| Sponsors & Partners World Final 2008 |
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| CORK DUO HAVE TO SETTLE FOR THIRD IN WORLD FINAL BID |
| Friday, 26 September 2008 | |
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CORK DUO HAVE TO SETTLE FOR THIRD IN WORLD FINAL BID Irish duo Jerry Kearney and Matt Twomey put up a brave fight before being forced to settle for third place at the 2008 International Pairs World Final in St Andrews, Scotland. Kearney, who plays off 16, and 11-handicapper Twomey were ideally placed just three points behind English leaders Deen (correct) Graves and Martyn Ashcroft on 41 Stableford points going into the final round of the 36-hole event - the world’s largest competition of its kind for club golfers. The pair, who belong to Kanturk Golf Club in Co Cork, had high hopes of victory as they teed off on the second day at The Duke’s, St Andrews. But reigning UK champions Graves and Ashcroft proved too strong, matching their score in the opening round to finish on 88 points - seven clear of nearest challengers, Scotland’s John Maxwell and Stephen Brown, with Kearney and Twomey two points further back in third. Twomey said: “We thought we had a really good chance of winning but we just couldn’t live with them. They played some incredible golf, got the birdies when they needed them and fully deserved their victory. “We’re aiming to be back again next year as International Pairs is a fierce competition and a great experience. We’re in the Irish National Final again this year so we’ll give it a shot again and try for the best.” Graves and Ashcroft, from Teignmouth Golf Club near Torquay, beat off competition from 33 pairs from 24 different countries to overwhelm the field at the Home of Golf. The winners, who also won the International Pairs UK title in 2001, looked like facing a battle on their hands as nerves started to get to them in the 36-hole event – which is played off three-quarter handicaps. But Ashcroft rolled in a five-foot putt for birdie at the ninth hole and they never looked back after that to record a comfortable win – and follow up English duo Shaun Smith and Simon Deaves’ victory in the event in 2007. “It’s an incredible feeling to be crowned world champions and it will take a while to sink in,” said Graves, a former professional footballer with Plymouth and Manchester United who plays off 14 and comes from Torquay. “The Duke’s is a very tough course. We had a few problems during our practice round and actually ran out of balls at one stage, but we stuck to a plan and thankfully it paid off in the end. “We dovetailed perfectly and were able to help each other out when we found trouble, while the fact that I’m right-handed and Martyn is left-handed seemed to suit our style of play on a lot of the holes.” Ashcroft, who plays off 19, added: “We’ve not even come close to winning a competition at home before but everything just seemed to click into place. It doesn’t get much better than this.” The victory was extra special for the pair as they had travelled up to Scotland last week in a motor home, playing golf at courses along the way to raise up to £4,000 in charity for Torquay’s Preston Primary School, which specialises in teaching autistic children including Ashcroft’s seven-year-old son William. And their triumph brought to an end three memorable days of action and events at the fifth International Pairs World Final – which is run in association with VisitScotland. Competitors from countries including America, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Iceland and Nigeria paraded across the historic links of the Old Course to St Andrews Town Hall led by the City of St Andrews Pipe Band as part of a spectacular opening ceremony which also involved schoolchildren from across the Fife region. The action then switched to The Duke’s where players received a fierce examination of their golfing skills on the course, which has undergone an extensive series of changes over the last two years. Measuring 7,500 yards off the back tees, the majority of the bunkers have been remodelled while the addition of new tees, heather, gorse and trees and the re-design of the closing stretch of holes makes the heathland championship layout one of the ‘must play‘ courses. Ross Honey, founder and chairman of International Pairs, said: “There can be few finer settings for a world final than the Home of Golf itself and St Andrews provided the perfect stage for what was an incredible few days for everybody involved. “Deen and Martyn played some wonderful golf to be crowned worthy winners, but they were pushed all the way and it never ceases to amaze me the standard of golf that is produced under extreme pressure. “International Pairs continues to grow as a global brand, the competition is going from strength to strength and we’re looking forward to forging ahead over the next 12 months and welcoming even more countries on board.” To find out more details about International Pairs or to register a club, please call 01489 878509, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Alternatively, visit the Pairs’ website at www.internationalpairs.com. 2008 INTERNATIONAL PAIRS WORLD FINAL RESULT 1.) Graves/Ashcroft (Eng) – 88 points (44,44) 2.) Maxwell/Brown (Sco) – 81 points (40,41) 3.) Twomey Kearney (Ire) – 79 points (41,38) |
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