The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Celtic Manor Resort

Showing posts with label Celtic Manor Resort. Show all posts

12/12/2014

No Saving Grace for Irish at Dunhill

Getty Images

Kevin Phelan was the only Irish player to survive the cut at the Alfred Dunhill Championship on Friday at Loepards Creek Country Club.

Michael Hoey, Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie all finished off the pace and ended two rounds on the wrong side of the line as Branden Grace raced into a five shot lead at the halfway stage.

The 26 year old won four times during a memorable 2012 campaign, and remained on course for another victory as he added a second round 66 to his sparkling opening 62 at Leopard Creek Country Club.

Three clear overnight, Grace turned in 33 after starting on the back nine before picking up another shot at the first.

His only dropped shot of the day came at the short fifth, but Grace birdied the sixth and finished with a lengthy putt for a closing gain on the ninth that put him five shots ahead of Italy’s Francesco Molinari.

“This is a golf course that suits me and if I keep hitting everything in play the way I have been the first two days then it should be a good weekend,” said Grace.

“The pins have been kind so far; I’m sure there’s going to be a couple of tricky and sticky pins out there on the weekend, but I’ll just stick to the game plan and see what the next two rounds offer us.

“Today was great – the ball striking wasn’t as good as yesterday.

“I kept it going - there was a little bit of a slip there due to a lack of concentration but it happens.

“I’ve been hitting it well and kept on hitting good putts out there.”

Molinari was typically precise with his irons as he followed five birdies in 12 holes with an eagle at the long 13th.

The former Ryder Cup star then missed a golden birdie chance at the 14th and dropped his first shot of the day at the 17th, but two-putted the long last to get back to seven under for the day.

“I played really well today,” said Molinari. “I holed some really good putts – the last four or five holes could have been better, but seven under is always a good round.

“Branden has set a low target for everyone, so it was good to get some birdies.”

Tjaart van der Walt, twice a runner-up on The European Tour, had five birdies before three-putting the ninth – his last – for his only bogey in a round of 67 which left him third on ten under par.

Another South African, Shaun Norris, last week’s Nedbank Challenge winner Danny Willett and Dane Lucas Bjerregaard – who chipped in at the last for eagle – were tied for fourth on nine under.

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel, looking to become only the sixth player in European Tour history to win the same event three years running, carded a two under 70 to be 11 shots adrift of leader Grace.

9/21/2014

Lowry Claims Share of Second in Wales

Getty Images

Shane Lowry was never able to get on level terms with the leaders on the final day of the ISPS Handa Wales Open, carding two bogeys and one birdie in his first five holes to sign for a round of 70 at The Celtic Manor.

So it was Joost Luiten who breathed a sigh of relief after overcoming a poor start and nervous finish to claim his fourth European Tour title in Wales.

The Dutchman, who was fifth in the defence of his KLM Open title on home soil last week, saw his two shot overnight lead disappear when he bogeyed the first two holes of the final round at The Celtic Manor Resort.

But the 28 year old hit back with three birdies and one bogey on the back nine to card a closing 71 and finish 14 under par, one shot ahead of England's Tommy Fleetwood and Ireland's Shane Lowry.

Fleetwood had looked out of contention following a double bogey on the 13th, but then chipped in for a birdie on the 14th, holed from five feet for eagle on the next and also birdied the last three holes for a closing 67.

That left Luiten needing to par the last three holes to win and he looked to have done the hard part with a superb up and down from a greenside bunker on the 17th, only to hit an amazingly wild drive on the last.

It took several minutes for the ball to be found in dense rough but Luiten was able to hack it across the fairway and into more rough, from where he found the green with his approach and two-putted from long range.

"It was tough, it was hard work down the last," Luiten admitted. "I didn't have the start I wanted with two bogeys and I just tried to hang in there and wait for my chances and made some nice birdies at the end and a par down the last was luckily enough.

“There's always a lot of tension on the first hole – you try to settle down, try to make an easy par or birdie and then I left myself quite a tricky first putt and I just didn't read it well. I didn't give the right pace and you leave yourself an eight footer downhill left to right and that's one you can make or miss and I missed it today.

“You just try to settle down the first couple holes, and after that, I got back into my game. I started to hit greens, and I just didn't really make any putts in the middle part - luckily we made a couple at the back.”

Like Luiten, Fleetwood has also come into form late in the season, finishing fifth in both the D+D REAL Czech Masters and Omega European Masters recently.

The 23 year old, who won his maiden European Tour title at Gleneagles last year, said: "After the double bogey on 13 I definitely wasn't thinking about getting to 13 under, just try your best on the last few and see what you can get. I wanted to get back to level par or under par for the day. I thought that would have been a good effort.

