Smyth's hopes suffer knockout blow
Des Smyth saw a potentially brilliant first round of the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship suffer a knockout blow over the closing holes at De Vere Mottram Hall on Thursday.
The Irish ace was cruising three shots clear of clubhouse leader Gordon J Brand at nine under through 15 holes but bogeyed the last three including the 18th when he thinned a bunker shot which hit a woman spectator.
Pat Lees, a member of Stockport Golf Club, was the unfortunate victim and Smyth’s errant approach – his third to the par five hole – blotted his scorecard too, leaving him with a six under 67 and a share of the lead with Brand who lifted this title in 2008.
Defending champion Paul Wesselingh carded a 68 with past winners Sam Torrance and Bill Longmuir alongside Mark James on four under. Eaglescliffe head pro Graeme Bell posted a 70 in his debut in the £260,000 event.
Smyth, who reached nine under with an eagle, birdie, birdie spurt from the 13th, admitted the incident on the last had shaken him.
“It gave me a fright and I’m sure it gave her a bigger fright. Somebody shouted fore, I thought I was going to the back of the green, I didn’t realise it was going that far,” he said.
“I was flying at nine under through 15 holes and really I didn’t do much wrong coming in. I hit it just short on 16 but didn’t get up and down, I then hit a good shot on 17 but ran through into the rough which made it quite difficult and ended up making a bogey and made a right mess of the last especially hitting that poor lady. That was the worst part.
“I was thinking with three holes to go I could shoot 10 under par here but that’s golf. There were one or two situations which went in my favour earlier in the round. I chipped in on eight which really got my round going.”