Carey trying to stay positive after late slip denies him win

CASTLEKNOCK’S David Carey was looking to the positives after admitting he “threw away” his chance of a maiden win in the Alps Tour’s Ein Bay Open in Egypt.

The Dubliner (21) led by a stroke overnight but closed with a 73 to finish three shots behind Italy’s Michele Cea on nine-under par, with Naas’ Conor O’Rourke a shot further back in fourth after a 70.

“I threw away the win to be completely honest,” said Carey, whose double-bogey at the 16th proved fatal.

“I was playing great through the first 11 holes, just missed a couple of putts and then dropped some poor shots on the way home. But there are a million positives! I’ve made some pretty major swing changes the last few months and I could see the impact of them.”

On the European Tour, The Island’s Gavin Moynihan opened with a one-under 71 to share 35th in the NBO Oman Open, six shots behind Paul Waring and Matthew Southgate, with Darren Clarke tied 49th after a 72.

PROMISED

Team Ireland’s Neil O’Briain is tied for 13th, just three shots behind England’s Toby Tree and South Africans Garth Mulroy, Vaughn Groenewald and JC Ritchie after opening with a four-under 68 in the Sunshine Tour’s Dimension Data Pro-Am at Fancourt.

In amateur golf, Ireland’s Caolan Rafferty promised to “give it a run” today after a three-under 69 left him tied for second going into the final round of African Amateur Stroke Play, seven shots behind South Africa’s James du Preez.

He shot a superb, eight-underpar 64 to lead on 13-under par from Dundalk star Rafferty and compatriot Martin Vorster at a storm-hit Glendower Golf Club.

Castle’s Alex Gleeson is tied for fourth on five-under after a 71 with Tramore’s Robin Dawson, named yesterday in Europe’s Bonallack Trophy team to face the AsiaPacific in Qatar next month, carding a 70 to share seventh on two-under.