Darcey Harry and Alan Fahy start the final round of the R&A Student Tour Series – Spain at Parador de Malaga Golf Club as the players most likely to win the penultimate tournament before the final event at St Andrews next month.
Royal Agricultural College Harry sits on one-over par 145. She has a three-shot lead after she was the only player in the women’s field to return a sub-70 score, while Maynooth University player Fahy also leads by three following a four-under 68.
Seven-shot improvement
Harry returned the women’s lowest score of the day, a three-under-par 69 that was seven shots better than her opening round. She looked like heading for another score in the mid 70s when she reeled off three consecutive bogeys from the fourth hole after starting with a birdie. She offset another birdie at the eighth by dropping a shot at 11 before tearing up the next five holes. She birdied holes 12, 13 and 15 and then lit up her round with an eagle three at the par-5 16th.
“It’s a tight fairway at 16 but I hit a great drive and had 218 yards left,” said Darcey, a member of Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. “I hit a gripped down 3-wood to 30 feet and holed the putt, which was the real highlight of the round.”
Unfinished business
The 19-year-old has some unfinished business here in Spain. Twelve months ago, she lost a play-off at Infinitum Golf to University of Stirling student Lorna McClymont.
“I feel I’m a better golfer this year than last year,” she said. “Everything is a lot different this year – pre-shot routine, course strategy and just thinking better on the course – and it’s nice to see I’m getting the rewards for the work I’ve put in with my coach.”
Good start to 2023
Darcey finished third in the Student Series event in France last year, but couldn’t play the Portugal tournament at Troia Golf because of school work. However, she’s made a good start to her 2023 campaign by finishing 11th in the South American Amateur and 22nd in the Portuguese International.
“I missed Trioa because I’d played in the Portuguese Amateur and didn’t want to miss classes, so it’s good to get back out and play in this series.
St Andrews on her mind
“I’d like to finish well here to move up the order of merit and get a spot in St Andrews. So I’ll try do the same tomorrow as I did today and hopefully have a decent finish.”
Darcy is ninth on the order of merit with 70 points to McClymont’s 245. A win here is worth 100 points with the Final at St Andrews next month carrying 150 points.
Overnight leader Esperanza Serrano of the Universidad de Malaga returned a four-over 76 and sits in second spot. Order of Merit leader McClymont lies fourth, five shots off the pace.
Stress free
Fahy dropped just the one shot in his four-under 68 to go with an opening 67 that has him on nine-under 135. He bogeyed the 18th when he missed the green left and his ball ended up on a cart path.
“I really wanted to go bogey free,” the 25-year-old admitted. “It was on my mind coming down the last. But I’m happy with the round. Up until that point it was fairly stress free.”
Looking for second Order of Merit win
Fahy is three shots ahead of Maynooth teammate Aaron Marshal. A win tomorrow would give Fahy an excellent chance of his second Order of Merit title. The science and climate change student won the inaugural Tour Series Order of Merit in 2020. He lies fifth on the current table, just 77 points behind current number one George Cannon of Stirling University.
“It would be nice to win the Order of Merit again, but I won’t be thinking of that. I’ve been around long enough to know not to let that idea get in my head.
Nice to be back
The 25-year-old took a two-year break after finishing his undergraduate degree and is back at Maynooth doing a Masters. The 2022 West of Ireland champion is noticing a big difference from the inaugural series.
“It's nice to be back playing The R&A events. It’s gone from strength to strength from its first year with the venues and the organisation that’s gone into it. It’s a great tour.”
Maynooth teammate Simon Walker, the first round leader, couldn’t match his bogey-free, opening 65. He struggled to a 79 and lies in equal 12th place.
