The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Gareth Maybin

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11/20/2014

Profile - Gareth Maybin

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In 2010 Gareth Maybin secured a second place finish at the fog plagued Ballantine’s Championship at the Pinx Golf Club to secure his playing rights for the 2011 season, easing the pressure of needing that late surge in earnings to keep his card.

In fact on the final day in Korea Maybin may have done even better except he faded down the stretch, losing out on sole possession of second place after a par putt at the last lipped out. The level par 72 score dropped him back alongside Australia's Brett Rumford - albeit a vital pay day of €191,516.50 towards the Race to Dubai

Originally from Ballyclare in Northern Ireland, Maybin had a very successful career as an amateur, representing Ireland at boys, youth and senior levels, in addition to wins in the Leinster Youths and North of Ireland.

In 2001 Gareth accepted a four year golf scholarship at the University of South Alabama, where he set a record by winning eight times in one season, beating PGA Tour player Heath Slocum’s record of seven wins. In 2004 Gareth played on the successful European Palmer Cup team at Ballybunion Golf Club and was also a member of that year’s Walker Cup panel.

Maybin turned professional after the 2004 University season, initially playing on the Hooters Tour in the US, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 2005.

After two wins on the Tour, in 2005 and 2006, and a victory in the 2006 Alabama Open, he returned to Europe to compete on the European Challenge Tour, for the second half of the 2007 season. After four top ten finishes in only ten events, including a third place finish in the First Plus Wales Challenge, Gareth finished the season in 49th position on the Order of Merit and secured full Challenge Tour playing rights for 2008. Gareth rounded off 2007 in style, playing in the World Cup of Golf with fellow Northern Irishman Michael Hoey, at Mission Hills in China.

Maybin had a superb 2008 season on the Challenge Tour, with nine top-10 finishes, including his first Challenge Tour victory at the Qingdao Golf Open in September. Gareth’s consistent performances saw him finish the 2008 season ranked 4th on the Challenge Tour Rankings. This secured a category 10 card on the main European Tour for the 2009 season, which gave Gareth entry to most tournaments.

He took full advantage of this opportunity, and nearly secured the European Tour’s Rookie Of The Season award for 2009. Maybin had no fewer than seven top-10 finishes, and came close to winning on a number of occasions. None more so than at the South African Open Championship, where he missed out on a play-off. Gareth finished 53rd in the final 2009 Race to Dubai rankings, a superb debut season.

Maybin would continue in the same vein going into 2010, narrowly missing out securing his first European Tour victory. Gareth would secure five top-10s, including finishing second at the Ballantine's Championship in Korea and also the Andalucia Valderrama Masters in Spain. He sampled his first taste of Major golf by qualifying for both the US Open and the Open Championship on his way to finishing 40th in the Race to Dubai.

The 2011 season however saw a loss of momentum mid season with a large number of missed cuts impacting his twenty eight season starts, including the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland in Jillana. The loss in earnings was sufficient to cause concern through the last few events in the European Tour schedule, nit helped when Maybin earned only €8,700 from 57th place at the Andalucia Masters.

However fortune favoured and a €13,327 cheque in Hong Kong moved him to 117th from 120th in the Race to Dubai standings.

With the three players ahead of him - Fredrik Jacobsen, Ryan Moore and Tom Lewis - not playing the required number of tournaments to count, this bumped him to 114th on the list - one spot inside the automatic 115 players on the money list who retain their playing privileges for the new year.

In 2012 Maybin left Horizon Sports to join a new management company Sportology.

The highlight of his 2013 campaign came at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, where he followed up a joint eighth finish in the Alstom Open de France with a joint fifth finish behind Phil Mickelson.

Needed to make the cut in his last event of the 2011 season, the UBS Hong Kong Open, to have any chance of keeping his card, and duly did so, coming tied 39th to scrape in in 117th place in The Race to Dubai.

Was a less nervy finish in 2012, when he took 111th place. His highest finish in the Money List was in 2010, when he came 40th. Graduated from the Challenge Tour in 2008, the year he won his maiden title, at the Qingdao Golf Open.

