Pride and agony as Kennedy misses out by one despite sensational closing 64 at Q-School
Max Kennedy (Royal Dublin) who's in action in the final 16 in the 2022 South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch Golf Club. Picture: Niall O'Shea
Max Kennedy said he'd draw on the positives and take time to decide his future after agonisingly missing out on his Tour card despite shooting a sensational seven under 64 in the final round of the DP World Tour Qualifying School in Spain.
The Royal Dublin amateur (23) went into the sixth round just four shots outside the top 20 and ties who were awarded cards.
But while his 64 eventually left him tied with the likes of Eddie Pepperell for 22nd on 17-under, a shot outside the top 20 and ties who won cards, he was proud of his effort.
“This game is a game of inches,” he said before his fate was sealed. “You know, it's one shot here, one shot there that determines whether you get in or not.
“But as I said, I'm very happy with my week, and I'm definitely going to take it as a positive going forward and looking ahead now to next year.”
Starting on the back nine on the Lakes Course at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona, he dropped an early shot at his third hole.
But while he fought back in incredible fashion with eight birdies in his next nine holes - including a scintillating run of six birdies in a row from the 16th - he eventually came up one shot short on 17-under.
The former University of Louisville star bogeyed the par three fourth, his 13th, after plugging in a bunker and while he birdied the sixth, his seven-under 64 left him tied for 22nd as 21 players won cards on 18-under or better.
“Extremely good,” Kennedy said of his week, shortly before he was pushed out of the top 20 by the later finishers.
“I played pretty phenomenal today to be honest with you.
“I started off bad. I was one over through three, and then just turned the heat on. It was nice.
“I made like eight birdies, maybe in nine holes, and then got really unlucky on the par three fourth, my 13th hole.
“I just got plugged in the bunker and actually made a pretty good bogey in the end.
“But after that, you know, recovered well, made a birdie coming in and shot seven under. I was really happy with my day.”
While he has secured Challenge Tour status, he must turn professional and that's a decision he has postponed for now.
“I need a bit of rest first, and then I'll make a decision,” the Dubliner said. “I'm not really sure where I am or what, what I'm going to do in terms of turning per hour, staying amateur
“I'm just going to see what we get into this week and then go forward from there.”
He entered the LIV Golf Promotions event last year and clearly gained confidence as the week wore on in Spain, shooting six rounds under par.
“Very solid,” he said of his week. “A step in the right direction. I came into the week with very little expectations, and just tried to play my golf, stick to the process, and that's exactly what I did.
“I was really, really solid all week. Made very few bogeys. I think I made under 10 bogeys in six rounds [he made 9], which is very good for me. So overall, a fantastic week.”
Ryder Cup assistant captain Edoardo Molinari topped the 21 qualifiers, carding a 67 to win the event by a shot from Sweden’s Niklas Lemke on 29 under.
