Rahm wins Irish Open; Park shares top spot at Thornberry Creek Classic

London: Spain’s Jon Rahm came from five shots off the lead to win the Irish Open for the second time in three years with a superb final round of 62 on Sunday.

Rahm was in supreme form at Lahinch as he produced an eagle and eight birdies to finish 16 under par, two shots clear of England’s Andy Sullivan and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, who had the consolation of qualifying for the forthcoming British Open.

Overnight leader Robert Rock also secured a place in the British Open as he tied for fourth with fellow Englishman Eddie Pepperell and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello. Paul Waring took the final berth at Royal Portrush with a birdie on the last in a closing 66.

Cabrera Bello surged into a three-shot lead with three birdies in the first five holes, but started the back nine with four bogeys in six holes as Rahm piled on the pressure.

After covering the front nine in 31, Rahm birdied the 10th and holed from 25 feet for an eagle on the 12th before recovering from a bogey on the next with birdies on the 14th, 15th and 17th.

Elsewhere, Park Sung-Hyun maintained a share of the lead with a 69 on Saturday in the Thornberry Creek Classic where Monday qualifier Noh Yealimi is trying to win in her first start as a pro.

The world number one Park is tied atop a crowded leaderboard with Feng Shanshan, Tiffany Joh and Ariya Jutanugarn at 20-under 196 heading into the final round of the tournament in Oneida, Wisconsin.

But just one stroke back is Park’s third round playing partner Noh, who has been the biggest surprise of the week after the 17-year-old rookie shot the same three-under 69 score. It was Noh’s third straight round in the 60s to reach a 19-under total, placing her alone in fifth spot.

Agence France-Presse