2014 loses European Tour card after finishes 123rd in the Race to Dubai.

At The European Tour Final Qualifying a 58th place finish ended Maybin's hopes of a quick recovery of playing rights.

Personal Details

Date of Birth: 14th September 1980

Management: Sportology

Residence: Ballyclare, Northern Ireland

Turned Professional: 2005

Interests: Football, Shooting, Cars and Pool

Tour school: 2007 (14)
Career earnings €2,363,328 [November 2014]

10/24/2014

Q School Test Awaits Irish Players

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Peter Lawrie and Gareth Maybin failed in their bid to retain their autromctaic playing righst on the Europaan Tour for next season after failing to make the cut at the ISPS Handa Perth International on Friday.

Kevin Phelan retains a chance on paper but needs a weekend of high scoring to improve on share of 35th place and clode the seven stroke gap with the leader, Peter Whiteford.

So the battle to keep a Tour card will go right to the wire over the weekend with Whiteford, Sihwan Kim and David Drysdale all in the frame for a last-ditch assault on the top 111 on The Race to Dubai.

Only the top 110 Full Members will retain their playing privileges for the 2015 season – Brendan de Jonge’s inclusion in the Race to Dubai as an Affiliate Member pushing the critical position back to 111th – and Whiteford, Kim and Drysdale are leading the charge of those players outside that mark looking for one last monumental effort this weekend to secure their place among the European Tour elite.

As things stand at the halfway stage of the ISPS HANDA Perth International at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Whiteford, as 36 hole leader, could climb to 89th from 149th with victory on Sunday. He needs to finish first or second to secure his card. Drysdale in position to climb from 116th to 100th. Kim, lying third, is still on the wrong side of the bubble as that would only lift him to 116th from 138th as he needs a top two but it’s all to play for.

“It’s no holds barred,” said Whiteford. “Win or bust.

“I am very nervous. There's no doubt about that. I’ve got to just keep attacking. I don't want to go back to school. Nobody does. But I get what I deserve in this game, and I've been awful all year. It's nice that the form is coming back later on in the year.”

For some, its season over as those who missed the cut can do no more. For Maximillian Kieffer in 106th place on the Race to Dubai, Steve Webster (107th), Anthony Wall (108th) and particularly Lee Slattery (110th), an anxious weekend awaits as they missed the cut and the outcome is now out of their hands. If they are passed by enough players they may yet be bumped out.

For others it is back to the Qualifying School, and among those whose last chance has gone after missing the cut are former Tour champions Ricardo Santos, the 2012 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, Alastair Forsyth, and José Manuel Lara.

Peter Lawrie avoided a return a year ago with a top twenty finish. A feat that proved beyond David Higgins last year in Perth, and he lost his card, reliant on a number of exemptions for this season.

Kevin Phelan produced a fine last round at PGA Catalunya in last years tour school to grab his first season as a professional. He may have less fears returning to claim his rights for 2015.

Maybin faces his first trip in seven years after first qualifying in 2007 - within two years of trying pro.

Lawrie was last in Q School in 2001, and has a fifty percent record in four appearances since first earning his card in 1998.

10/23/2014

Maybin and Lawrie Facing Q School

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Gareth Maybin edged closer to a visit to the European Tour School after an opening 71 left him sharing 53rd spot at the Perth International.

Maybin needs to finish in the top seven in the Australian event to have any chance of retaining his tour card.

He went into this week's event 122nd in the Race to Dubai - some £25,000 off the 111th spot that will ensure safety.

Ballyclare man Maybin is seven behind leaders Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen and Australian veteran John Wade.

Damien McGrane is the leading Irishman on two under which leaves him sharing 25th spot.

McGrane has already secured his tour card for next season as he is currently 94th in the order of merit.

Kevin Phelan, third at last week's Hong Kong Open, shot an opening 72 but only a top-three finish is likely to be enough for him to retain his card as he is 130th in the standings.

Peter Lawrie looks certain to have to make a trip to the tour school as his opening 75 left him 11 shots off the pace.

Lawrie is currently 174th in the Race to Dubai after a second successive poor season and went into this week's event needing a win to hold on to his card.

