Irish Open spot for Power as Largergren eagles 18th to win Irish Challenge

Joakim Lagergren holed a bunker shot for an eagle three at the 72nd hole to clinch a one-stroke victory in the Irish Challenge at The K Club.

The Swede (32) entered the final round one shot off the lead, but after carding a four-under-par round of 68, he finished one ahead of Frenchman Sébastien Gros on 16-under at the Palmer South course.

“It feels unbelievable right now,” said Largergren, who was pipped by Conor Purcell for the NI Open seven days earlier.

“It’s so tough to win golf tournaments, and I came close last week when I was runner-up, so to get it done here feels amazing.

“It was a pretty tough bunker shot playing downwind, but I managed to execute it perfectly. To see it drop in was special.”

Kilkenny’s Mark Power (24) shot 70 to finish as the leading Irishman in a share of 11th on six-under to win the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy and a spot in the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down later this year.

“This is huge for me, and I’m delighted to receive the award and book my place at Royal County Down,” Power said.

“My first professional event was actually the Irish Open at The K Club last year and there couldn’t have been a bigger event for me to play in as an Irishman.

“As soon as that week was so over I told myself that I needed to play in the Irish Open again and I can’t wait to tee it up at Royal County Down later this year.”  

Kinsale’s John Murphy shot 77 to finish 38th on one-under with Liam Grehan 47th on one-over after a 72 and Jonathan Caldwell 65th on eight-over after a 74.