Ireland’s rookie professional Paul Dunne was heading straight to the British Masters where he will look to draw upon his winning Woburn ways.
Some three months ago Dunne finished the leading Open Championship qualifier posting rounds of 70 and a sizzling 65 to win by three shots and thus earn a place in the 144th Open where he would go onto to share the lead with a round to play.
And the 22-year will need a good showing around the Marquis Course in the second of three straight invitations he’s been afforded to compete on the European Tour.
Dunne picked up the first cheque of his new career – Euro 47,536 – in sharing 19th place finish in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Paul Dunne signing autographs after ending his first event as a pro T19th in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
He posted a final round 70 to end the Scottish event tied with seven others including fellow Irish Graeme McDowell (70) and Shane Lowry (67) on 12-under par.
Thorbjorn Olesen became the first Danish winner of the event signing for a 71 to win by two strokes with an 18-under par tally.
The American duo of Brooks Koepka (67) and Chris Stroud (68) were second on 16-under par.
Dunne’s final round included three birdies at the third, fifth and 10th holes ahead of his only bogey at the infamous ‘Road Hole’ 17th.
“I was happy with the way I played but then disappointed to drop a shot on 17 as I was trying so hard to keep any bogeys off my card,” he said.
The golf world will be seeing more of this bag – Paul Dunne proudly showing his Irish colours. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“So looking back on my first Tour event I’ve had a pretty good week considering how badly I’ve played aside that first round 64 when I just putted so well but the next two rounds I putted below average and just managed to shoot a half-decent scores.”
The Greystones golfer earned a prize cheque for Euro 47,536 to go straight in at 201st on the Race to Dubai and T44th with Lowry on the Ryder Cup points table while Dunne’s first pro-career World Ranking of No. 942 should improve to around No. 700.
Dunne now needs to earn roughly a further Euro 200,000 over the course of this week’s British Masters and the following week’s Portugal Masters, and final invitation in hand, if he’s to secure his 2016 Tour card.
“It’s been a strange week, a long week after also playing three 18-hole practice rounds so it’s been a lot of golf,” he said.
“And while the prize money is great I need a sizeable sum if I am to earn my Tour card over the next few weeks. I’m confident I can get my card but then it’s another matter if I do it in a couple of weeks, a couple of months or a couple of years.
Paul Dunne’s distinct wedges. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Despite Dunne’s disappointment he returns to Wobun with fond memories of just over three months ago when he earned an Open Championship tee time in shooting scores of 70 and 65 to finish the leading qualifier by three shots.
Lowry clearly shrugged off a poor first round 74 at Carnoustie with subsequent rounds of 69, 66 and a bogey free closing 67.
“When I saw the draw I wasn’t too happy starting at Carnoustie as it was my first round in six weeks but then I knuckled down and played nicely the next three days,” he said.
“I thought I could have shot a lot better today and maybe finished top-10 but then I am back the form I was showing before my break and that’s a very positive sign.”
McDowell joins Dunne and Lowry heading to Woburn but after a poor finish to his Dunhill campaign in bogeying three of his last four holes including sending a simple wedge at the last into the ‘Valley of Sin’.
McDowell had been five under par for the round through nine holes and on target for his best finish of the season.
