Waterford's two touring pros are in action this weekend on opposite sides of the globe, with Gary Hurley playing in the UAE and Seamus Power mixing it with the celebs in Pebble Beach.
This is the first event on the DP World Tour for Hurley in 2023 having taken an extended break over Christmas. He was out on the course for his second round in the wee hours on the Irish clock, but his round scoring is not what he would have been hoping for.
He began from the 1st tee this morning, once again playing with Simon Forsstrom and Nick Bachem. The opening six holes took on the trend of par-par-bogey, par-par-bogey leaving Gary 2 over before the turn. His three holes leading to the ninth were steady with pars made on all of them, but having made the turn, the tenth hole caused him problems for the second consecutive day.
Two shots were handed back on the 455-yard par-4, sending him to 4 over with eight holes to play.
Gary was able to steady the ship at that point, however, and would manage to reclaim one shot on the 14th to move back to +3 for his round and for the tournament also.
Some of the field are still out on the course, but as it stands Hurley is in danger of not making the cut with the projected line set at -2.
Hurley's colleague from West Waterford, Seamus Power is also plying his trade this weekend, albeit on the PGA Tour at one of the glitzy early-season events in Pebble Beach. The yearly Pro-Am draws A-listers from all around the world who play alongside the pros.
Seamus' first round was very mixed. He opened up with a bogey on the first but managed to hold firm over the next four holes shooting par on each to avoid further damage. While he sacrificed another shot on the 6th, it was over the next five holes that he would rescue his round.
Four birdies from the 7th to the 11th sent him to -2 with a healthy-looking card as he faced the home straight.
The 14th was a real blemish on what could have been a decent round of golf. A triple bogey on the par-5 saw Seamus surrender all the good work that had been done prior. His recovery on the 15th and 17th put two more positives back on the board with birdies on each, but the round was to be bookended with another bogey on the closing 18th.
The Touraneena man handed in his card for an opening day level par round of 72, which leaves him eight shots off the pace of Hank Lebioda.
He's back out on the course from 5.47 pm this evening for the second round.
