Thanks to a three-under-par 69 by Wexford club professional Damian McGrane, Ireland improved their lot slightly in the final round of the PGA of Europe Team Championship at Atalaya Park in Spain yesterday.
McGrane's 69, allied to a 71 by Geoff Loughrey - his second of the tournament - moved the Irish team back up the leaderboard to joint ninth, and into the money as Scotland retained the trophy.
McGrane had four birdies in his round but wasn't at all pleased with Ireland's finishing mark. "We are disappointed with our second round. Shooting over par scores isn't good enough. Today, I missed four birdie putts from three feet or less," he lamented.
Final Positions: 418 - Scotland (A Crerar, D Thomson, J Greaves). 423 - Wales. 425 - Netherlands. 426 - Spain. 428 - England, Finland. 429 - Italy. 431 - Ireland (G Loughrey 71, 74, 71; D McGrane 74, 73, 69; R Giles 74, 73, 72); Austria.
Aideen Rogers leads the Irish challenge in joint 12th place after the second round of the women's European Tour School at Aroeira, Portugal yesterday. Rogers added a 73 to her opening 76 and trails leader Laura Philo of the US by eight strokes. Maureen Madill is a shot behind Rogers after a second 75 while Tracey Eakin will have her work cut out after a 77 left her five strokes further back.
