Hayden Hopewell and Jordan Gumberg came out on top in the Irish Challenge qualifier to earn their spot in this week’s €250,000 event at Headfort Golf Club.
40 players contested the inaugural Irish Challenge qualifier on the Championship Course at Headfort, just three days before the tournament itself tees off in Co. Meath, and it was Australian Hopewell who claimed top spot after posting a five under par round of 66.
American Gumberg and Irishman Rowan Lester both posted three under par rounds of 68, and therefore a play-off was required to decide who claimed the second qualifier spot.
The duo could not be separated at the first extra hole after Lester made a miraculous up and down to save par. A pair of bogeys at the second play-off hole meant a trip down the third was required and it was Gumberg who produced a brilliant birdie to defeat local boy Lester and earn his spot in the Irish Challenge.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Gumberg. “Those play-offs are a blast, and it was great to come out on top. At one stage I thought we were going to play all 18. I like this course so much that I was happy to keep going.
“I told Rowan after the second play-off hole that that was one of the most incredible up and downs that I’ve ever seen. For it to be in a play-off too made it even more remarkable.”
The American has proven his ability to come through qualifiers on more than one occasion after he defeated Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin, who won the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy at last year’s Irish Challenge, in a play-off at U.S. Open final qualifying earlier this year.
“Play-offs are always nerve wracking and it reminded me of my recent play-off against Tom McKibbin when I qualified for the U.S. Open,” he said. “Tom was getting up and down from everywhere, holing putts from everywhere and I just had to remain patient and remind myself that my time will come and luckily it did.
“I’ve been striking the ball really nicely and I’m hitting a lot of greens but unfortunately not making any putts. I’m going to relax ahead of Thursday and try and get the speed of the green over the next couple of days.”
Hopewell and Gumberg join a star-studded field in Kells this week, which includes Road to Mallorca Number Two Ugo Coussaud and Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick, who finished in a tie for 17th at the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club last week.
