Tense battle results in Power Horan’s National win
Tom Power Horan – photo Australian Golf Media
It was perhaps fitting that two of the most consistent players throughout the season featured during the final stages of the 2022/2023 PGA Tour of Australasia, with Victorian Tom Power Horan edging out John Lyras by one shot after a tense final round battle at the National Tournament over the Moonah Course on the Mornington Peninsula.
With two eagles, four birdies and a bogey in his first twelve holes on day four, Power Horan had moved three clear of the field, one of those eagles coming when holing in one at the 8th.
Lyras, who has been another of the surprise packets of the season would not go away, however, and when he birdied the 13th the margin was just two and when Power Horan bogeyed the 14th the lead was just one.
Lyras bogeyed the 16th and the lead was again out to two but a bogey at the last by the leader saw him win but by the narrowest of margins on what was a fitting final day of the season.
Power Horan finished runner-up to David Micheluzzi on the season long Order of Merit while Lyras finished 5th although Lyras played only seven events compared the 15 by Micheluzzi and the 14 by Power Horan.
Power Horan secured his DP World Tour card for next season by finishing inside the top 3 of the Order of Merit and while Lyras was not in that group, earlier in the year he secured his Asian Tour card and appears to have a very bright future, his runner-up finish at the New Zealand Open an indication of his capabilities.
Power Horan recorded seven top ten finishes in his season including a win at the Gippsland event in December and this victory and now, with his DP World Tour card, he has the opportunity to advance his game even further later this year but in the meantime he can also play Asian Tour events after he, too, secured his playing rights there earlier this season.
Both players also have access to the Korn Ferry Tour Final Qualifying stages later in the year and Power Horan was excited by the prospect.
“That’s always been a dream,” he said of the chances of his playing in America. “I mean Europe’s amazing as well. I mean, my parents are Irish, I’m looking forward to playing a bit more over near my family. But for sure, the States is the place to be, I think.”
John Lyras – photo Australian Golf Media
