Paul Dunne shows signs of old brilliance with 63 in Czech Challenge
Paul Dunne
Paul Dunne showed signs of the form that made him a tour winner when he opened with a sensational seven-under 63 to lie just two shots off the lead in the D+D REAL Czech Challenge.
The Greystones man (31) hit the headlines when he co-led The 2015 Open through 54 holes as an amateur at St Andrews and went on to hold off Rory McIlroy to win the 2017 British Masters.
But after struggling with a hand/wrist injury and erratic driving and losing his DP World Tour card at the end of 2019, he’s since lost all status and played just once on the Challenge Tour this year.
From a career high of 65th in the word in 2016, he’s now ranked 2,890th. But buoyed by some encouraging signs in practice, he was thrilled to take advantage of an invitation as he prepares to tee it up at the Second Stage of Q-School later this month.
“It was pretty good,” said a delighted Dunne, who cancelled out two birdies with seven birdies and an eagle two to share third place with France-based Kerryman Michael Young at Royal Beroun in only his fifth event this year.
“I obviously had been playing very, very little, and I put a good bit of work in for the last six weeks, so it was nice to see some of it transfer.
“I didn't hit it quite as good as I thought I would, but I was probably a little sharper than I expected around the green so I'm happy to see some positive signs from practicing. But it's only day one. Three long days to go.
“I had some sloppy bogeys but then I made some birdies from from spots where I probably shouldn't have. So it evened itself out.
“Overall, I've been hitting my driver great in practice, and today was okay, but it wasn't as good. So I'm hoping to see that transfer a little bit better, but yeah, in general, if I can keep it up like that, three more 63s, I'd be happy.”
Driving the ball has been Dunne’s Achilles’ heel but he believes he’s seen light at the end of the tunnel.
“For me, my whole career has always been trying to eliminate the high right shot with my driver,” he said, explaining that he’s added more shots to his armory.
“I hit a lot of good drives and I didn't see any of the really bad ones that I don't like. So there's some nice positive signs there.”
England’s Ross McGowan shot a nine-under 61 to lead by a shot from France’s Maxence Giboudot with Dunne in a seven-way tie for third with Young, who also has little status on any tour.
“Really happy I got [an invitation] because I've been playing so well, but just lacking status this year, to be honest,” Young said.
“Even on the Alps Tour, it’s been last minute. It's been a messy, messy schedule, but one good week could sort that out.”
Young turned in two-under before following an eagle three at the 15th with birdies at the 16th, 17th and 18th.
“I didn't make a birdie until hole number seven, and then just kept it going, really, but without making anything,” he said.
“And then I eagled 15 and birdied 16, 17 and 18. It was just solid, never in trouble. Could have been lower. I think this was just really a good day. No bogeys, obviously. On this course, it's key.
“Of course, there's obviously quite a few low scores out there, but I think (the key) is not dropping any shots. I mean, you feel like you're losing two shots if you make a bogey out here
“There's some difficult holes. But today we had no wind. Greens are pure. They're rolling lovely. I hit it far. So if you can get it out there, you have a lot of wedges.
“Obviously it’s about managing the four par threes well on the front nine and then the end of the course, as you can see from the scores, it's quite gettable.”
Ronan Mullarney and Cormac Sharvin were joint 15th after 65s with Conor O’Rourke 42nd after a 67.