His opening round left him sharing 124th place.

Olesen and Wade have a two-shot lead over a quartet which includes England's Tom Lewis and Australian's Michael Sim.

9/06/2014

Perfect Timing for Lowry 65

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Shane Lowry and Gareth Maybin will go into the third round of the Omega European Masters just three shots off the lead after both moved to nine under par on Friday afternoon in the Swiss Alps.

Lowry followed up yesterday’s 66 with a five under effort of 65 at Crans-sur-Sierre, while Maybin kept pace with a round of 67 to remain in the thick of things on a crowded leaderboard.

Former champion Richie Ramsay is still the man to catch as he set an imposing clubhouse target of 12 under, with Jamie Donaldson his nearest challenger just one shot behind.

Ramsay shared the overnight lead with Italy’s Edoardo Molinari after both posted flawless rounds of 62, the Scot admitting he had thought of shooting the first 59 in European Tour history after an eagle and six birdies in 15 holes.

The 31-year-old had to settle for pars on the final three holes but was soon back among the birdies on Friday, picking up shots at the 15th and 16th - having started from the 10th - to be out in 32.

Further birdies on the par-five first, a hole he eagled on Thursday, the fifth and short seventh took 2012 champion Ramsay to 12 under par and two shots ahead of American Brooks Koepka.

Welshman Donaldson, however, reached the turn in 31 after five birdies and came home with a 64 to close the gap to one.

“It was a little bit tougher today,” Ramsay told Sky Sports 4. “I thought some of the pins were trickier on the back side and a little bit of rain made the temperature go up and down which makes clubbing difficult.

“But I stayed steady, had a good attitude again and picked up a few shots coming in which was nice, so all in all a good day’s work.”

Ramsay, who was joint fourth in the Italian Open on Sunday, added: “I have to go with the attitude that I am up there at the top so why not enjoy it? There’s nothing to lose.

“If I do that I will have a really good attitude and just go out there, try to enjoy it and pick off a few birdies.”

Donaldson’s Ryder Cup team-mate player Victor Dubuisson was four shots off the pace after recovering from a double bogey on the 12th, his third hole, to return a 67.

“I’m very, very excited to be part of this amazing team,” Dubuisson said. “It’s been very hard to qualify this year. I had to have two top 10s in the last two majors to be safe (ninth in the Open and seventh in the US PGA).

“I have a good relationship with all the players so I will just have to manage the pressure because it’s my first Ryder Cup and I know it’s not easy to play your game.

“Sometimes you want to play a little more safe and then you lose your natural game.”

Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey is also in the mix on seven under after a 68, but Pádraig Harrington dropped back to three under with a one-over-par 71 and Peter Lawrie just made cut on one under after a 70.

After opening with a 74 on Thursday, Darren Clarke improved by eight shots, showing stunning form to reach the turn in 30 with six birdies, but bogeys at 10 and 15 left him a shot short of the weekend’s action on level par.

8/29/2014

Maybin Second in Italy

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Francesco Molinari’s put himself in position to land his national title for a second time as he claimed a share of the first round lead along with Bernd Wiesberger at the 71° OPEN D'ITALIA Presented by DAMIANI.

Some brilliant approach play on the back nine saw the Italian register four birdies during an inward 32 – all from inside ten feet – as Molinari enhanced his claims for a Captain’s pick from Paul McGinley for next month’s Ryder Cup.

Wiesberger matched the Turin native’s 66 at Circolo Golf Torino, with both players producing bogey-free rounds.

Stephen Gallacher, the only player who can disrupt Europe’s automatic qualification places in the final event of the points race, opened with a level-par 72. The Scot needs a top-two finish in order to debut at Gleneagles.

Gallacher may be the only player who controls his Ryder Cup destiny, but it was Molinari who did most to boost his chances of making the European Team on the course where he started playing golf aged eight.

European Captain Paul McGinley admitted Molinari is "very much in my mind" for one of the three wild cards he will announce on Tuesday, with the man himself thinking he needs to win on Sunday to make a third consecutive appearance.

