The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Peter Lawrie

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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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2/09/2016

Lawrie, Phelan and McGee Hit Tshwane

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Peter Lawrie returns to action at the Tshwane Open in South Africa this week in his first event since withdrawing from the Alfred Dunhill Championship in November at Leopard Creek.

Lawrie is joined this week by fellow country men by Kevin Phelan and Ruairdrhi McGee - both of whom have been busy so far this season.

McGee played at the Jo'Burg Open last month and missed the cut.

Phelan however did make the cut at the same event - finishing T53 - but was less fortunate at the Australian PGA Championship and the Alfred Dunhill Championship - where he was cut in both.

Defending champion George Coetzee and Major Champion Charl Schwartzel will head a strong home challenge in this week’s Tshwane Open, the fifth and final regular European Tour event held on South African soil this season.

Twelve months ago, Coetzee secured an emotional victory on the Gary Player Group-designed Championship Course at Pretoria Country Club, where he learned to play the game and is still the touring professional.

It was Coetzee’s second European Tour victory on home soil – his debut title came at the Joburg Open in 2014 – but, given his affinity with the host venue, it was one he treasured more.

Coetzee said: “It’s where I grew up. I played my first event there so to win last year was a dream come true. It’s my home course and I’ve got a lot of good memories, so I probably know the course better than anyone.

“But I still need to play very well to win. Knowing the course gives me a bit of a head start on some of the guys, but the standard on the tour is so high, just knowing the place well isn’t going to be enough. It is quite a thinker’s course though, so the guys who have played it before do have a bit of an advantage.

It was in great condition the last time I played, so I’m sure everyone is going to be impressed with it.

“I know I’m playing well, which only adds to the excitement of the tournament. I’ve struck the ball very well the last three weeks but mentally I haven’t been quite as sharp as I would’ve liked, maybe because I haven’t been used to posting really low scores for a while! But if I can get my head right, then I should have a good chance.”

If any further incentive were needed, he will be bidding to emulate the feats of his friend Branden Grace, who two weeks ago successfully defended his title in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, where Coetzee finished in a tie for seventh place.

The chief threat to Coetzee’s hopes of mounting a successful title defence could come from his compatriot Schwartzel, who is making his debut in the Tshwane Open.

Schwartzel has finished in the top ten in each of his last three appearances on the European Tour, including a fourth victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in November.

That four-shot win at Leopard Creek brought the 2011 Masters champion his tenth European Tour title and, remarkably, all but three of those have come at home.

Three of South Africa’s most promising young talents, including two of Schwartzel’s fellow winners from the 2016 European Tour International Schedule, will also be in the field.

Close friends Brandon Stone and Haydn Porteous have both entered the winners’ circle for the first time this season, at the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni and the following week’s Joburg Open respectively.

Another of the nation’s brightest hopes, Zander Lombard, will also tee up in Waterkloof this week. The 21 year old, who finished runner-up in the Amateur Championship in 2014, came second behind Porteous, fourth in the Australian PGA Championship and in a share of 12th at the BMW SA Open.

Bradley Neil, the man who beat Lombard to the Amateur Championship title at Royal Portrush, has been handed a sponsor’s invitation as he continues his education in the professional arena.

10/25/2014

Golf Course Designers - J. Howes

Highlights for the JEFF HOWES GOLF DESIGN team include: Gowran Park Golf Course, Co. Kilkenny &ndash the company's first 18 hole project in Ireland was a particular challenge to design as the golf course had to be placed in and around the existing horse racetrack.

The re-design of Fota Island, Cork in preparation for the hosting of the Murphy's Irish Open in 2001 and 2002 was Jeff Howes Golf Design next significant project. In 2006 Jeff Howes Golf Design added an additional 9 holes making Fota Island a 27 hole golf resort.

Following on from Fota it was the restoration / upgrading of all the putting surfaces at Mount Juliet in preparation for the WGC American Express World Championships in 2002 and 2004 which preoccupied Jeff Howes Golf Design.

