Shane Lowry will be one to watch in Morocco this week. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieShane Lowry’s weekend charge for glory came up short as he finished seventh in the Open de Andalucia Costa del Sol.

But the brace of 67s the Clara man posted at the weekend will give him hope that a second European Tour victory is not far away as he embarks on just his third full season in the professional ranks.

Richard O’Donovan with Leinster Branch chairman Kevin McIntyre, GUI President Eugene Fayne and Paul Maher, Captain of County Louth Golf Club. (Credit Jenny Matthews www.newsfile.ie)What a day for Lucan’s Richard O’Donovan who awoke at 5 am in the clubhouse dormitory wondering if he could haul himself out of bed and off the foot of the leaderboard by putting in a respectable finish.

Nine strokes off the lead overnight and tied for last place in the 51 man field having made the cut on the five over par limit, the 20-year old Dubliner exceeded even his wildest dreams when he played the final 36 holes in seven under par by following an early morning 71 with a simply sensational, bogey free, six under par 66 in the afternoon.