Brendan Lawlor shows class to win his first Irish Open
Brendan Lawlor proved a cut above the rest as he cruised to his first ISPS Handa Irish Open for Golfers with Disabilities in the Gross Stroke Play Division at Roganstown, north Co Dublin.
The 28-year-old carded a second-round 71 to follow up on his opening 68 on Tuesday to finish 13 shots clear of playing partner Cian Arthurs, with James McParland one further back in third.
Lawlor had a steady front nine which included a birdie on the second and even though he bogeyed the sixth, he finished with pars all the way in to finish on three-under after two days.
"I was extremely good from tee to green. I hit 17 greens again today. Struggled big time with my putter, same as yesterday, but I was happy," said Lawlor.
"Cian was on a wee heater at the start, playing some really good golf. I knew I had to just go out and shoot around level par today and get the job done, but I just wanted to go as low as possible. Unfortunately, I didn't do it but I'm delighted to win.
"My game's in really good shape at the minute, I'm not putting pressure on myself to perform. I'm feeling really confident over the ball, and I just feel things can't go wrong off the tee.
"I know I have to work on my putting. I have a big event in a couple of weeks in America at the US Adaptive Open, so if I can go out and strike the ball like that and can get my putting sorted.
"Hopefully, that's a big one I'd love to win."
Caolan Munnelly (Tullamore) won the Sport Class II1 after a second-round 82. Fernando Vega de Seoane (Real Club Puerta de Hierro) claimed the Combined Sport Class. Adam Dalton (The Royal Jersey) won the Sport Class ST1, Arthurs won the Sport Class ST2, and Lawlor was victorious in the Sport Class ST3.
Mark Clougherty (Lambeg) was the winner in the Net Stroke Play and Timmy Moloney (Co Tipperary) won the Net Stableford.
Fiona Gray (St Patrick's) was the champion in the Women's Division after she accumulated 60 points over the two days.
"It's a nice feeling. I haven't had that feeling since we won the Trophy at the Rose Series, so it was very nice," said Gray.
"The weather's been fantastic for us, because last year was a bit of a hit and miss but this year it's been absolutely fantastic. It makes a difference when it's dry.
"ISPS Handa are fantastic, they've given us so much support and the clothing is just absolutely fantastic.
"I feel proud every time I go away and play in events and to have Brendan here this week has been super, super exciting as well."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
Brendan Lawlor shows class to win his first Irish Open
Brendan Lawlor proved a cut above the rest as he cruised to his first ISPS Handa Irish Open for Golfers with Disabilities in the Gross Stroke Play Division at Roganstown, north Co Dublin. The 28-year-old carded a second-round 71 to follow up on his opening 68 on Tuesday to finish 13 shots clear of playing partner Cian Arthurs, with James McParland one further back in third. Lawlor had a steady front nine which included a birdie on the second and even though he bogeyed the sixth, he finished with pars all the way in to finish on three-under after two days. "I was extremely good from tee to green. I hit 17 greens again today. Struggled big time with my putter, same as yesterday, but I was happy," said Lawlor. "Cian was on a wee heater at the start, playing some really good golf. I knew I had to just go out and shoot around level par today and get the job done, but I just wanted to go as low as possible. Unfortunately, I didn't do it but I'm delighted to win. "My game's in really good shape at the minute, I'm not putting pressure on myself to perform. I'm feeling really confident over the ball, and I just feel things can't go wrong off the tee. "I know I have to work on my putting. I have a big event in a couple of weeks in America at the US Adaptive Open, so if I can go out and strike the ball like that and can get my putting sorted. "Hopefully, that's a big one I'd love to win." Caolan Munnelly (Tullamore) won the Sport Class II1 after a second-round 82. Fernando Vega de Seoane (Real Club Puerta de Hierro) claimed the Combined Sport Class. Adam Dalton (The Royal Jersey) won the Sport Class ST1, Arthurs won the Sport Class ST2, and Lawlor was victorious in the Sport Class ST3. Mark Clougherty (Lambeg) was the winner in the Net Stroke Play and Timmy Moloney (Co Tipperary) won the Net Stableford. Fiona Gray (St Patrick's) was the champion in the Women's Division after she accumulated 60 points over the two days. "It's a nice feeling. I haven't had that feeling since we won the Trophy at the Rose Series, so it was very nice," said Gray. "The weather's been fantastic for us, because last year was a bit of a hit and miss but this year it's been absolutely fantastic. It makes a difference when it's dry. "ISPS Handa are fantastic, they've given us so much support and the clothing is just absolutely fantastic. "I feel proud every time I go away and play in events and to have Brendan here this week has been super, super exciting as well."
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Shane Enright: Going straight to All-Ireland quarter-finals has never been more crucial
Getting to Croke Park with a two-week break will be motivation enough to ensure Kerry take nothing for granted against an improving but still limited Meath team, writes Shane Enright Kerry head up to Tullamore on Saturday in a great position after their opening two wins the group, with a point being enough to send them directly into the All-Ireland quarter-final. They do, however, find themselves in a tricky situation regarding the availability of some key players. Getting a favourable result is paramount as it gives Kerry an extra week's rest and a chance to get guys back fit and ready for the business end of the championship. With that in mind, there may be some tough calls for management regarding team selection. Unfortunately it looks like Barry Dan O'Sullivan's season is over which is a huge blow for him personally and also for Kerry as he was having a good campaign, slotting in nicely to the Kerry midfield, an area Kerry certainly look a little light in at present.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Brendan Lawlor hits fine 68 to take lead at Irish Open
Roganstown provided the ideal test and the Carton House golfer shot two birdies and an eagle on his way to a -3 total, and a seven-shot lead over Cian Arthurs (Roganstown). Arthurs shot 75 on his home course while one of his playing partners, and good friend, James McParland (Roganstown) is in third on +6. They make up the top three in the Gross Stroke Play scoring, while Fiona Gray (St Patrick's) and Cathy Fitzgerald (Killeen Castle) are tied at the top of the Women's Division. They both shot 31 points on Tuesday. Brendan Swan (Co Meath) is the leader in the Net Stroke Play, with Timmy Moloney (Co Tipperary) on top in the Net Stableford. Caolan Munnelly (Tullamore) leads the Sport Class IN, Ian St John (Tramore) and Fernando Vega de Seoane (Real Club Puerta de Hierro) top the Combined Sport Class, Tom Doherty (Killarney) leads ST1, Arthurs is in charge in ST2, and Lawlor in ST3. 'Three-under was probably the worst score I could have shot today,' said Lawlor. 'I hit the ball unbelievable. Hit 17 greens, had a lot of putts. Highlight of the round, I holed an 80-yard shot for eagle on four. I bogeyed one, birdied ten and birdied two so it was a very steady round and it could have been low, low but it's a good start to the week. 'It was a bad bogey (on the first). I missed a two-foot putt and then I hit seven iron to about 16 feet on the second, holed that and then just kept going about my round and it was good. 'Woburn was an unbelievable week for me. I'm taking a lot of stress off my golf this year, I'm still putting in the work, but I'm not putting pressure on myself to perform. I'm just going out, trying to hit it as best I can. 'It's unbelievable to play at home again in Ireland, such a great event too, sponsored by ISPS Handa and ran by Golf Ireland. 'It's an incredibly ran event and it's just going to get bigger as the years go on.'