The year 2004 saw The Heritage Golf & Country Club, Co. Laois - a co-design with Seve Ballesteros open to the public. It hosted the AIB Irish Seniors Open in 2005.

International golf course designs include Golf Club Adamstal and Golf Club Foehrenwald of Austria and Thunersee Golf Course of Switzerland.

Current projects include – Farnham Estate Golf Club, Radisson SAS, Cavan, Tramore Golf Club, Waterford and the Carrig Glas Golf Club, Longford, a co-design with Retief Goosen.

Westport GC, Dublin, Ireland

In February of this year Jeff Howes Golf Design remodelled the 13th green at Westport GC. Water ingress & poor turfgrass were the problems experienced by members & greenstaff. The remodelling process and the reconstruction of the green surface and immediate surrounds have eradicated these issues. Green was scheduled to open for play in May 2010.

Newlands GC, Dublin, Ireland

The Official Opening of the fully revamped course was in June, 2010. The main event of the day was a fourball exhibition match which included European Tour Professionals Peter Lawrie (Newlands Member) and Damien McGrane. There was a tremendous turnout of members to witness the opening by Peter Lawrie which was followed by refreshments in the clubhouse.

Farnham Estate GC, Cavan, Ireland

The 18 hole course at the Farnham Estate, opened to the public in April 2010 – the final element of the design – a practice putting green adjacent to the 1st tees was recently constructed and it is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2010.

Exploring New Markets - China

Jeff Howes has made two trips to China this year in a bid to enter this booming golf market.

Malahide, Dublin, Ireland

Malahide opened to great member acclaim in June of 2010. This 9 hole “Blue 9 Course” redesign project is the 2nd such project undertaken by Jeff Howes Golf design at the Club – the previous work involved the revamp of the “Red 9 Course”.

Tramore

Although the 3rd phase at Tramore GC is completed the course has yet to fully open all 27 holes. The last phase is due to open for play by members and the general public in August of 2010.

Jeff Howes Golf Design very recently completed the artwork for the Yardage Books of the 27 hole facility at Tramore GC and they will be on sale at the pro shop in the very near future.

Slade Valley, Dublin, Ireland

Slade valleys 3 hole extension has been in play for 6 months or so now and is proving a bit hit with the members. This 3 hole extension winding through coniferous woodlands offers some even more spectacular views of Dublin city & county to the golfer of this club.

Mount Juliet, Kilkenny, Ireland

Jeff Howes Golf Design recently completed a computer game and uploaded Photorealistic Computer Generated Flybys (to the club’s website) of the Jack Nicklaus Signature designed facility at Mount Juliet.

The game is free to download from the Club’s website and allows people to play the course in a virtual environment – try your hand at beating Tigers 20 under par WGC American Express winning score!

Hermitage GC, Dublin, Ireland

Jeff Howes Golf Design very recently completed the artwork for the Yardage Books, developed a computer game and uploaded Photorealistic Computer Generated Flybys (to the club’s website) of the 18 hole facility at The Hermitage GC.

The game is run on MicroSoft Links 2003 software (which can be downloaded for €5.99) and the game is for sale from The Hermitage GC’s website. The flybys themselves can also be downloaded to your phone and can be accessed while on the course whilst the yardage books are for sale in the Club Pro Shop.

GC Adamstal, Ramsau, Austria

Jeff recently made a trip to GC Adamstal our European Trophy Course as this progressive club continually seeks to improve the golfers experience. Discussions with the owner are currently underway to convert a par three to a par 4 and to introduce more water on the back nine.

Kilkenny Golf Club, Kilkenny, Ireland

In December 2009, Jeff Howes Golf Design were commissioned to develop a MasterPlan for this prestigious course in the South East of Ireland. Following extensive discussions with the Course Development Committee a MasterPlan for the existing golf course and adjacent lands owned by the club was agreed upon.

Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club, Wexford, Ireland

This relatively newcomer to the golf scene in Ireland has celebrated its 2nd year in operation by hosting an Irish PGA Pro-Am tournament in May, of 2010. Predictably it was won by resident Professional Mr. Ian Kerr who as a member of the Owners Consortium was present most days during construction and therefore had an unfair advantage over all others in the field.

Private Putting Greens Czech Republic & Paris

Recently Jeff Howes Golf Design teamed up with Mike Van Der Lee of GreenFields B.V. (Holland) to design two private practice putting greens whose putting surface is made of artificial turf.

Private Putting Greens Czech Republic & Paris

Jeff Howes Golf Design were appointed to draft a report on the playability of greens 1 & 6. This report has been furnished to the club for their consideration and action.

www.jhgd.com

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.

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.

5/04/2014

Laguna Luck Holds for Lawrie

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Simon Thornton signed for a final round of 68 to move up seven places in the final leaderboard at The Championship at Laguna National on Sunday to tie for 20th place.

Peter Lawrie - who carded his third sub 70 round of the week - also finished in 20th place and picked up hist first cheque of the season..

Both players however finished ten strokes off the winner, Felipe Aguilar, after the Chilean produced a stunning 2-2 finish as he came home in 28 shots to snatch victory from Anders Hansen.

Aguilar sank a ten foot birdie putt at the daunting par three 17th after his tee shot barely carried the water, then holed his approach for eagle at the last as a closing 62 saw him finish on 22 under par in Singapore.

Hansen spent much of the day on course for a first European Tour win in five years, but after failing to get up-and-down from sand at the 16th the Dane required a birdie from the last two holes and could not find one.

“Yesterday I didn’t have a good round and you figure that you’re so far back that you have no chance,” said Aguilar, who led the tournament before finding water and double bogeying the 13th during round three. “But today after the front nine I shot two under I knew I had to go deep and I hit the ball one of the best times I ever have and I went for every single pin.

“Eight under on the back nine to win is pretty strong, especially making the last one on 18 being between clubs. This is something very, very special.

“I was right in between clubs and with the adrenaline you don’t want to hit a half shot. So I took a hard pitching wedge and it went in – it was very special finishing like that.

“On the 17th green I told my caddie if I make a birdie on 18 I might put some pressure on the leader and he said ‘you might make two’. I looked at him and said ‘the way I’m hitting the ball I might make two’, and I did.

“I didn’t think I had made it until my caddie came back and told me and the others congratulated me. That was the cherry on the cake, definitely.”

The 43 year old Hansen started the day level with Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat but surged four shots clear on the front nine.

The three-time European Tour winner had to overcome a bogey at the first after missing a par putt from inside five feet.

However, pitches to three feet at the second and third set up birdies and a 20 foot putt at the fourth completed a hat-trick of gains.

Hansen picked up further shots from five feet at the sixth and 12 feet at the seventh to go four clear, but American David Lipsky responded with gains at the eighth and ninth to bring the gap back down to two.

Aguilar turned in 34 after birdies from 15 feet at the fifth and ten feet at the eighth, but set off for home with four straight gains.

The Chilean, whose only previous European Tour title came in neighbouring Indonesia six years ago, joined Lipsky in second as a result – but both were three behind when Hansen holed form 15 feet on the 12th.

Both Aguilar and Hansen birdied the long 15th, but the former’s incredible finish left the Dane needing another gain over the closing stretch.

Hansen then bogeyed the 16th from the sand, and despite holing a four foot clutch putt for par at the next, missed the green at the last and had to settle for par and a closing 67.

That saw him tie for second with Lipsky, who signed for a closing 65, with India’s Rahil Gangjee fourth on 19 under after birdieing his last five holes.

Hansen, playing only his fourth event after six months off due to wrist surgery, said: “What can you say? It’s just one of those days.

“He had a good day, played well obviously. I thought I played well.

“When you are there you want to get the job done and I didn’t, so not particularly happy.

“The last two weeks have been really good. I’ve hit the ball really well and putted nicely so there is not much to say. I can’t really blame myself for this.”

Garthe Maybin slumped to a 54th place finish after a final round 75.