Popert pips Lawlor in Porsche playoff
HAMBURG, GERMANY - MAY 31: Kipp Popert of England plays a shot during the G4D, Golf 4 Disabled event prior to the Porsche European Open at Green Eagle Golf Course on May 31, 2022 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
World number open Brendan Lawlor had to settle for second as Kipp Popert defeated him in a play-off at the G4D @ Porsche European Open to secure back-to-back victories on the G4D Tour.
Lawlor headed Popert by a shot heading into the second and final round and while he made three bogeys in his first seven holes to fall a shot behind at the turn, he started home birdie-birdie-bogey-birdie to nip ahead.
World No 2 Popert levelled with a birdie at the 15th but Lawlor birdied the 16th and matched his rival’s birdie at the 17th to lead heading down the last only to take six at the par-five finishing hole.
The Englishman, who finished tied 12th in the Flogas Irish Amateur Open at The Island earlier this month, shot 71 to Lawlor’s level par 72 on the formidable Porsche Nord Course at Green Eagle Golf Courses to force a play-off for the second time this season.
Popert was victorious at the inaugural G4D Tour event earlier this month, G4D @ Betfred British Masters, after defeating Chris Biggins and Kurtis Barkley in a play-off at The Belfry.
Both Popert and Lawlor birdied the 18th as the first play-off hole and then parred it the second time before the Louth man found the water with his second shot the third time around, going on to sign for a double-bogey seven as Popert found the green in three and tapped in for par to win his second G4D Tour title.
“My putt in the first play-off hole was probably the first one all week that went in the middle,” said Popert, who has cerebral palsy. “My green reading wasn’t the best this week, but I just focused on the read and knocked it straight in.
“I always like to know (what’s happening on the course), I love pressure. I love to be over putts thinking ‘I’ve got to hole this’ – apart from there on 18. I had one look on the back nine (at the scores), and then another at about 15. I was trying to make birdies as I came in, and I did, so I’m very pleased.”
Popert made the turn one-over-par as he chased down Lawlor, and carded his first birdie of the day on the 11th. He then dropped another stroke on the 13th, but birdies on the 15th and 17th saw him set the clubhouse target at one over par as Lawlor bogeyed the last to join him on that number.
“There’s someone called Jack Nicklaus who once said you only have to win by one. That’s all I was thinking, so I just tapped it down there on that last playoff hole,” added Popert.
“It was a very solid round, my caddie Ben did amazing this week. We just stayed patient. We tried a new system this week and I was shouting numbers at him all the time – it worked really well, so more of that in the future, I hope.
“It’s been incredible. The facilities this week, the staff, the director of the event…we were treated like Tour Pros. It was awesome to be involved. This Tour is going from strength to strength and long may it continue.”
The second event on the G4D (Golf for the Disabled) Tour took place ahead of the Porsche European Open in Hamburg, Germany, with ten of the world’s best golfers with a disability taking on the same setup as the DP World Tour competitors later this week.
The next G4D Tour event will take place from June 27-28 with G4D @ Horizon Irish Open at Mount Juliet Estate.
