Rowan Lester was the leading Irish player after round one of the 54-hole event at Bowood Golf Club in Wiltshire, and little had changed after the third and final round as the Hermitage man remained at the head of Irish affairs.
Ultimately, it was a case of what may have been for Lester, however, as his opening 69 was followed by back-to-back one-over 73s to finish the week in a tie for 18th at -1. The day began with a double bogey-six and was followed by another bogey at two, so recovering to play the final 16 in -2 will be a confidence booster ahead of a busy schedule that includes Regional Qualifying for the Open Championship at County Louth Golf Club.
Robert Brazill and Liam Grehan both finished tied for 30th at one-over as Naas man Brazill finished with a 73 and Grehan went one better to shoot 72, and like Lester, they both have the Open Championship Regional Qualifier to look forward to in a couple of weeks’ time.
Englishman Callan Barrow shot a final-round 68 to bulldoze his way to the head of the field at -9 where he secured a one-stroke victory over 36-hole leader Curtis Griffiths. A third Englishman in Daniel Smith took solo third.
