Q Radio Sport
John Catlin secured his second European Tour win in three starts with a two-stroke victory at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
The American, who claimed his breakthrough victory at the Andalucia Masters earlier this month, birdied three of the final holes to close a six-under 64 and finish top of a congested leaderboard at Galgorm Castle.
Catlin ended the week on ten under and two ahead of overnight leader Aaron Rai, who had to settle for a runner-up finish after a closing bogey, with Jazz Janewattananond and Maverick Antcliff a further stroke back in tied-third.
Breaking: American @JohnCatlin59 has won the @DDFIrishOpen @GalgormCastle. The 29-year-old Californian did it with shots like this: pic.twitter.com/7GqaPJLosD
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 27, 2020
Catlin becomes the third American to win the Irish Open, following on from Ben Crenshaw and Hubert Green
Rai was two behind Catlin with three to play, having mixed two birdies with as many bogeys during his early part of the round, only to halve the deficit by firing his approach to close range at the 17th.
Needing a birdie at the last to force a play-off, Rai pulled his approach from the middle of the fairway into thick rough and took two attempts to gouge out of the rough on his way to a closing bogey.
Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell was the best of the home players on eight over.
The tournament has earned high praise from Stormont:
Minister congratulates @DDFIrishOpen winner @JohnCatlin59 and says at @GalgormCastle "Northern Ireland has shown the world it can deliver a world class sporting event in extraordinarily difficult circumstances."
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 27, 2020
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/X30v4JxwWN
Finally, a last look at the viral video from Saturday's round, aka Moo-ving Day:
🎥 Moo-ving Day! @DDFIrishOpen @GalgormCastle - everybody wants to catch a glimpse of the action. England's Aaron Rai leads ‘the field’ going into Sunday’s final round, a shot clear of Aussie Maverick Antcliff. We’ll have the latest on air on the hour. pic.twitter.com/iSPGdiLynY
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 26, 2020