Ian Keenan wins the Castle Dargan PGA EuroPro Tour in Sligo

Jun 9 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

ROYAL LIVERPOOL’S Ian Keenan shot a final round of 67 to win the Castle Dargan PGA EuroPro Tour event in Sligo with an 11-under par total of 202, one ahead of Justin Evans from the Wentworth Club, with Hillside’s Daniel Belch third a further stroke back.

“It’s been a long time coming to be honest, and at 16 I thought I might have blown it,” said Keenan, who pocketed £10,000 for the win, one of his biggest ever pay-days.

“I had a stinking lie after over-shooting the green at 16 and I thought I’d hit a good shot too. But I got away with just the bogey and gathered myself well, and I’m delighted with the win.

“I deserved this after the way I played from tee to green all week,” said the Hoylake pro.

“I said to my roommate that this course was perfect for me and I knew I was playing well.

“The 65 in the opening round showed that, and the 70 yesterday was good too, but it’s a three-round tournament and there were some great scores out there – look at Paul Maddy’s 64 (second round) – so one low round was never going to be enough.”

Keenan led after his opening six under par 65, and a second round 70 saw him teeing off in the final round one stroke behind the leader Andrew Thorpe.

Three birdies on the front nine saw Keenan seize the initiative as Thorpe dropped an early shot. An eagle at the tenth saw him strengthen his position but he admitted a wobble at the 16th had him worried – before he composed himself with two closing pars to claim the top prize.

“Putting pressure on down the front nine was important, but with such a bunched leader board, I couldn’t allow myself to be too distracted as players could come from anywhere to pass you,” said the 34 year-old.

“I just stuck to my guns and I’m very proud of that performance.”

Evans was level par after nine holes, with two bogeys swiftly followed by two birdies.

It was an eagle at the tenth that kept Evans in the race, then birdies at 12 and 15 took him to 11 under, before a bogey at 17 meant he had to settle for second place.

Hillside’s Daniel Belch took third spot after a fine final round of 65, which contained six birdies.

Peterborough’s Thorpe when led into the final round, suffered an early blow after bogeying the second hole, but remained in the hunt until the last thanks to birdies at the sixth, ninth and 15th to sit one stroke behind Keenan.

But he took a disastrous eight at the final hole after finding the water with his tee shot and dropped down to six under for the tournament.

The next event on the PGA EuroPro Tour is the Dawson & Sanderson Classic at Longhirst Hall Golf Course in Northumberland from June 9.

Finals totals: 202 - Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool) 65, 70, 67; 203 - Justin Evans (Wentworth) 69, 66, 68; 204 - Daniel Belch (Hillside) 69, 69, 66; 206 - Tim Rice (Limerick) 67, 72, 67; Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) 70, 67, 69; Elliot Saltman (Aegon) 67, 69, 70; 207 - James Busby (The Shropshire) 69, 68, 70; Brian McElhinney (Team Ireland) 67, 70, 70; James Freeman (Worksop) 66, 70, 71; Andrew Thorpe (Peterborough Milton) 69, 65, 73.