Paul Dunne tees-up in Tuesday’s Open Championship 36-hole ualifier at Woburn looking to make it three-from-three into golf’s oldest Major.
The Greystones golfer topped the Woburn qualifiers a year ago and then went onto to come within a whisker of becoming the first amateur in 80 years to lift the Claret Jug.
But if not successful, Dunne has a second bite at the Royal Troon cherry after being afforded a late invitation into this week’s 100th French Open in Versailles where some four spots are on offer into Royal Troon.
However, more important to Dunne was the disappointment of letting slip a top-10 finish in yesterday’s (SUN) concluding BMW International Open in Germany.
Paul Dunne heads to the scorer’s hut to finish T13th in his maiden appearance in the BMW International Open.
The 23 -year old walked off after playing 32 holes on the final day of the rain-affected event with rounds of 69, 71, 70 and 71 for an eventual share of 13th place at seven under par.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, shooting a final round 71, ended a 17-month victory drought winning by three shots with a 17-under par tally on a very soft Gut Larcenhof course.
The Swede was in a class of his own picking up the Euro 333,330 first prize cheque and also further cementing his place in the European Ryder Cup team.
Heavy rain just on noon Saturday had brought a halt to any further play and with Dunne having played just three holes of his third round.
Paul Dunne emerges from the scorer’s hut to his waiting fans.
He returned Sunday morning ending tied seventh at nine under par and seven adrift of Stenson before a short break and then straight into round four.
Four birdies in seven holes kept Dunne in sight of Stenson before back-to-back birdies at eight and nine, along with further dropped shots at 12 and 15 spoilt the chance of bettering a pro-career best of ninth earlier this year in the Joburg Open.
“It should have been a lot better finish as I got off to such a good start but then I hit a bad tee shot on eight and it was the same on nine though I hit a great third shot to about four feet and missed,” he said.
“But then I also missed another three putts inside four feet over the last nine holes and that was a bit annoying.
“I seem to be having a habit of doing that this season and getting myself into a good position but falling away near the end so that’s something I have to work on.
“I did hole some great ones over the four rounds but I also missed some simple ones and that’s hard to swallow especially when you work so hard to get yourself up the leader board.
“In the bigger picture it’s another decent week and hopefully I can build on that.”
But while facing 36-holes tomorrow (TUES) at Woburn Dunne will tee-up on a Le National course, and venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup, with little knowledge of the Versailles layout.
And joining Dunne in France will be four-time Major winning Rory McIlroy, double French Open winner Graeme McDowell along with Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke and his Hazeltine vice-captain Padraig Harrington.
Harrington is jetting into Paris having finished T9th in the Japan Tour’s ISPS Global Golf Cup posting four rounds in the 60s and for a first time anywhere since being second to England’s Ross Fisher in the 2010 Irish Open at Killarney.
