McGrane sets his sights on capturing Irish Professional Championship win

Wexford People - Issue Date Sept 15th.

FORMER WEXFORD Golf club kingpin, Damien McGrane, will perform on home soil this week.

He will be chasing his first Irish Professional Championship victory at Palmerstown House.

This new course opened earlier this year and has been developed by Jim Mansfield who owns the City West complex. The course was designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr. and is situated near Johnstown, Co. Kildare.

Former winners Paul McGinley and Des Smyth will not participate, but Pádraig Harrington will play after originally deciding that he would not take part, and there is no doubt that his presence will greatly enhance the event.

He will attract a terrific crowd but Damien McGrane will also relish the challenge. 'I really would love to win this one as it would really fulfil my year,' he said.

McGrane plays on the home circuit whenever he has the chance and has recently finished off three European tournaments in Germany and Switzerland. His performance in last week's Linde German Masters, finishing 42nd, earning €17,100 which leaves him lying 53rd in the Order of Merit with winnings of €372,281.

He has had three top ten finishes on tour. 'This year I've been in the mix more often and I am really enjoying being up there every week,' he said. 'You have to have belief in yourself, keep going and maintain that belief.

'Things change when you go from being a club pro to a tour pro. A good performance for me used to be shooting a level par around the K club and making the cut in the European Open.

'Now that I have broken the mould a little bit, it will give great encouragement to the rest of the young club pros in Ireland at the moment.'

County Wexford will be well represented, with two former pupils of Damien in the field. His replacement in Wexford, Liam Bowler, will also compete and he has been consistently finishing in the top ten on the Irish circuit this year.

Glen Robinson, playing out of Coolattin, is also another golfer currently in the top 20 on the Irish Order of Merit.

Martin Sludds, who won the event in 1985 and 1993, is also in a rich vein of form. The Enniscorthy Golf Club pro recently broke the course record in Ballybunion and is currently number five in the IOrder of Merit.

Coolattin's Philip Jones will also be part of the field on Thursday.