Max Kennedy moves into contention for tour promotion despite cruel play-off defeat
But there was a silver lining for the Royal Dublin star, whose runner-up finish (€33,000) in the Blot Play9 in Brittany catapulted him into contention for promotion to the DP World Tour.
The Dubliner (23) entered the final round tied for the lead with the experienced Morrison (40) – a two-time DP World Tour winner – who lost his card last year.
Kennedy, who set a course record 10-under 60 in the opening round, played superbly early on the final day as birdies at the fifth, sixth and ninth gave him a three-shot lead at the turn.
Morrison cut the gap to a shot as he birdied the 10th and 11th and Kennedy followed a birdie at the 11th with a bogey at the 12th at Golf Bluegreen de Pleneuf Val Andre.
Kennedy got up and down brilliantly for par at the 13th to maintain his advantage, but while he had a one-shot lead playing the 18th after both bogeyed the 16th, he found a bush at the last and had to take a drop for an unplayable lie.
He made a double bogey six to Morrison's bogey as both shot level par 70s to finish on six-under but fell in sudden death on their return to the par-four 18th, where he went over the back with his approach and made a bogey.
It gave Morrison, who returned to the HotelPlanner Tour this season after losing his playing privileges, his first victory for over 10 years.
'I feel amazing right now and I'm very proud,' said Morrison, who won the 2010 Madeira Islands Open and the 2015 Open de Espana. 'I didn't play my best today, but I hung in there the best I could. I battled all the way through and hit some good shots at the right time.
'The course is so firm, and the wind was swirling. It's such a tricky layout and you can't relax until the very end.
'Max Kennedy played some great golf, and my journey to this point has been very different to his, and I know his time will come.'
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Morrison jumped 153 spots to 19th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, while Kennedy leapt 52 places to 20th, with the top 20 earning promotion at the end of the season.
'I can't wait to celebrate tonight, and this win puts me in great stead for the rest of the season,' Morrison said.
'The golf hasn't been the problem; I've struggled mentally over the last few years, and it's been so hard for me and my family. I'm so proud of myself to get back to where I am today.'
Scotland's Daniel Young finished third on five-under after he matched Kennedy's course-record 60, while Kilkenny's Mark Power tied for 38th on seven-over after a 69.
On the Ladies European Tour, South Africa's Casandra Alexander chipped in for an eagle three on the 18th to win the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open at Royal Beroun Golf Club.
Her second eagle of a bogey-free final round helped her card a course record, 10-under 62 to win by two strokes on 17-under from Spain's Luna Sobron Galmes and England's Esme Hamilton.
'It's very special,' Alexander said. 'It was a great round today and I'm very happy. I think you can see what it means. It's been years of hard work. The last two weeks have been a bit of a struggle, so it's nice to know my patience paid off.'
Lauren Walsh shot a level par 72 to tie for 31st on nine-under, while Sara Byrne's 68 left her a shot further back in 39th.
Olivia Mehaffey was 65th on three-under after a closing 73.
In the Flogas Irish Women's Amateur Open at Headfort's Championship Course, French teenager Louise Landgraf (16) shot a second successive three-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead over Wales' Carys Worby into the final day on six under.
Clandeboye's Rebekah Gardner leads the home challenge in fifth on level par after a 71 with Roscommon's Olivia Costello two shots further back alongside American Carolyn Fuller after a 74.
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Irish Examiner
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Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Max Kennedy moves into contention for tour promotion despite cruel play-off defeat
But there was a silver lining for the Royal Dublin star, whose runner-up finish (€33,000) in the Blot Play9 in Brittany catapulted him into contention for promotion to the DP World Tour. The Dubliner (23) entered the final round tied for the lead with the experienced Morrison (40) – a two-time DP World Tour winner – who lost his card last year. Kennedy, who set a course record 10-under 60 in the opening round, played superbly early on the final day as birdies at the fifth, sixth and ninth gave him a three-shot lead at the turn. Morrison cut the gap to a shot as he birdied the 10th and 11th and Kennedy followed a birdie at the 11th with a bogey at the 12th at Golf Bluegreen de Pleneuf Val Andre. Kennedy got up and down brilliantly for par at the 13th to maintain his advantage, but while he had a one-shot lead playing the 18th after both bogeyed the 16th, he found a bush at the last and had to take a drop for an unplayable lie. He made a double bogey six to Morrison's bogey as both shot level par 70s to finish on six-under but fell in sudden death on their return to the par-four 18th, where he went over the back with his approach and made a bogey. It gave Morrison, who returned to the HotelPlanner Tour this season after losing his playing privileges, his first victory for over 10 years. 'I feel amazing right now and I'm very proud,' said Morrison, who won the 2010 Madeira Islands Open and the 2015 Open de Espana. 'I didn't play my best today, but I hung in there the best I could. I battled all the way through and hit some good shots at the right time. 'The course is so firm, and the wind was swirling. It's such a tricky layout and you can't relax until the very end. 'Max Kennedy played some great golf, and my journey to this point has been very different to his, and I know his time will come.' ADVERTISEMENT Morrison jumped 153 spots to 19th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, while Kennedy leapt 52 places to 20th, with the top 20 earning promotion at the end of the season. 'I can't wait to celebrate tonight, and this win puts me in great stead for the rest of the season,' Morrison said. 'The golf hasn't been the problem; I've struggled mentally over the last few years, and it's been so hard for me and my family. I'm so proud of myself to get back to where I am today.' Scotland's Daniel Young finished third on five-under after he matched Kennedy's course-record 60, while Kilkenny's Mark Power tied for 38th on seven-over after a 69. On the Ladies European Tour, South Africa's Casandra Alexander chipped in for an eagle three on the 18th to win the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open at Royal Beroun Golf Club. Her second eagle of a bogey-free final round helped her card a course record, 10-under 62 to win by two strokes on 17-under from Spain's Luna Sobron Galmes and England's Esme Hamilton. 'It's very special,' Alexander said. 'It was a great round today and I'm very happy. I think you can see what it means. It's been years of hard work. The last two weeks have been a bit of a struggle, so it's nice to know my patience paid off.' Lauren Walsh shot a level par 72 to tie for 31st on nine-under, while Sara Byrne's 68 left her a shot further back in 39th. Olivia Mehaffey was 65th on three-under after a closing 73. In the Flogas Irish Women's Amateur Open at Headfort's Championship Course, French teenager Louise Landgraf (16) shot a second successive three-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead over Wales' Carys Worby into the final day on six under. Clandeboye's Rebekah Gardner leads the home challenge in fifth on level par after a 71 with Roscommon's Olivia Costello two shots further back alongside American Carolyn Fuller after a 74.
