The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Open de España

Showing posts with label Open de España. Show all posts

4/20/2016

Profile - Peter Lawrie

Peter Lawrie, Rabat - Getty Images

Peter Lawrie claimed his maiden European Tour victory at the Open de España in 2008, defeating home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a play-off. Enjoyed a fine performance as defending champion in 2009, finishing tied third.Made history at the end of the 2003 season when he became the first Irish golfer to win the prestigious Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award.

Educated at the University College Dublin where he undertook a golf scholarship. Graduated to The European Tour through the European Challenge Tour, finishing fourth in the Rankings at the end of 2002, helped by a superb victory in the Challenge Tour Grand Final.

The Dublin brn golfer graduated to The European Tour through the European Challenge Tour, finishing fourth in the Rankings at the end of 2002, helped by a superb victory in the Challenge Tour Grand Final. His elevation to The European Tour was testament to his determination, having spent one year on the Asian Tour and three seasons on the Challenge Tour before achieving his goal.

Peter was capped at boys, youths and national level for Ireland as an amateur. In his early days as a professional, he played in Asia and Florida, gaining a ‘Mini Tour’ victory in America’s Sunshine State.

In 2012 Lawrie teed off in his first US Open last year, played at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, having secured a spot through UK qualification.

The next year Lawrie managed a strong finish at the ISPS HANDA Perth International to earn just enough to retain his card.

In 2014 an indifferent season ended with €56,040 in prize money earning him 174th place in the Race to Dubai - and loss of automatic playing rights for 2015.

At The European Tour Final Qualifying Peter Lawrie finished in a share of 29th place at PGA Catalunya and outside the first 25 places required to regain status.

In 2015 the Dubliner, who had finished 124th in the Race to Dubai on the back of 17 invitations, missed again.

Despite that result Lawrie felt his chances of regaining his full playing rights from a lesser category were better in 2016.

“I won’t give up,” said Lawrie afterwards, and expected to get around 22 starts next season.

“I have never been a giver-upper, so I will carry on and I will play next year though apart from the Irish Open, I won’t be seeking invites. I have had my fair share and it’s time for somebody else to get them.”

“It’s like anything,” Lawrie said. “Do you enjoy a job that is not giving you something back? The big problem is the potential golden egg. But sometimes you have to look at the expense account and weigh one up against the other.

“So I’ll play whatever I can get into next year. That’s the plan. From there, we will wait and see.”

In 2016 at the Open de España Lawrie finished in a share of 53rd place at the Real Golf club Valderrama, Hosted by Sergio Garcia Foundation. At the Tshwane Open in South Africa the Dubliner missed the cut and it was his first full event since September.

Factfile

Residence Dublin

Date of Birth: 22/03/1974

Place of Birth Dublin, Ireland

Family Wife: Philippa (m. 2003), Children: Jessica (2005), Amelia Jane (2007), Elizabeth (2009), Christopher (2011)

Interests Snooker, football, cinema

Turned Pro 1997 (plus 2)

Qualifying School 1998, 99, (00), (01) (14) (15)

Peter Lawrie - 2016

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5/15/2015

Hoey Trails Espana in El Prat

Getty Images

Michael Hoey carded a second round 68 at the Open de España in El Prat, Barcelona, to reaching the half-way stage two strokes behind Edouard Espana.

Hoey got his day off to a perfect start with a birdie three at the first hole before adding two more at the fifth and the seventh to go out in 33.

Another birdie at the 10th and it looked like the Northern Irishman might catch first round leader Trevor Fisher at the top of the leaderboard. However his good run was stunted by consecutive bogies at the 11th and 12th holes.

A strong finish gave way to birdies at the 15th and 16th to post 68 and leave him tied third on five under par, with Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez one shot better off in second spot.

France’s Espana overcame strong winds which sent scores soaring in the afternoon to card a second round of 69 and finish seven under par at El Prat.

Jimenez had been four under following birdies on the second and fifth with his ninth European Tour ace – equalling the record of Colin Montgomerie – on the eighth, but came home in 39 to card a 71 and finish one under.

The 51-year-old, who is known for his love of cigars and red wine, at least had the consolation of winning 288 bottles of beer for his hole-in-one, which came when his six-iron pitched around 15 feet short of the pin and rolled perfectly into the hole.

Espana, 25, who graduated from the Challenge Tour last season, told European Tour Radio: “Leading the open with my name everywhere is very cool.

“I played really good today, it was very windy so it was tough to control distance and the putting was tough too but I played very well and I am really happy. My family is from Spain so that’s why my name is Espana. My cousins are here this week so it’s really good.

“It’s completely different (on the European Tour), the level of tournaments are higher so I have to improve my game, my level to play good on tour and I try but it’s difficult so we will see at the end of the week if I keep going.

“It’s tough because there are a lot of good players, the courses are really good and difficult so you have to play well and focus on your game.”

The strong afternoon winds meant pre-tournament favourite Sergio Garcia avoided a first missed cut in 11 appearances in the event, the world number seven having added a second round of 72 to his opening 75.

“I didn’t feel I played that badly,” said Garcia, who was a shot outside the projected cut after finishing his round with two birdies in the last six holes and a par save from a greenside bunker on the last.

“It was a great week last week with everything that happened (losing a play-off in the Players Championship). It takes it out of you, but it’s no excuse. You just try your best and hope it’s good enough.”

After discovering he had survived with a shot to spare, the 35-year-old later wrote on Twitter: “2 tough days to start the #OpendeEspana but at least I’ll have the opportunity to play the weekend and have a chance! Will need great golf!”

