Power impresses in Alabama

Seamus Power continued his remarkable start to life in American collegiate golf with victory in the prestigious Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate tournament in Alabama this week.

The West Waterford golfer, who was the Atlantic Sun individual conference champion at the end of his rookie campaign with East Tennessee State University last May, picked up as a sophomore where he left off as a freshman by shooting a final round four-under-par 67 at the Old Overton Club in Birmingham on Tuesday and finishing tied for the individual championship with host Alabama’s Mark Harrell.

With opening rounds of 65 and 66, his final 67 gave Power a 15-under total of 198 for the tournament, breaking by one shot the previous three-round ETSU record of 14-under 199 scored by Welsh Walker Cup star Rhys Davies in 2005.

“Coach reminded me of Rhys’ record yesterday, and told me it was out there so I was glad to make some putts and get it,” Power said.

“The conference tournament is not as strong a field, so it’s good to do this against some strong teams. I was only one-under with five to play but was able to birdie 14, 15 and 16 to get to 15-under.”

ETSU head coach Fred Warren paid tribute to Power’s consistency over three rounds.

“Today, he played a really solid round and it was a very fine performance from start to finish in the tournament,” Warren said. “I’m proud of Seamus and his win in a very good field.”

Power is one of five Irishmen on the seven-man ETSU squad, which also features an Englishman and a Scotsman.

Unfortunately for coach Warren, the team could not match Power’s efforts, the next best finish coming from Cornwall’s freshman Rhys Enoch in a tie for 40th with Lisburn’s Gareth Shaw, a sophomore, tied for 42nd. Freshman Paul O’Kane, from Castledawson, Co. Derry, finished T49 and Scotsman Jordan Findlay T54, leaving ETSU 10th overall at two-under.

Limerick’s Cian McNamara and Belfast’s Simon Doherty are the other ETSU squad members.

Two-under left the Buccaneers 40 strokes behind hosts Alabama, who finished 17 strokes ahead of second-placed neighbours, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), for whom Cathal O’Malley of Westport, Co. Mayo, finished tied for 12th.

It was a standout tournament for O'Malley, who recorded a seven-under 206 and set new career-low marks for 18 holes (64), 36 holes (133), 54 holes and tournament finish.

Both ETSU and the 17th-ranked UAB will travel to Johnson City, Tennessee, this weekend to participate in The Ridges Intercollegiate on Oct. 12-14.