"I had a chat with Paul when he got here and I think the good thing is that he knows what I can bring to the team because he has seen me as vice-captain on the last two teams," said Molinari, whose halved match with Tiger Woods at Medinah in 2012 ensured Europe won outright for the seventh time in the last nine contests.

"But it's up to me to prove that I really want it and am playing well enough. I think anything less than a win would not be enough so I have to aim for that."

Gallacher headed straight to the range after a round featuring four birdies and four bogeys, the 39 year old Scot squandering a good start after almost holing his approach to his second hole of the day.

"I'm a bit disappointed because I threw away a couple of shots midway through my round, but it's okay for the first day and I am only one good score away from the top of the leaderboard," said Gallacher, who lives just 35 miles from Gleneagles.

"I know I have to finish first or second, that's not going to change, so I'm not putting any pressure on myself. Once you get out on the course you just try to birdie every hole. That's the easy part. It's when you finish you think about the Ryder Cup."

Wiesberger finished 15th in the US PGA Championship after playing in the last group in the final round alongside eventual winner Rory McIlroy.

The two-time European Tour winner was fourth in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles last year and also lost a five-man play-off in the same event in 2011, but said: "I think Stephen Gallacher should get a pick for the way he has played this year.

"Paul (McGinley) knows I play well at Gleneagles and I like the course, but I am pretty far down the list (23rd) and even if I win it would be a surprise to get that call on Tuesday," he said.

"The first three days at Valhalla gave me a lot of confidence knowing I could get into that position and be in the last group in a Major. I probably should have tried to make more of a move in the final round but I didn't drive the ball that well that day and couldn't really get it going.

"It was actually the first time I have had a really good performance in America as well so it was a big, big week for me and a pretty cool experience to be out so late on a Sunday in a Major."

Wiesberger and Molinari enjoyed a one shot lead over American John Hahn, Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin, Scotland's Richie Ramsay, England's Richard Bland and South African Hennie Otto, with 17 year old Italian amateur Edoardo Lipparelli among a seven-strong group another shot back.

Scotland's Marc Warren, an outside chance for a wild card following his win in Denmark a fortnight ago, carded a three under par 69 to finish alongside fellow hopeful Joost Luiten.

7/03/2014

GMAC in Stadler Slipstream

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Graeme McDowell was six shots off leader Kevin Stadler after a round of 70 at the Alstom Open de France near Paris.

Stadler said all the right things after carding a flawless 64 to claim the lead after the opening round of the Alstom Open de France at Le Golf National.

Masters champion Bubba Watson created a poor impression of Americans abroad after playing the tournament in 2011, describing the Eiffel Tower as "that big tower", the Louvre as the "building starting with an L", the Arc de Triomphe as "this arch I drove round in a circle" and the Versailles Palace as "the castle we're staying next to" during his brief trip.

But Stadler staged something of a charm offensive after carding seven birdies and no bogeys to lead by one from Germany's Marcel Siem, with Scotland's Stephen Gallacher a shot further back on five under.

Damien McGrane finsihed level opn day one.

Peter Lawrie (+1), Gareth Maybin (+2), David Hoey (+2), Padraig Harrington (+3), Kevin Phelan (+5), Simon Thornton (+6) and David Higgins (+8) were also in action.

"It's one of my best rounds of the year for sure," said Stadler, who won his maiden PGA Tour title in the Phoenix Open in February and was half of the first father-son pairing to play in the same Masters with his father Craig in April.

"To not make a bogey out there is something I didn't think was possible when I first played it. It's instantly one of my favourite courses ever, I thought it was spectacular from hole one to the end. They talk about the last four holes but they are doing a discredit to the previous 14.

"I have always wanted to come over here, the guys in the US tell me it's one of the best events of the year and it has not let me down. It has been fantastic."

Ryder Cup hopeful Gallacher was left to rue a poor finish despite carding an opening 66, the Scot looking set to challenge the course record of 62 when he covered his first 14 holes in seven under par and then hit a superb approach to five feet on the sixth.

However, the world number 37 missed that birdie opportunity and then dropped shots on the seventh and ninth after missing the green with his approach each time.

