5/02/2016

Seamus Power Maiden Web.com Win

Seamus Power
Seamus Power took advantage of the other leaders' late problems to win the United Leasing & Finance Championship on Sunday for his first Web.com Tour title.

"It still hasn't really sunk in. Crazy day," the 29-year-old Power, the first Irish winner on the tour. "But, yeah, obviously, over the moon. It's going to take me a couple hours to figure out what it all means, but yeah, right now I'm just very happy and obviously over the moon."

Power shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 at Victoria National to finish at 12-under 276. He birdied the par-4 17th and parred the par-4 18th.

"To be honest I was just trying to post a number and hope for the best," Power said. "I knew the finish was playing very, very difficult, so to pick one up at 17 was a huge bonus. Then got a good up-and-down at the last after a poor second shot. So when I finished I didn't think it was going to win, but I saw some of the guys dropping shots and just hoped for the best, and it obviously worked out."

Third-round leader Adam Schenk, Cody Gribble and Jonathan Randolph finished a stroke back. Schenk, from nearby Vincennes, made a double bogey on par-5 15th in a 70. Gribble bogeyed the final two holes — hitting into the water over 18 — for a 69. Randolph bogeyed the 17th in a 67.

Roger Sloan was fifth at 10 under after a 69. The Canadian drove into the water on the final two en route to double bogeys.

Power earned $108,000 to jump from 47th to seventh on the money list with $131,733, with the top 25 at end of the regular season earning PGA Tour cards.

"That's where you're trying to get," Power said. "If I didn't see myself doing that, there wouldn't be a point in playing. This is a huge win, but at the same time, it's a stepping stone for where I'm trying to be. But it's a huge step, so I'm excited."



McIlrory Invites McKibbin to Irish Open

Tom McKibbin 
Northern Irish teenager Tom McKibbin has been invited to play alongside Rory McIlroy in the pro-am ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on 18 May.

McKibbin, 13, took up golf just before his ninth birthday and won the Junior Honda Classic in Florida earlier this year.

In August 2015 he won the World Junior Championships aged 12. McIlroy won the same event at the age of nine.

"Tom McKibbin is a great talent," said McIlroy, whose foundation is hosting the Irish Open for the second year.

"I played a round with Tom in Florida recently and he is the real deal. At only 13 years of age I think he has a remarkable golfing future ahead of him.

"Having seen him play a couple of times now, he impresses me more each time. And I can think of no better place to showcase his talents than at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the K Club."

McKibbin, who is from Co Antrim, said: "I met Rory while I was in Dubai last October and we got chatting while we were both practising. When I won the Honda Classic in Florida in January, Rory sent me a message and invited me to play golf with him.

"I have to thank Rory for inviting me to play in the pro-am at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. Not only do I get a day off school, but I get to play alongside one of the best golfers in the world! It's getting close now and I'm pretty excited. I've been practising as often as possible."