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Golf

Lucas Herbert wins Irish Open as Lowry fine tunes for claret jug defence

Australian Lucas Herbert became the first wire to wire winner of an Irish Open in seven years as ...



Lucas Herbert wins Irish Open...
Golf

Lucas Herbert wins Irish Open as Lowry fine tunes for claret jug defence

Australian Lucas Herbert became the first wire to wire winner of an Irish Open in seven years as he claimed a three shot victory in Kilkenny.

The 25-year-old shot a final round 68 at Mount Juliet for a total of 19 under par and a three shot win over Sweden's Rikard Karlberg.

Herbert found himself in trouble on the front nine, but in the end he only made one bogey and repelled the challenge of playing partner Johannes Vermeer, who faded late on.

Herbert holed a long birdie putt on the 10th, before splashing a bunker shot to a foot on the 15th for another birdie.

The big-hitting Herbert then birdied the par five 17th hole and was able to enjoy the walk up the last.

It's his second European Tour win after his victory at the Dubai Desert Classic last year.

It was a moderate tournament for the Irish players.

Shane Lowry will be buoyed by a closing bogey free 66, which saw him finish best of the Irish on 9 under par.

That will put the Offaly native in a good frame of mind ahead of his defence of the Open Championship at Royal St George's in two weeks time.

Cormac Sharvin ended on 7 under, with Graeme McDowell finishing on 3 under par.

Rory McIlroy closed with a disappointing 74 which included a third double bogey of the week.

He ended on 2 under par.

Herbert is thrilled to come out on top.

"It's an unbelievable feeling.

"It's a bit fulfilling really, I feel like I was probably really at one of my low points in my life two years ago when I played at Lahinch in the Irish Open.

"I feel like I've done full swing and come back round and won the event. It's pretty satisfying and I'm pretty satisfied stood here right now.

"The more big events that you play the better. You get more comfortable in those so I can take some more opportunities when I do get those chances.

"I won in Dubai last year and how much that benefitted me winning the event rather than a top five or a top three. A win is so much more than a second place so I was mentally trying to keep that at the forefront of my mind today - a win is a lot bigger than just a good finish and I was proud to finish the way I did."

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