"After a poor summer, I wanted to finish the season well. I've been playing well recently and the more you get up there, the better. This is how you learn. You can't practice this on the range when you're coming down the stretch in the top five and just the more you do it, the better it is."

Five players shared fourth place, Ryder Cup debutant Jamie Donaldson carding a 67 to finish alongside Nicolas Colsaerts, Eddie Pepperell, Marc Warren and Edoardo Molinari.

"I'm very pleased," Donaldson said. "Celtic Manor is a tough golf course which doesn't quite suit my eye. It's been hard for me this week to keep focused and try and see the shots. If you take your foot off the pedal and there's a lot of trouble about.

"I'm happy the way I played over the last four or five weeks, building up to the Ryder Cup. I couldn't have asked for any more, really."

Team-mates Thomas Björn and Lee Westwood carded closing rounds of 74 and 76 respectively, Westwood having to birdie the 16th and 18th to avoid an even worse score.

"I needed to play some competitive golf and I've done that," said the 41 year old ahead of his ninth Ryder Cup. "I hit a few good shots (this week), not so good today, but I probably had one eye on next week. I don't think the concentration and the focus was there.

"The Ryder Cup is very special, I am looking forward to getting there tonight and preparing for Friday when it starts."

9/19/2014

Lowry Tops Leaderboard in Wales

Getty Images

Shane Lowry tops the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the ISPS Handa Wales Open after a flawless second round 65 at The Celtic Manor Resort, but admitted his position was something of a surprise.

The Clara man, who has recorded all three of his top-ten finishes this season on British soil, carded six unanswered birdies to move one ahead of first round leader Joost Luiten and big-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts on nine under par.

The 2012 winner Thongchai Jaidee and Italy’s former Ryder Cup star Edoardo Molinari are a shot further back on seven under, while one of Europe’s Team members for next week’s contest at Gleneagles, Jamie Donaldson, maintained his chances of becoming the first Welsh winner of his National Open with a second round 67 that left him five under.

The 27 year old Lowry’s four previous visits to the 2010 Ryder Cup venue had yielded only one made cut when he finished 39th four years ago, and after his round the two-time European Tour winner said: “I'm pretty happy. I've never, ever done well here before, so to be leading after two rounds is nice.

“There is still a long way to go in the tournament but I'm really looking forward to the weekend.

“I didn't drive it that good yesterday but still shot a decent score. I drove it a lot better today, drove it a lot straighter and gave myself a lot of chances and rolled in a few putts, so it was nice.

“I felt like coming over that I could give it a go this week. I was around tenth going into the back nine on Sunday last week, and similar the week before in Switzerland. If I can get myself in a good position come the back nine this weekend, again, hopefully I can give it a go.”

The 28 year old Luiten finished fourth in the 71° OPEN D'ITALIA Presented by DAMIANI and fifth in the defence of his KLM Open title last week and said: “I’m happy. It was tough today because the greens were very soft compared to yesterday with all the rain they had last night, and with the back pins, even seven irons spun back four or five yards, and it was tough to fly them all the way to the back.”

Colsaerts has not won since the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2012 which secured his Ryder Cup place that year, but eagled the par five 18th for the second day running in his round of 68.

"It would mean a lot to win again after two years and struggling the first few months of the season," Colsaerts said. "Today I started very nicely but made two silly mistakes in the middle of the round and I almost lost it but it was nice to hole that putt on the last. It was about 35 feet with eight feet of break."

Ryder Cup wild cards Stephen Gallacher and Lee Westwood experienced differing results but similar emotions.

While Gallacher headed home in relaxed mood despite seeing his preparations cut short by missing the halfway cut, Westwood was equally happy that a battling performance ensured he would have two more rounds to get his game into shape for Gleneagles.

"Yesterday was quite tough," Gallacher admitted after a round containing two birdies - both on par fives - and one bogey. "It was tough to get going and get my head around it but today was a lot better. I was maybe trying a wee bit too hard yesterday and still thinking about next week.

"I feel good, I'm physically and mentally good so I am really looking forward to next week. I'll get up the road this afternoon and relax this weekend and maybe play nine holes with Thomas (Björn) on Monday morning. I've done my preparation for it and I just want to get up there and get going."

Westwood had also not played competitively since bowing out of the FedEx Cup play-offs after the first event, but recovered from an opening 73 with a 69 which featured two crucial birdies in the last four holes.

"I needed a couple more rounds," Westwood said. "I was not particularly competitive yesterday, it was pretty scratchy, but today was more solid. A few iffy shots but it was nice to finish with two birdies in the last four holes to ensure being here for the weekend and two more competitive rounds.

"I have been working on my game and been in the gym quite a lot, but I'm not quite match fit. I had three weeks off and you lose your sharpness."

