TOM McKIBBIN SUFFERED the heartache of a playoff defeat to Marcel Siem in the Italian Open today.
The German Siem birdied the last hole to force the playoff after McKibbin, from Holywood, set a clubhouse target of 10-under par with a scintillating round of 65.
THAT. IS. CLUTCH! 🤯@SiemMarcel saves his first birdie of the back nine for the last to force a play-off against @tommckibbin8!#ItalianOpen pic.twitter.com/OW8xA8aGPg
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 30, 2024
The 21-year-old had six birdies and didn’t drop a single shot on his round, which followed a 68 yesterday which moved him up the field following a 71 and a 70 on the opening two days.
Siem birdied the first playoff hole to clinch the victory.
“Holing that putt on 18 [in regulation] was one of the coolest moments in golf for me and doing it again there in the play-off was fantastic,” 43-year-old Siem said afterwards.
“I love this sport. It’s so much fun to work hard for it and if you get rewards like this now it can’t get any better at the moment.”
Game respects game 🤝#ItalianOpen pic.twitter.com/cQFZ4hoq09
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 30, 2024
McKibbin’s second place earned him the consolation of a qualifying place for the upcoming Open Championship at Royal Troon.
You can view the final leaderboard here
Elsewhere, Kildare woman Lauren Walsh narrowly missed out on a first tour victory when she finished third, having been clubhouse leader, at the Swiss Ladies Open.
Alice Hewson was the eventual winner after a play-off against Tvesa Malik.
The 23-year-old Walsh shot a final day 64 to surge to the top of the leaderboard and it looked like she might be heading for a first triumph on the European Tour.
New leader alert! 🚨@llaurenwalsh posts the round of the week 64 (-7) to set the clubhouse target on -10…#RaiseOurGame | #SwissLadiesOpen pic.twitter.com/eD6qlM0jtj
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) June 30, 2024
But Malik picked up three birdies and an eagle to force a play-off alongside Hewson.
Walsh turned pro last year and will take part in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House in August.
You can view the final leaderboard here
Congrats to conor on a great win. Not easy to get a win from 5-3 down in a deciding set!