Gonzalez had set the early clubhouse target on six under par thanks to a second consecutive 69, the 45-year-old bouncing back from a double bogey on the 17th with a birdie on the last.

“I hit a bad tee shot on 17 and then I tried to hit the green, which was a big mistake, so I paid for it,” Gonzalez said. “I made a good six and then I said to my caddie: ‘I need to make a good birdie on 18’. I played two great shots to the green and and that gives me a lot of confidence for tomorrow.”

South Africa’s Darren Fichardt is alongside Hoey on five under after a disappointing 73.

Fichardt carded a superb 66 in the tougher afternoon conditions on Thursday and moved into a two-shot lead with a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth, but dropped four shots in the space of six holes from the 10th to come home in 40.

Overnight leader and fellow South African Trevor Fisher fared even worse, carding a 78 to drop back to one under.

Peter Lawrie signed for a three-over 75 to finish on five over, and outside the mark.

10/24/2014

Profile - Brendan McDaid

Brendan McDaid is based at the Carr Golf Centre, Spawell in Templeogue, Dublin with all the on site facilities for his tuition needs. As European Tour coach continues to help golfers get the most out of their game is currently working with Irish golfer, Peter Lawrie.

Whether starting out for the first time or a seasoned campaigner, the McDaid Academy offers something uniquely different for golfers.

The Swing Reader, the most advanced video solution, analysis of your swing during the lesson, after which videos are made available to ensure continuous improvement.

At the Carr Golf Centre Brendan offers individual classes, one day golf group schools or junior golf lessons. All bookable on-line to more easily plan a lesson at a convenient time.

McDaid has coached many individuals and teams to success both at home and abroad, ranging from junior competitions to European PGA Professional tournaments. His Mother was a Inter provincial and also played for Ireland. His sister Eileen Rose Power played Curtis Cup in 1994 with his nephew Mark Power winning the Peter McEvoy Trophy this year

Under McDaid Peter Lawrie claimed his maiden victory at the Open de España in 2008, defeating home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a play-off. The following year he defended his title valiantly only to finish third in the end.

Having graduated from UCD on a scholarship Lawrie reached the European Tour through the Challenge Tour, after finishing fourth in the rankings at the end of 2002. All testament to his determination having spent one year on the Asian Tour and three seasons on the Challenge Tour.

Brendan has also coached former European Tour player Gary Murphy, and Challenge Tour players Colm Moriarty and Michael McGeady. As well as Tara Delaney, a one time member of the Ladies European Tour. As head coach for the Team Ireland Golf Trust for a number of years, McDaid has always been at the cutting edge of all golf coaching in Ireland and Europe.

McDaid has held a Category 14 card and played on the European Tour

www.brendanmcdaidgolf.com

1/14/2014

Brendan and Peter Greet New Season

Brendan McDaid coached European Tour winner Peter Lawrie long before the Dubliner claimed his maiden European Tour victory at the Open de España in 2008 in Sevilla, defeating home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a play-off. A victory that was followed by a third place finish at the same event twelve months later when it was played at PGA Catalunya.

In 2012 Lawrie qualified for the US Open for the very first time.

At the 36 hole qualifier in Walton Heath Peter needed to finish among the top 11 to earn a place at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, and did so after a five-way play-off for four places – finishing on six-under-par with Matthew Baldwin, Matteo Manassero, Rafael Jacquelin and Shirwan Kim.

The Dubliner's only previous appearance in a Major was at the 2005 British Open at St Andrews.

After a twelve year journey the partnership now concludes and Lawrie will tee off the 2014 season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship without the ever observant McDaid for the first time in over a decade.

“Since Peter was the Rookie of the Year 2003; it has been a great adventure on the European Tour together,” said McDaid “Particularly retaining his playing rights in Perth at the very end of last season. Which really came down to the wire and was a true test of nerve in Australia”

“For this season a new setup makes sense and I am grateful to Peter for some great years on Tour,” continued Brendan, “No doubt he will continue to enjoy success and I wish him well.”

“At times these changes can be good and it is the natural process of the game” said McDaid, “Few things ever stay the same and the twelve years have just flashed by us both.”

Having coached a number of aspiring Irish players over the years McDaid reflects on some of those names that crossed his path.

“These days Gary Murphy works in the media outside the ropes, Colm Moriarty, a regular on the Challenge Tour, has called it a day inside the ropes. As did Stephen Browne some years back now,” Brendan explained.

“On the other hand Michael McGeady won the Irish PGA Championship last year which was great to see.”

Golf started early for McDaid as a young member of Lahinch Golf Club from where he won the Irish Youths in 1977 and progressed to a PGA Professional by 1985. Born in Donegal and raised in Skibbereen, Co. Cork, his playing career as an amateur career saw victory at The Irish Youths, The Munster Youths twice and The Munster Boys.

In 1981 McDaid joined professional ranks training in Bandon Golf Club in Cork and becoming a PGA Professional four years later, reaching Category 14 on the European Tour in 1989.

Golf tuition however was to become his real vocation. That decision reflected in a coaching career that has clocked up success stories over time.

It also included Karen Delaney, Irish Ladies Close Champion 2007 and Kate Gallagher, Irish Girls Champion in 2007. With a list of individual titles also among the credits; 6 Irish Ladies Close Champions in the 1990’s; 2 Irish Strokeplay Champions in the 1990’s; Curtis Cup Team Members in 1992 & 1998 and a 2003 Walker cup team member.

www.brendamcdaidgolf.com