokes behind French amateur Martin Couvra after the remaining 60 players who had been unable to complete their second rounds on Thursday returned to the course situated less than 50 km north of Rome.
Paul McBride (73-70) and Jonathan Yates (71-72) missed the two-under-par cut by a shot in the end with Luke Donnelly (73-71) a shot further back on level par.
Michael Young (75-72) finished on three-over and Simon Bryan (78-77) 11-over, leaving Hurley, Purcell and David Carey as the lone Irish survivors.
Hurley had high hopes of contending for his maiden win as a professional, but while he mixed four birdies with four bogeys and two double bogeys in a four-over 76 to slip to tied 21st on four-under, 12 shots behind the winner, he was focused on nothing but the positives.
Gary Hurley. Picture © AlpsTourGolf.com
"It was actually a really interesting day," said Hurley, who made 14 birdies over the three rounds. "It was amazing to be in contention going into today and I played some great golf to put myself in that position in the first place.
"I'm not going to dwell on today; I've done my reflection and taken from it what I can, all positives. I actually didn't do that much different to the two previous days with regards to my behavioural output.
"I just found myself in a few awkward positions after the couple of poor shots that I did hit. My game is in a great place, though, so I'm looking forward to my next opportunity."
Frenchman Adrien Pendaries, son of European Tour player Marc, celebrated his 23rd birthday in style when he closed with an eight-under 64 to win by four strokes on 16-under from compatriots Pierre Pineau (68) and amateur Julien Sale (67).
Portmarnock's Conor Purcell made six birdies, one bogey and a double-bogey five after finding water at the 210-yard 16th in a three-under 69 top lead the Irish challenge.
“Another solid week,” said Purcell, who tied for 11th on eight-under-par. “I didn’t quite have my A-game at all this week but the putter saved me a lot and I strung a few birdies together today, which was nice. On to next week.”
Purcell lies fourth in the Order of Merit having finished second, T5, T13 and T11 in his first four events, winning €7,692.
Hurley is the next best in the race to win one of five Challenge Tour cards, ranked 14th with €4,007 from his four starts.
Dubliner David Carey shot a final round 75 to finish tied 42nd on level par as the Alps Tour heads to Golf Nazionale in Rome for next week's Winter Series Golf Nazionale from March 21-23.
