supported by Glenmuir and Calidona
A Stroll in the Spanish Sunshine…& Ireland are Champs
Eighteen holes on cruise control, with no dramatic charges necessary, saw IRELAND (left) safely through to victory in the Confederation of Professional Golf’s International Team Championship at Roda, Murcia, Spain leaving the rest of the field to play a separate ‘match’ for the lesser placings.
As the fearful weather of earlier days gave way to more typical Mediterranean conditions, Ireland’s scoring simply became a case doing what they had to do.
This comprised of two under each by Eamon Brady and John Kelly to carve another four strokes off their sixteen-under for a phenomenal 20-under and an eight strokes margin over Scotland who strove with tartan grit to narrow the gap.
Sam Cairns typified the Scottish determination to chase a lost cause right to the final green and could feel justifiably proud of his five under par 67 as could England’s Paul Wesselingh who carded a similar score as his tournament contribution increased each day.
To complete a battling day for England, Paul Simpson, the reigning Glenmuir British Club Champion, carded a 69 leaving the second and third-placed teams wondering what the heck they had to do to slow down Ireland’s trouble-free journey to their second ITC title.
There were plenty of sterling performances recorded throughout the ranks of the twenty-four teams who contested this year’s event including Wales’s Red Dragon spirit in staying well up the leaderboard despite losing the unwell Richard Dinsdale for the second time in three days.
Andrew Barnett, who starred in last year’s runners-up team, and Matthew Griffiths, were both two under and finished alongside Italy in joint fifth position at two over par.
Although this is purely a team championship, rather than an individual one, it’s always worth admiring the extra-special rounds such as a fine 66 by Belgium’s Gilles Monville.
Germany produced one of their best finishes in the championship thanks largely to another 67 by Lee Spencer who, helped by a 71 from Jason Evans steered them to fourth place on two under par.
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