Picture by GETTY IMAGES
THREE months on from finishing as the low-Irishman in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Cormac Sharvin will be eyeing his first win on the European Challenge Tour when he tees it up in the Stone Irish Challenge at Headfort Golf Club starting today (Thursday).
The Dublin-based pro, who has been enjoying a fine-campaign on this year’s Challenge Tour – where he currently sits eighth on the Road to Mallorca rankings.
Sharvin has aspirations of lifting a trophy on home-soil, but knows the importance of taking it one step at a time.
“It’s always nice when you can sleep in your own bed and play a golf tournament, it doesn’t happen very often,” said Sharvin.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s like to play a tournament at Headfort.
“It’s been a really solid year. I feel like I’ve played myself into contention quite a lot. I haven’t won, which is something that I would obviously like to do.
“There are a lot of things that have to fall into place to win, but I feel like I’ve been putting myself in position quite a lot and hopefully I can get across the line at some stage in the near future.
“Obviously to do it in Ireland would be unbelievable, but I’m not going to get ahead of myself either.”
Sharvin will be able to draw from his stand-out performance at Lahinch Golf Club this summer where he carded rounds of 66, 69, 66 and 70 to finish in a tie for 15th place at the Rolex Series event.
That bettered the likes of Open Champion Shane Lowry, Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, former US Open Champion Graeme McDowell and rising PGA Tour star Seamus Power.
Sharvin added: “I played decent but I didn’t play unbelievable and I think that showed me that if you play well, no matter what tour you’re playing, you’re going to do well.
“People think, and I guess I thought, that to compete on the European Tour you had to pretty much be all guns blazing, and I think I proved to myself that week that there’s not much difference.
“The last green on Sunday the crowds were amazing. I got it going on Saturday and got myself into contention.
“I hit a pretty filthy chip on 18 on Saturday and the crowds were just screaming – I can just remember the hair standing up on the back of my neck. It was kind of a ‘pinch yourself’ moment.”
With the top 15 players on the Road to Mallorca earning a promotion to the European Tour at the end of the season, Sharvin has all but locked up his card thanks to an astounding five top five finishes and seven top tens so far.
But every place he can climb could mean entry into the biggest events next year.
As such, he is keeping his foot to the pedal as he bids to win two trophies—the Stone Irish Challenge and the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the low-Irishman at Headfort.
“It would be nice to be in contention on Sunday and have a few people out watching me,” said Sharvin.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to draw from home crowds and maybe get myself a chance to win next week.”
The Stone Irish Challenge begins this morning at 8.15am, with Sharvin set to go out at 1.10 pm. although the weather forecast suggests the 120-strong field are set for a tough day at Headfort.
•For live scoring click here.
