Rookie pro Paul Dunne has made it three from three and storming his way into a third straight Open Championship next month at Royal Troon.
Dunne, 24 looked in a class of his own topping the 36-hole Open qualifier for a second year running with scores of 68 and 67 for a nine-under par tally on the Marquess course at Woburn.
The Greystones golfer was two off the pace after an opening 68 before and then muscled his way to the front on the back of three birdies in succession to start his second round, and then move to nine under par with birdies at six and seven.
Dunne dropped his first shots of the day at nine and 11, and when it started pouring, before regrouping with birdies at 12, 13 and 15 and while he bogeyed the last it was still good enough to end top qualifier by a stroke.
All up, Dunne grabbed a dozen birdies over the two rounds and was headed straight for Paris to take up his invitation into this week’s 100th French Open.
Paul Dunne makes it three from three and also in the process finishing leading Woburn qualifier for a second year running
“I love Woburn and this time of year I always seem to play well but hopefully this is the last time I have to qualify because it’s been very nerve-wracking,” said Dunne.
“There was a bit of nerves out there and I tend to struggle in the rain so I was on serious cruise control.
“I was five under though seven in my second round but then the rain started and I struggled a bit more. It rained from 8th to the 12th and I bogeyed 9 and made a good bogey on 11.
“But when the rain stopped I picked up a few more birdies but it was a bit more stressful than it needed to be.
“So I’m happy to get through and after putting myself in the position I was in last year it would have been very hard to watch this year’s Championship from home.
“It just a relief to be honest. The good news is I’m definitely a better player than I was last year. I was a much better player last year than I was at Hoylake two years ago and I think I have improved again.
“I feel I’m much better than I was 12 months ago so hopefully I can do well again, but for the moment I’m just happy to be back into The Open.”
Unfortunately, Ireland’s other 17 starters over the four qualifying venues failed to win a place into golf’s oldest Major.
Mt. Juliet’s Kevin Phelan was two shots shy at Gailes GC with scores of 69 and a second round 70 that included five birdies but four bogeys.
The Island’s Gavin Moynihan went out in 69 at Gailes GC near Glasgow but withdrew after crashing to three over par through nine holes of his second round.
Dunne, who as an amateur led going into the last day at St. Andrews, will now join Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell in The Open stating on July 14th.
