<p>Mark Power</p>
Robert Moran and Mark Power continued their fine run of form with runner-up finishes at the weekend.
Moran (26) finished second behind Andrea Romano in the Alps Tour’s New Giza Open in Cairo on Sunday, while Power finished a shot behind former Ryder Cup player Chris Wood in the MENA Tour’s Al Houara Classic in Morocco on Saturday.
It was Moran’s second runner-up finish in the space of three weeks on the Alps Tour and it has catapulted him to third in the Order of Merit behind Romano, who made it back-to-back wins following his victory in the Red Sea Little Venice Open.
<img alt="" height="260" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52780078e4b0782c048f31cb/1771270308640-ZLP4UQMRP8YKVSZCYNQF/MOR062.jpg?format=1000w" width="362" />
<p>Castle's Robert Moran. Picture: Alps Tour</p>
The Dubliner went into the final round three shots behind the Italian on seven under after rounds of 71 and 66.
While he played superbly again in the final round, making seven birdies in a six-under 66, it was not enough to deny Romano (25), who came home in four under 32 to shoot 67.
The Italian won by two strokes on 13-under par from Moran and Spain’s Mario Galiano Aguilar.
Romano earned €6,200 to increase his lead over Galiano at the top of the standings, while Robert Moran, who won €3,453, is ranked third.
Sam Murphy, who edged out Moran for the season-opening Ein Bay Open, lies fourth in the Alps Tour’s Order of Merit after he tied for 21st in the New Giza Open.
The Portumna man (23) followed an opening 65 with rounds of 73 and 74 to finish on four-under.
Hugh Foley (74-72) and Cathal MacCanna (72-76) missed the cut in Cairo.
Foley (28) is 57th in the Order of Merit, while MacCanna has yet to make a cut after the first three events.
The players will return to action on April 9 for the Villa Paradiso Alps Open in Italy.
On the MENA Tour, Power continued the good form he showed in the DP World Tour’s Kenya Open when he shot rounds of 70, 70 and 67 to finish tied for second with France’s Pierre Pineau and England’s Joseph Padgin in the Al Houara Classic at Al Houara Golf Club in Morocco.
Power won $8,000 as Wood took the title by a shot on 10-under to win $18,000 thanks to a closing 67.
Alex Maguire ($4,500) was joint fifth (67-71-70) on eight under while Paul McBride ($2,100) was joint ninth (74-69-69) on four under and Marc Boucher ($402.50) 48th on eight over.
Wood tops the rankings with Maguire eighth, Power 27th, McBride 53rd, Jack Madden 107th and Boucher 122nd.
The Mena Tour continues in Morocco with the $100,000 Hilton Classic at Al Houara Golf Club from Monday.
McBride, Maguire, Power and Boucher are the Irishmen in action.
Article Link: Moran and Power continue impressive form with runner-up finishes - News - Irish Golf Desk