Irish golfer Paul Dunne is competing at the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play this week, which is being held in Germany for the first time ever.
The Wicklow native got through his first round with ease yesterday when he defeated Australian Nathan Holman 6 & 5 to set up a tie in the last 32 against Sweden's Jens Fahrbring.
Dunne took his form from yesterday into today, as he beat the Swede 4 & 3, and he will now play the winner of the match between Alejandro Cañizares and Paul Lawrie in the last 16.
The highlight of his opening round was a monster birdie put on the 11th to put him 3 up in his match.
Paul Dunne from downtown. ➡️ ➡️ ➡️ ?️
He's now 3UP on Fahrbring. #SEPLMP pic.twitter.com/oRIVWXdVd7— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 18, 2017
The Irishman went onto birdie the 13th before closing out the match on the 15th, to win 4 & 3.
He ended 2016 in 275th place in the world rankings, but he is now currently ranked 183rd in the world after he finished second in the Trophee Hassan II tournament in Morocco, when he narrowly lost in a play-off to Italian Eduardo Molinari, his only other top 10 finish this season came at Tshwane Open in South Africa, when he finished in a tie for sixth place.
Dunne will be hoping that he can get his first elusive victory on the European Tour this week and if he can hole putts like this, there is no reason why he can't go on and win the match play event.
Irish golf is staring down the prospect of no Irish winners on either the PGA Tour or the European Tour for the first time since 1994.