Gallacher is currently outside the automatic qualifying places for September's contest at Gleneagles, which is just 35 miles from his home in Linlithgow.

But he will not get the chance to impress European captain Paul McGinley in person this week, the Dubliner pulling out of the event with a shoulder injury.

"I missed a putt to go eight under and didn't do too much wrong on the last couple of holes, but that's what this course can do," Gallacher said. "I'll still take two (shots) better than my previous best in this event."

Speaking about Ryder Cup qualification and the run of big-money events coming up, Gallacher added: "It's a massive run. The thing I have to try to do is play my golf and not think about it really.

"I'm trying not to be too outcome-orientated, just think of what I'm doing on the course and hopefully it's good enough."

Siem was in the group ahead of Gallacher and experienced starkly contrasting fortunes on the closing stretch, playing his final four holes in five shots fewer thanks to a hat-trick of birdies from the sixth.

"I always enjoy coming back here, I love the track and had a good start this morning," Siem told Sky Sports. "The putts finally started dropping, last week my putting was horrible, so I am really pleased."

6/27/2014

Hoey Scents Chance in Cologne

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Michael Hoey signed for six under par, 66, in the opening round of the BMW International Open in Cologne, to remain two strokes behind the joint leaders, England’s Danny Willett and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello

Hoey carded six birdies on the first, third, fifth, 10th, 13th and 15th holes.

Shane Lowry finished five under on 67 with eagle on the 13th and five birdies the highlights.

Kevin Phelan signed for a 68 including four birdies and level scores on the remaining holes.

Damien McGrane was a stroke further back after a round of 69.

Gareth Maybin signed for a (71).

Paul McGinley rounded in 72 but along with Peter Lawrie on 73, David Higgins signing for 75 and Simon Thornton on 76 are on the wrong side of the projected cut line. All will need a good Friday to see weekend action.

Martin Kaymer’s return to action following the second major victory of his career gave his home crowd little to really cheer on the first day of the .

In perfect scoring conditions at Gut Larchenhof the German disappointingly found himself five shots off the early lead. Starting at the 10th, two birdies in three holes were quickly undone by a double bogey at the short 16th and another dropped shot at the 18th took him to the turn in one over.

Three successive birdies immediately got him back to two under but having hit his second into a greenside bunker at the 577-yard seventh he failed to get out of the trap from an awkward lie and bogeyed to finish one under.

Storm, by contrast, was bogey-free as, after reaching the turn at two under, he carded four birdies in five holes from the 11th to set the clubhouse lead at six under.

He was later joined by Hansen, who also did not drop a shot, Stal who got to seven under through 16 holes — including an eagle at the par-four ninth — before making his only bogey of the morning at the 17th, and Campillo.

Robert Karlsson, who started on the back nine, looked set for a low score after reaching the turn on five under but eight pars — interrupted by a dropped shot at the eighth — meant he finished the day two shots off the lead.

6/22/2014

Minister Rings in Irish Open Wecome

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Michael Ring TD, Ireland’s Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, was an interested observer among the large crowds at Fota Island Resort for the third round of the 2014 Irish Open.

The Minister toured the facilities at Fota Island Resort and took the chance to welcome some of the players from the impressive international field, with seven different nationalities represented in the top ten at the halfway stage.

With three Irish players – Padraig Harrington, Gareth Maybin and Graeme McDowell – among those in contention, and with large galleries and glorious weather so far, this year’s Irish Open has already been a magnificent showcase for golf in Ireland.

The Minister, in the company of Tony Lenehan, Head of Golf Tourism for Fáilte Ireland, and James Finnigan, Commercial Director of the Irish Open from the European Tour, were on the first tee to watch some of the leading groups tee off, including three-time Major Champion Harrington, who is Fáilte Ireland’s Golf Ambassador, and McDowell, who will start Sunday's final round just two shots behind leader Mikko Ilonen.

Minister Leo Varadkar TD, Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, also visited Fota Island Resort during Thursday’s opening round and welcomed more than 100 members of the international media at a reception at Fota Island Hotel.

Then on Sunday afternoon, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, will join George O'Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, in presenting the trophy to the 2014 Irish Open Champion.

11/20/2014

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