Putting faith in Shane wins mum €15,000

CLARA was one big golfing party last night as celebrations for local hero Shane Lowry’s Irish Open victory continued into a second day.

But it wasn’t just the 22-year-old sporting sensation’s achievement that was being hailed – numerous individuals were also revelling in their own good fortune after backing him at long odds at the bookies long before his Baltray victory seemed possible.

Shane’s mum was among those who put their money where their faith was.

Her son’s staunchest fan, Bridget Lowry, placed a €50 each-way bet on him at odds of 250-1, netting herself a well-deserved €15,000 plus.

A few punters also put smaller amounts on Shane to win when he was rated at 999-1, so they each pocket several thousand euro. But what might have been the biggest betting coup of the lot turned out to be a printing error after several of Shane’s friends backed him at odds their betting dockets said were a massive 3,000-1.

“I’ve seen the dockets and they do say 3,000-1 but Paddy Power were on even before the competition to say a mistake had been made and it’s meant to be 300-1,” said Donal Molloy, manager of the Esker Hills Golf Club, Shane’s local course. “Still, 300-1 is nice, so some people have made good money.

“I also heard that one of the lads on security up at Baltray put €20 on Shane at 500-1 to lead at half way, so that’s €10,000 – not a bad return. People felt he was worth taking the chance on – not just out of loyalty, but because they saw how Shane was approaching the whole event.

“Going up there, his mother said to him to enjoy the experience if nothing else, but he said: ‘Ma, I’m as good as a lot of them’ and he really was aiming for something more.

“He has self-belief but with absolutely no arrogance.

“That’s the most endearing thing about him.”

The betting bonanza for local fans is ironic given that Shane himself didn’t get a cent of the €500,000 prize money at Baltray because his amateur status excluded him from the winnings. But all that is expected to change within days as he prepares to announce his decision to join the professional game.

Mr Molloy said, however, that turning professional wouldn’t turn Shane’s head. And he should know as he’s not only one of the keenest observers of the young golfer’s game – he’s also father to Deirdre, Shane’s girlfriend of three years.

“They met through golf – Deirdre plays off a handicap of 11 – and they’re used to the demands the game makes on their time.

“Shane has been on the international team for the last while so he is away quite a lot and without doubt, there’s a lot more of that ahead, but they’re very solid.

“They’ll cope with the changes,” he said.

Mr Molloy too is gearing up to deal with extra attention to Esker Hills, where hordes of supporters were cramming in to prepare for a night of celebrations last night with Shane as their guest of honour.

“Our website has had 2,500 hits in the last three hours from all over the world,” he said.