February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By John Manley
The Benson & Hedges International Open and Padraig Harrington just don’t mix. Two years ago, the Dubliner brought a five-stroke lead into the final round at the Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England, when he was informed that he had not signed his scorecard from an earlier round and was disqualified.
This year, he was five shots behind third-round leader Barry Lane as play commenced on Sunday and managed to draw even with Lane and two others by the 14th hole.
Harrington needed three putts on the 17th hole just to save par, however, allowing Angel Cabrera to slither away. Harrington then bogeyed 18 to settle for a third-place tie at eight-under-par 280 (71-70-70-69). Cabrera was the medallist at 278, with Lane a shot behind at 279. Harrington was consoled with $85,303 in earnings.
Michael Hoey made the cut in his first tournament as a professional and tied for 32nd place. He finished even at 288 (73-73-70-72). His first check amounted to $12,107. Des Smyth, at 296 (73-70-77-76), tied for 66th place, while Eamonn Darcy was tied for 72nd position with his 300 (75-71-80-74).
Missing the cut, which was established at 146, were Darren Clarke, 147 (74-73), Ronan Rafferty, 152 (72-80), and Paul McGinley, 155 (74-81).
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Ladies Irish Open
The Lackabane Course in Killarney hosted the Ladies Irish Open, which was won by Denmark’s Iben Tinning. She prospered after a one-hole playoff with Norway’s Suzann Pettersen. Suzanne O’Brien provided the galleries with their only home rooting interest. She finished tied for 38th place at 225 (76-74-75).
Irish Amateur Open
The AIB Irish Amateur Open was captured by South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen, who finished one shot better than England’s Paul Bradshaw. Justin Kehoe of Birr, Co. Offaly was the third-place finisher, with Noel Fox of Portmarnock, Co. Dublin, taking fifth place.
Enterprise Energy Pro-Am
Philip Walton plays the European Tour by the good graces of those sponsors willing to invite him to their events, a happenstance that did not transpire this past weekend. That left Walton free to hone his edge by playing the Enterprise Energy Pro-Am at Carne in Co. Mayo. Walton’s rounds of 70 and 66 were good enough to win this 36-hole tourney. Stephen Hamill was the runner-up at 138.