McGrane Nips Ahead For Final Fling

17 September 2005

Damien McGrane overhauled playing partner Padraig Harrington during the third round of the cuisine de france and simple overseas properties-backed Irish Championship at the PGA National Palmerstown to slip to the top of the leaderboard going into the final day’s play.

A 69 from the former Wexford club professional leaves him five-under-par and one stroke ahead of defending champion Harrington who took 71 shots third time out.

An eagle at the ninth hole pushed world no.12 Harrington to six under and two strokes ahead of McGrane but the picture changed on the run-in. There was a two shots swing at the 153-yards 12th hole where Harrington bogeyed and McGrane birdied.

When Harrington again lost a stroke at the long 16th it allowed McGrane to nip ahead and that’s where he stayed to the end.

“I struggled on the greens as i had three three-putts,” reflected Harrington and then handed out praise to McGrane who dropped just one shot in his last 50 holes.

“he is a model professional and a player all professionals can look up to. He is one of the top 50 players in Europe. I know Damien since he was 15 years of age but i still don’t really know him. He does his own thing.”

Quiet man McGrane said he enjoyed playing with Padraig but he focuses on his own game. The last time they partnered each other was in the Irish Championship at Powerscourt in 1998. They will be last out together in the final round.

Just two shots behind Harrington is Stephen Hamill who was runner-up to Paul McGinley in ’97 at Fota Island. The Lisburn club pro carded a 70 to be two-under-par for the tournament and one shot ahead of Francis Howley (71) while Peter Lawrie lost ground with a bogey at the 18th hole.

Lawrie and fellow tour player Gary Murphy are joint fifth on level par after Murphy stormed back with a 68 that included eagle threes at the ninth and 14th holes.