JUST as course professional Min Cheng predicted late on Friday afternoon, young gun James Conran claimed the 2015 Hahn Duntryleague Open from second placed Robert Payne on Sunday.
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Conran, 16, led overnight after Saturday’s first day after shooting an even par 70 before going around the difficult layout three over on Sunday to finish with a 36-hole tally of 143, pipping Payne by one stroke and claiming his first Duntryleague Open title.
“It’s really good, it’s the first big tournament I’ve won at Duntryleague,” Conran said.
“After the first round I didn’t even think I’d be in the lead with even par. And after today, it was a bit surreal really. I didn’t do anything special, I just sort of chopped around and got there.”
Conran led by three overnight, from Payne, and looked solid through his first nine yesterday, shooting a one over 36 around the back nine, having teed off the 10th.
But with a title in sight Conran faltered slightly, losing two balls around the front nine, his second of the round, to come in with a two over 37 and a total of 73.
Fortunately for the youngster, Payne also had an underwhelming second nine, allowing Conran to claim the open by a solitary stroke.
“I didn’t think I’d done enough,” Conran said.
“There wasn’t any nerves there [on the second nine], it was more frustration. I went par, birdie to start the front nine, which was my second nine, but then bogied three, six and seven and by then the frustration kicked in a bit.
“It was pretty ugly at the end.”
Yesterday’s result reversed that of the Bathurst Open last month, although Payne finished four shots in front of Conran there.
Still, the latter admitted his first open win was a little bit more satisfying considering he toppled Payne, who has been nigh on unbeatable for years.
“Definitely, it is satisfying,” Conran joked.
“I don’t think he was too unhappy about me winning, but it was nice to get him by one there.”
The name Conran isn’t unfamiliar to the Duntryleague Open, with James’ father Steve - a touring professional - winning the competition during his amateur years.
Granted, the 16-year-old wasn’t sure if he was following in his father’s footsteps or not.
“He probably has won it, I don’t really know,” Conran laughed.
“I did win it, but I was a lot older than James is now,” Steve Conran said.
“This is [a proud moment]. It’s great to see him reaching milestones at such a young age.”
