Monday, May 19, 2008
Finch Makes A Splash With Irish Open Win.

Richard Finch claimed his second European Tour title on Sunday, winning the Irish Open by two shots despite a run-in with the water hazard at the final hole.

The 30-year-old had to dry himself off before three-putting to card a two-under-par 70, with his 10-under total of 278 leaving him two strokes clear of Chile's Felipe Aguilar.

Richard followed up his victory at the New Zealand Open in December, and has now climbed to fifth place on the Order of Merit after taking home the £330,297 first prize.

The water incident endeared him further to the large crowd and he marched down the fairway to loud applause.

"It was not a choice really," Finch said when asked about his early bath. "It was a bit of an awkward stance, but I never gave falling in a thought.

"The momentum of the follow-through took me round and in."

Languishing in 218th in the world entering the event, Finch now stands fifth on the Order of Merit, 105 places higher than he was last season, and is only just outside the top 10 in the Ryder Cup standings.

"I'm not thinking about that," said the man from Hull about his Ryder Cup chances. "I haven't even played in a major yet and my goal this year was to try to qualify for one of those."

GOLFPUNK diarist Rory McIlroy claimed seventh place on 282, with the 19-year-old rookie finishing with a 70. To put the golfing phenomenon’s finish into perspective defending champion Padraig Harrington was joint 31st on one over 289. And former Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie is still without a top-40 finish since January after he also shot a final-round 76 to be five over par.

Congratulations Rick. Winning tour events is far from easy and you provided us with one of those golf moments that will live long in the heart and mind. For anyone who hasn’t seen it click the image and enjoy.



5/19/2008 11:40:13 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 


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