Team-mate Björn, who played alongside Gallacher, added a 69 to his opening 71 to lie two under par, with Donaldson’s 67 most impressive of the Gleneagles-bound quartet.

1/15/2014

A Year in the Life of Captain McGinley

Getty Images

As a cast of players prepare to take centre stage at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship this week, Paul McGinley will no doubt be casting his mind back to this time last year when he was named European Ryder Cup Captain for The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Hotel.

Chosen by a panel of his peers, the Irishman has been busy ever since as he makes sure everything is to his liking, both on and off the course, in the build up to the matches to be played on the PGA Centenary Course from September 26-28.

McGinley’s first task as chief was to make his own amendments to the qualification criteria for his 12-man team, namely adding a third Captain’s pick at the expense of a place on the European Points List, meaning four will qualify from that side, as well as a further five from the World equivalent.

Some eight months later, McGinley, a three time winner of The Ryder Cup as a player, got the aforementioned qualification process underway as he struck the opening tee shot of the 12 month campaign at the ISPS Handa Wales Open, held at the last European Ryder Cup venue, The Celtic Manor Resort.

Just a few weeks later the Captain was centre stage once more, starring alongside his American counterpart, Tom Watson, as part of the Year to Go celebrations at Gleneagles.

The two-day event showcased everything Scotland will have to offer when the golfing world descends upon its shores this September, and featured travel on a specially commissioned steam train, visits to local schools and towns, as well as a gala dinner, a special evening with the Captains, and a meeting with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond.

Not a lot of time to relax then, and after a quick break over Christmas McGinley is back in Abu Dhabi and as busy as ever, just nine months away from one of the biggest challenges of his career.

“It’s been a busy year but a really good year,” said the man who sank the winning putt on the 18th green at The Belfry in 2002. “I think there has been a lot achieved in terms of preparation in a number of areas, both logistically away from the venue and in terms of arrangements at the hotel itself. So I’m very pleased this far.

“We also had the Year to Go celebrations last September which was a whirlwind of activity leading up to it, as well as during the three days themselves, so I think that gave me a very good idea of what the intensity is going to be like during the week itself.

“Now we are into the actual Ryder Cup year, the communication with the players is starting to grow a bit more but I will let that grow naturally over the next nine months. I am wary of having too much communication with them because they all know what they are doing – I’ll just let them evolve into their respective seasons which will hopefully bring success in Major Championships and such like.”

Following on from the Miracle of Medinah is no easy task, but McGinley seems up to the challenge, and as someone who is still very much part of the Tour, he is ideally placed to oversee things as the season unfolds.

The four time European Tour winner qualified successfully for all three teams he played on, which makes him ideal to advise those battling it out for a place on his team in 2014. McGinley has also learned from some of the best Captains the European team has had – namely the victorious Sam Torrance (2002), Bernhard Langer (2004) and Ian Woosnam (2006) – as well as under Colin Montgomerie (2010) and José María Olazábal last time out in the role of Vice-Captain.

“It has been a very enjoyable year so far – a steep learning curve in places I will admit – and I have put into practice a lot I have learned from previous captains because I’ve been very fortunate to play under and be involved with some great captains,” said McGinley. “I know it is said a lot, but it is the truth, I have benefitted from them all.”

10/03/2013

Turner Takes to Q School

Niall Turner produced a good second round of golf at European Tour Qualifying School at Golf D’Hardelot in France after the Muskerry man fired a 67, including five birdies. This effort added to a first round 69 put him at six-under par and within the qualifying bracket.

Turner is four shots off leader, South Africa’s Haydn Porteous, whose carded a 62 put him 10-under par at the half-way mark.

Porteous notched nine birdies in a flawless display in Hardelot to leap to the head of affairs on ten under par, four shots clear of De Jager with a 71.

One shot off the lead were Frenchman François Delamontagne, who has 207 European Tour appearances under his belt, and Scotsman Paul Doherty, brother of Challenge Tour regular Jack, who struggled to a 76 at Frilford Heath.

Tim Rice of Limerick has a chance of making it through after his second consecutive par 71 left him in a share of 29th position.

Richard Kilpatrick may have left himself with too much to do after a second round 75 put him in a tie of 61st place with four-over par.

In the event being held at Frilford Heath in Abingdon, Irish hopes are fading with Ballybunion’s John-Daniel Guiney’s 72 leaving him on one-over for the tournament and a share of 47th place probably the best hope.

Laurie Canter continued his impressive form on day two adding a round of 70 to his opening 65 to maintain his advantage at Frilford Heath.

The former amateur star mixed five birdies with three bogeys at the Oxfordshire venue to climb to nine under par and lead by one shot from his fellow Englishmen Jack Senior (68) and Curtis Griffiths, whose six-birdie round of 67 was the joint lowest of the day.

