No luck for Lowry as Henley wins at Bay Hill
Shane Lowry drives on the first hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament in Orlando, Florida. Picture: Phelan M Ebenhack
Shane Lowry endured a frustrating weekend as he finished seventh at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.
The Offaly man went into the weekend leading the signature event, but a 76 on Saturday left him out of contention, although he will be pleased to recover with a two-under 70 on Sunday.
Lowry finished on six-under overall, five behind the winner Russell Henley.
Henley captured his fifth career victory and first Signature Event title, closing with a 2-under 70 highlighted by an eagle chip-in at the 16th hole. The American picked up four shots in his final eight holes to overhaul Collin Morikawa, who stuttered to a final round 72 to miss out by one shot.
Corey Conners' third-place finish qualified him for The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush via the Open Qualifying Series. “It's fantastic,” Conners said Sunday. “I think it was the only major that I wasn't qualified for yet and it feels awesome to get my spot there. There was a little question mark on my summer travel plans because of that, but I'm excited to get back to Royal Portrush, really liked playing there in 2019.”
Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for 15th after a final round 72. McIlroy bogeyed the 18th at Bay Hill in all four rounds.
Meanwhile, Scotland's Calum Hill claimed his second DP World Tour title in style as he beat home favourites Jacques Kruyswijk and Shaun Norris in a play-off to win the Joburg Open after coming from eight shots back to earn a share of the lead after 72 holes.
After all three players parred the first play-off hole, a par was good enough for Hill to win it at the second just as lightning arrived in the area, after Norris found the water and Kruyswijk missed his five-foot putt.
The win ends Hill's wait for a second DP World Tour title, having secured his first at the 2021 Cazoo Classic.
Hill said: "It's awesome. A little bit surprised there, I thought we were having to go again (to another play-off hole).
"And then (the lightning) is ridiculous so I don't know what was going to happen but yeah, I'm delighted.
"It was a fantastic day and this is the cherry on top.
"Getting the birdie on the 18th was the only way I was going to have a chance. I got lucky with the bounce up the slope and made a nice five-footer and then it gave me a chance to have a go in this play-off.
"You never know how a play-off is going to go. I think that might be my first play-off ever so it's nice to have a 1-0 record on that."
On the LPGA, Rio Takeda shot a blistering 8-under 64 on Sunday to win the LPGA's Blue Bay tournament by six shots ahead of Minjee Lee of Australia, the second LPGA title for the young Japanese.
Leona Maguire finished in a tie for 33rd.
