Mark Power won't settle for making K Club cut on pro debut

A second round 71 left the Kilkenny 22-year-old on five under at the K Club

Mark Power on the 15th hole during day two of the Horizon Irish Open Golf Championship at The K Club in Straffan, Kildare. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Making the cut in his first tournament as a professional is not enough for Mark Power as he contemplates going low over the weekend.

A second round 71 to leave himself at five under was full of opportunities for the 22-year-old but just two birdies came along with a bogey, his first of the Irish Open, as chances to pick up shots on his last three holes on the front nine went abegging.

Power is eight shots behind leader Shunhankar Sharma, who shot a 66 after an opening nine of 28 shots, but the starlet wasn’t ruling himself out of the tournament.

“I missed some putts coming in there, burned edges so I think if I can get some more putts to drop I can definitely chase and to be honest I don’t feel like I’m out of it. I feel like I can definitely go low and right now I’m just going to try and shoot low. I don’t have any number in mind. Maybe come Sunday I’ll be thinking of something more specific.” 

Coming off an impressive Walker Cup showing in St Andrew’s last weekend where he won three points, Power senses there’s a lot more to come. 

“My game has been good but not as consistent as I would have liked and I feel like there’s a lot more consistency starting to show. I feel like I’m more aware of where I’m hitting it.

“Even out there today, off the tee I knew myself I wasn’t ripping it but I just found a way to get it in play. That’s the main thing. That’s definitely something important in a pro career.” 

Mark Power watches his shot on the 16th  Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

With his former housemate and fellow Wake Forest college alumni Alex Fitzpatrick as a playing partner over these first two days (he also performed well to lie at six under), Power felt at ease in the K Club.

“I’ve lived with him the last two years, played alongside him the last three or four years and he’s a good friend of mine and we get on very well. He’s obviously had an excellent start to his pro career and it’s nice to see the confidence he’s playing with.

“He’s given me a couple of tips about how he’s found the leap (to being a professional) and I’ll try and follow suit, really. He’s had a great start and I would be pretty happy with something similar.” 

Just one bogey in 36 holes of golf was an excellent return for the Kilkenny man who felt in complete control of his game.

“I felt like I was playing good enough that I was never going to have any shockers but then again there’s water looming everywhere here and one bad swing can have you scurrying. I just try to stick to each shot. Gave myself some looks coming in and hopefully get them tomorrow.” 

As he turns his attention next week to qualifying for the DP World Tour, Power has certainly justified sponsors Horizon’s invite.

“I’m very grateful for that. To get the start this week, I had no idea it was coming. I was just planning on starting my pro career at Q-School next week. This is an elevated event so there’s extra at stake as well.

“I’m just going to try and play as well as I can over the next few days and if that opens more doors then great.”