Reddan seeks Connacht Stroke Play redemption
David Reddan (Castleknock) will tee up at the Murray Timber Group Connacht Men’s Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship this weekend. Photo: Inpho | Laszlo Geczo
David Reddan said “it would mean the world” if he could go one better than last season when the Murray Timber Group Connacht Men’s Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship returns to Galway Golf Club this weekend.
The 54-hole event once again tees up in Galway with a 78 strong field set to compete across 36 holes on Friday before a cut ahead of Saturday’s final round.
The Castleknock golfer narrowly missed out on claiming his first men’s championship when Cian O’Connor (Roscommon) battled back from a three-shot deficit to win the title by one shot last year. Despite finishing runner-up, Reddan learned plenty from the experience and is hoping a change in approach may help make the difference this time around.
“It was nice that I didn't falter in the last round, but I was maybe a little bit on the conservative side,” said Reddan.
“Trying to take the shackles off a little bit and play with a little bit more freedom is the main thing. That's what I got from last year, I was just a little bit timid in that last round.”
With rounds of 65, 68 and 69 at this event last year, Reddan has shown he can produce impressive scores around this course. However, the 33-year-old knows that success will depend as much on his mindset as his ball-striking.
“You want to be there or thereabouts coming to the final 18 to have a chance of winning, and I think that's more important than anything. It's not to play yourself out of contention in the first two rounds,” said Reddan.
“With 54 or 72-hole events, they're more of a mental slog than a physical slog. If I look after what I can control, the score will look after itself rather than putting too much pressure on myself.”
“If I can stick to my routine, stick to my process, I won't be a million miles away.”
Reddan has been knocking on the door of a breakthrough victory and, having come within touching distance of the title 12 months ago, he is determined to turn the lessons of last year's near miss into the biggest victory of his amateur career.
“It would mean everything,” said Reddan.
“The last couple of years, I felt like I've improved little by little, and to get a first Golf Ireland win in the men's division under my belt would be massive.”
“A win is the ultimate goal. It's why we all practice and play. I feel it is really close.”
Galway hopes will also be high with a strong contingent from the county set to tee it up this weekend. Galway Golf Club member David Cunningham will look to make home advantage count while Mikie Grealy (Galway Bay), Fergal Coyle (Athenry) and David Kitt (Athenry) will all aim to challenge for the title.
The Connacht Men’s Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship gets underway at 7.30am on Friday morning as Reddan begins his tournament alongside former champion David Shiel (Enniscrone) and Aaron McNulty (Lahinch), with the trio teeing off from the tenth hole, while Padraig O’Dochartaigh (Gweedore), Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire) and TJ Ford (County Sligo) will set off at the same time from the tenth.
View the first and second round tee times here
