O’Briain defends pro-am title
29/06/2016
The in-form Neil O'Briain, produced a late birdie blitz to successfully defend his 36-hole Slieve Russell Masters Pro-Am title.
The Old Conna GC man has racked up four victories in June during his hot spell and is now a genuine contender to top the Order of Merit rankings at the end of the year.
“I'm very happy. I hit the ball well on both days but didn't get anything out of the round over the opening 18 holes,” said O‘Briain.
“I started a bit sluggishly on day two but just hung in there and took my chances over the closing holes.”
Trailing overnight leader Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge) by five shots following an opening round 72, the 29-year-old finished in style to win by two.
He made a steady if unspectacular start to his round, reaching the turn in one-under-par 35, a bogey at the third, cancelled out by birdies at the fifth and sixth.
O’Briain added: “I got word that I was in the hunt around the turn but I also knew Simon Thornton was still out playing and he is very capable of posting a low score so I had to be positive over the closing holes.”
He reeled off three pars after turning for home but then his round caught fire and he played the last six holes in three-under-par with birdies at the 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th offset by a dropped shot at the par-three 16th.
“I was probably too positive at the 16th. My tee shot finished 20 feet away and I gave it a good run at the hole. It finished four feet past and then I missed the one back,” said O’Briain.
“That could have been costly but it meant I couldn't back off over the final two holes. There was no point in messing about.”
While Kilpatrick's challenge faded with a second round 77, O'Briain was the only player in the field to break 70 on day two.
Ciaran Molloy (Blackwood Golf Centre) guided his amateur partners to success in the team event with 177 points over the two days of competition.