Griffiths’ effort was matched by Liam Bond, who led at the midway stage of the ISPS Handa Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort in August. Bond’s round of 67 carried the Welshman to six under par and gave him every chance of repeating his feat of 12 months ago, when he won the Qualifying School First Stage at Frilford Heath.

Headfort’s Brian Casey and Mike Kelly of Kildare had rounds of 70 and 71 respectively to leave them on two-over and a share of 54th position.

Meanwhile, Galway’s Shane Franklin hit 80 in his second round to put him with little chance of qualifying.

Thomas Conran is in 101st place after his 78.

With 102 players competing at each venue this week and only the top 24 and ties progressing to the Second Stage, the competition is sure to be intense over the final two rounds.

9/01/2013

McGinley Ends Well in Wales

Getty Images

Paul McGinley produced a final round 67 at the ISPS Handa Wales Open got under way.

On a week that has heralded the start of qualification of next year’s contest with the Americans, McGinley was looking to secure the best possible personal finish at The Celtic Manor Resort.

The 46-year-old made a good start in his attempts to do just that as, having resumed on three over par, he picked up five shots in the opening 11 holes.

Two bogeys came either side of a birdie thereafter as McGinley ended four under for the round and one under overall. Behind the European Ryder Cup capatn the younger guns played for the major honours in Wales.

Grégory Bourdy found the Midas touch on the greens to produce a stunning finish that sealed victory at the ISPS Handa Wales Open.

Joint-top with overnight leader Peter Uihlein after 15 holes, the Frenchman made a decisive move in the closing stages of his round.

Having holed a 50 footer from just off the green on the difficult 16th, he picked up another shot by draining a tricky one from 15 at the next.

The Celtic Manor Resort's par five last proved no obstacle as Bourdy ridiculously sunk a 30 footer for another birdie to complete a 67 that moved him to eight under par.

"It was an amazing round," he said. "I made an amazing finish with three birdies in a row and I am so happy.

"I will remember the finish on this great course for a long time. A lot of great moments have been here; I was thinking about the Ryder Cup on the 18th so I am so proud to win this trophy."

Bourdy's efforts meant America’s Uihlein had to settle for second place having struggled to make full use of the three stroke advantage he held at the start of the day.

He had initially indicated that a comfortable day might be in the offing.

Indeed, the 23 year old birdied the second to signal his confidence, only to drop shots at the next two holes; his bogey at three was a positive result given he holed a 45 footer to avoid a double.

Pars thereafter meant he was six under overall midway through his final round.

Uihlein was to atone for a bogey just after the turn on 15 but, despite retaking the lead with that gain, he had no answer for Bourdy’s late heroics.

For his own part, Uihlein threatened to finish equally impressively, himself showing fine touch with the short stick at 17 for birdie.

However, Bourdy’s final mammoth effort in an outstanding run of three would prove decisive as Uihlein settled bogeyed the last.

The Frenchman, for whom this victory is a fourth on The European Tour, had earlier shared the lead following an eagle three at the second, brought about by him holing from the sand.

But, having relinquished top spot when failing to get up and down from 84 yards at the sixth, he found a birdie at nine to rejoin Uihlein.

His competitor responded impressively thereafter to assume control once more, only for Bourdy to find the perfect riposte.

8/31/2013

Maybin Trails Leader Uhlein

Getty Images

Gareth Maybin was unable to move up the field on day three of the Wales Open as his two-over 73 left him in joint 61st on six over par for the tournament.

Maybin lies 13 shots behind leader Peter Uhlein, who enjoys a three-shot lead over Thomas Levet and Gregory Bourdy, who are both four under.

Damien McGrane is tied for seventh on two under following a steady round of 70.

Europe Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley fell back to three over after a 77.

David Higgins remained on two over after a 71 which left him sharing 31st place.

Maybin, whose European Tour Card for 2014 looks safe with him currently lying in 80th position in the rankings, was in a share of 64th place.

Overnight leader Liam Bond slipped back to two over after a 78.

Meath man McGrane could do with a good finish this week as he is currently 111th in the Race to Dubai standings with only the top 110 assured of tour cards for next season.

Maybin struggled over his front nine on Saturday as a double bogey at the third was followed by further dropped shots at the fourth and eighth as he went to the turn in 40.

After dropping a further stroke at the long 11th, the Ballyclare man regrouped with three birdies in four holes from the 12th as he eventually signed for a 73.

12/12/2014

Related articles

9/21/2014

Related articles

9/19/2014

Related articles

1/15/2014

Related articles

10/03/2013

Related articles

9/01/2013

Related articles

8/31/2013

Related articles