World Cup repeateludes Irish duo

By John Manley

Ireland’s duo of Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley were unable to duplicate their feat of a year ago, when they won the World Cup of Golf.

This year’s edition in Auckland, New Zealand, found them finishing sixth, as Britain’s David Carter (the 1998 Murphy’s Irish Open winner) and Nick Faldo earned the glory.

Carter and Faldo combined for an 8-under-par 568 to Ireland’s 572. McGinley had the better score of the Irish pair (285), but wasn’t a gem of consistency, starting with 67, before transposing that number (76), and then closing out with 73 and 69. Harrington at 287 was consistent, but hardly brilliant, breaking par by a stroke (71) in only his final go, after hanging up three consecutive 72s. The Irishmen earned $30,000 each.

Scott Verplank at 279 was the top individual. He teamed with John Daly to lead the U.S. to a third-place finish among teams. Just a year ago, Verplank was the medalist at the American PGA Tour’s Q School.

American Q School

Keith Nolan is looking at a year on the Nike Tour following his performance at Q School in La Quinta, Calif. Nolan tied for 112th position with a 108-hole score of 1-over-par 433. Those who finished in the top 35, plus ties, earned PGA Tour cards for 1999. The rest earned exemptions on the Nike circuit.

Nolan started well enough with a 71, but a second round 77 sent him to the back of the pack. After a 73, he came alive with a 66 in the fourth round, but couldn’t sustain the momentum, shooting 73 the next time out. He ended with another 73.

It was worse for John Kernohan. He beat out only three of the 161 players who completed all six rounds. Kernohan, who is fully exempt for the 1999 Nike Tour based on his position as 39th on the 1998 money list, dug himself an early hole with a 75. Scores of 72 and 70 offered some hope that he could draw back in, but the wheels fell off over the next two rounds as scores of 77 and 81 were forthcoming. A long session on the driving range following the 81 did some good for Kernohan’s ego as he shot a closing 68, but it did little for his position. His final score was 11-over 443.

European Q School

The three Irish aspirants to the European PGA Tour were all found wanting in their quest at the San Roque Club in Costa del Sol, Spain. Neither Jim Carvill, Francis Howley nor Damian Mooney could better the 72-hole cut number of 293, so their dreams have been deferred for another year.

Carvill had the best score of the trio, 297. He posted rounds of 75, 77, 71 and 74. Howley mustered a score of 302 (74-80-74-74), while Mooney’s numbers (79-77-72-77) add up to 305.

Dunlop Phoenix

Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood brought their roadshow to the Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki, Japan, where they finished 1-2 in the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament. Unfortunately for Clarke, Westwood was the "1."

The Englishman finished with a low score of 271, which was three strokes in front of Clarke, who ended at 10-under-par 274 (70-67-66-71). Clarke got within a stroke of his friend after a birdie on the seventh hole, but missed a chance to even the score at eight, when he didn’t sink a birdie putt from 10 feet. Westwood then clipped a stroke off par at nine and got especially lucky on 10, where an approach shot of his hit a tree, then ricocheted onto the green, 50 feet from the pin. Westwood then sank the long putt for another birdie and his winning margin of victory.

World Amateur

The foursome representing Ireland and Great Britain won the World Amateur Team Championship at Club de Golf Los Leones and Club de Golf La Dehesa in Santiago, Chile. Their final tally of 852 was four strokes better than runner-up Australia.

The winning team consisted of Luke Donald, who tied for third at 6-under 280 (70-70-69-71), Gary Wolstenholme, sixth at 282 (70-71-74-67), Lorne Kelly, tied for 59th at 296 (77-77-72-70) and Paddy Gribben, tied for 67th at 297 (71-78-76-72). The top individual was Australia’s Kim Felton, who shot 11-under 275. The U.S. placed seventh.