Bundoran win sudden death thriller at 22nd hole to reach the last eight

Daily Mail
19 Jul 2009

BUNDORAN’s Ian McDaid and Pauric Murphy created a new record in the men’s competition of the inaugural Irish Mail All-Ireland Fourball Trophy as their sudden death play-off went to four nail-biting holes.

Playing away at Tuam, Murphy struck the crucial blow, with a chip and putt win on the 22nd hole to secure a place in the last eight for the Co.Donegal club. Then the two players collapsed into armchairs in the clubhouse, almost too tired to celebrate.

McDaid said: ‘Neither of us had played Tuam before, so we went down early on the day and played ten holes before the match. Then we had to play four more holes when the match score was tied. We were exhausted at the end of the day - and all of the next day, but we are delighted to be just one match away from the finals at Macreddin Village.

‘It wasn’t until we had a relatively easy 6&5 win over Foyle of Derry in the last round that we began to think we have a chance in this competition. A home draw would suit us very nicely now. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed.’

The match against Tuam’s Michael Cullen and Joe Waters was a thriller. The Tuam pair had opened up a two hole lead by the 15th, but McDaid and Murphy fought back to win the 16th and 18th with pars to take the match to sudden death.

Murphy had a net birdie on the first tie hole, only to see Cullen role in a 20 foot putt to halve the hole. After pars on the 2nd and 3rd holes, Murphy produced his chip and putt flourish to clinch the match.

If they win their next match, Bundoran will qualify for the finals of the Irish Mail Trophy to be played at Paul McGinley’s Macreddin Village course on Setpember 6/7.

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