Irish Golf Desk

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O'Driscoll hangs tough for 73 in Egypt; Carey battles to 75

The colourfully attired David Carey with pal Darragh Flynn on the bag in Egypt.

Killarney's Tommy O'Driscoll kept his cool and came back from a brace of early double bogeys in the Red Sea Little Venice Open in Egypt. 

Playing in just his second event as a professional on the third tier Alps Tour, the 19-year old followed a birdie at the third with doubles at the par-three fourth and sixth holes.

Scores

It would have been easy to panic and rack up a big number, but the former Ulster Boys champion kept his cool and mixed eight pars with pair of birdie fours the eighth and 15th for a one over 73 and a share of 43rd at Sokhna Golf Club, around 40km south of Suez on the Gulf of Suez coast.

He's a massive 10 strokes behind leader Franck Daux of France, who held off the likes of David Carey to win last week's Ein Bay Open.

David Carey moves in for the kill

Daux carded a nine under par 63 for a four shot lead over compatriot Leonard Bem, Belgium's Kevin Hesbois and England's Liam Harper.

With former Carton House pal Darragh Flynn on the bag, Carey was forced to play with an old driver after snapping his preferred club on the range last Friday. 

Without an identical back-up — his other driver had a different flex — he was level par with seven holes to go but finished with four bogeys in his last six holes for a three over 75 that left him tied 59th with O'Driscoll's younger brother Eamonn, who is playing as an amateur.

Eamonn was one under after eight holes but dropped four shots over his final 10 holes.