Final day blues hit McGrane once more
Monday
September 9th 2002
DAMIEN McGRANE saw his chance to win the Formby Hall Challenge slip through his gasp for the second successive year in the final round on Merseyside. A year ago he went into the last day three strokes ahead only to card a closing 76 and finish third. This time he led on 13 under par with three holes to play only to bogey the long 18th, which allowed England's Matthew Blackey to slip past and take the title.
McGrane finished with a 65 for 276, 12 under par, for second spot alongside Somerset's David Dixon, while Blackey's 67 saw him to 13 under 275 and a cheque for almost €20,000 and his European Tour card for next season. Although McGrane began the day six strokes behind Dixon, he found the sort of form that wins tournaments. Out in 31 with five birdies, four in a row from the fourth, McGrane added two more after the turn then birdied the 14th and 15th, both par fives, to get to 13 under. Then the tournament was in has grasp. But his drive down the last bounced into a water hazard and although he played from there, his third shot flew the green. He chipped back to 20 feet but two putted for bogey.
It was a bitter blow and then he could only hope he would at least finish in a play-off. But Blackey won the title in style, finishing eagle-birdie-bogey-birdie for an inward 33. Even then, Dixon needed a three at the last to tie.
"I knew I was one or two ahead playing the last and although I hit a good drive down the last it took a bounce into the hazard," said McGrane. "I knew then that with the par fives to come, someone could pick up shots and that's what happened. Still my final round was 11 shots better than last year."
On a good day for the Irish, McGrane climbed to 22nd on the Order of Merit, while Peter Lawrie is now 11th after finishing with a seven birdie 66 for 281, seven under, after wielding a new putter. "I was sick and tired of missing putts so I bought a new putter in the pro shop before I went out," he said. Paddy Gribben also looked like playing a part in the final outcome but he eventually finished with 71 for 282, six under, and sharing 15th place.