Kelly makes it a high Five
MAURICE Kelly fended off a last-round surge by Tuam’s Alan Kelly to land his fifth Irish Senior Close Championship title at Enniscrone.
The Saggart man, who was inducted into The Echo Sports Hall of Fame at the 2017 Awards Night in December, is now the most successful player in the competition, having won half of the titles that have been played for since its introduction to the Irish Golf calendar back in 2009.
Photo by Pat Cashman
Two rounds of two-under had seen Kelly carve out a lead of a couple of shots heading in to final round.
But dropping three shots on the front line, he was overtaken by Moran who, himself suffered a dreadful 10th at which he carded a triple bogey.
Kelly was poised to capitalise and finished the back nine four under with the aid of an eagle on the par-five 14th to eventually win by six shots on five under par.
“I didn’t play well on the front nine [in the final round],” recalled Kelly. “I wasn’t hitting the ball well. I was nervous.
“But once I got over that, I was fine. I hit the ball great on the back nine and I was four under [in that phase].
“It was great. To go under par on three rounds on that course is not easy.
My best win in this championship
“I feel this was probably my best win in this championship because they’ve reduced the age to 50 so it’s a much more competitive field,” he told The Echo.
Kelly has been working on all aspects of his game and everything appears to be coming together for the Nass Golf Club member.
“I’ve been working with a trainer once a week for the past year and that’s made a huge difference.
“My legs are 10 times stronger and I feel it much easier to get around the course. That’s so important especially when things are not going well and there’s no adrenalin.
“I’m finding out more about the mental side too.
“I led the Irish Senior Open halfway through the final round, but I got ahead of myself and everything went pear-shaped on the back nine. I’m still learning,” he pointed out.
Kelly will be hoping to maintain this winning form heading into next month’s British Senior Amateur Championship in Royal Porthcawl.
He has proven a very strong competitor at this event in recent years, finished fourth on no less than four occasions.
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