CORMAC SHARVIN is determined he will overcome faltering finishes when he aims for success in the Irish Amateur Open Championship this weekend at Royal Dublin.
Twice in the last year, a stumble at the finishing hole cost him possible victory. Last year, the Ardglass plus-five handicapper double-bogeyed the last at Royal Dublin as Scot Jamie Savage edged to victory and, just last weekend, the bogeyman struck again in the Lytham Trophy. Sharvin had made a super comeback to challenge for the honours before it all fell apart.
He had shared the first round lead but had dropped behind in the next two rounds before putting in a fighting finish to challenge leader Marcus Kirchult, the world number two from Sweden, before tragedy struck again. Sharvin bogeyed the 17th hole and, after losing a ball off the last tee, ran up a triple bogey to finish fourth on count-back.
“Those were very disappointing finishes,” said Sharvin, who is immersed in exams at Stirling University, where he is preparing for a degree in Sports Studies.
“Finishing second at Royal Dublin last year gave me a lot of motivation to do better this time. My game is pretty good just now. I have been practising a lot and playing in
tournaments. Finishing second last year gives me confidence to do better this time.”
Sharvin spent a few weeks in South Africa earlier this year and played in two events with considerable success. He then jetted off with his university team to a prestigious college event in the southern California desert, where he was pleased with his form.
“It was a college tournament at the PGA West Club in La Quinta, in which the best college players from all over the world took part. I came 10th there and was pretty pleased with that,” added Sharvin (23).
He is also pretty pleased with his plus-five handicap which he earned at Royal Lytham & St Anne's last weekend. He, of course, knows that the upcoming challenge at Royal Dublin will be another severe test of his skills as the draw sheet is packed with talent from home and abroad. Former winner Gavin Moynihan will be looking for a second win in the competition in four years and Dermot McElroy will seek a second title this season, after his win in the West.
Sharvin is the lowest handicapper in the draw, but there are a number of minus-four players there, too, with McElroy, Moynihan, Gary Hurley, Englishman Edward Richardson, Scot Connor Smye, German Christian Braeunig and Swiss Mathias Eggenberger among them. Defending champion Jamie Savage plays off plus-three, but the handicap status is really no guide to current form, although Sharvin's reduction last weekend is surely a pointer.
The Walker Cup selectors will be there, of course, to watch the talent on offer and will be paying particular attention to the four Irish players – Sharvin, Moynihan, Hume and Hurley – who are members of the current panel, but the door is still open.
The championship tees off tomorrow, with a cut on Friday after the first two rounds. The champion will be crowned on Sunday evening.
