Pacelli bags another big win
"To win an Inter County medal. To compete in and win as many senior events as I can." That sums up the future ambitions of a true Pitch and Putt stalwart. So ended our interview last summer with Pacelli Darcy (Ireland).
At the end of the week (May 3rd) that we again sought Pacelli's thoughts, Ardnacrusha Scratch Cup 2015 results saw one of Europe's leading senior (over 55) players atop the leaderboard. Pacelli Darcy (Bruff) won on -25, just ahead of clubmates Tom Hanley (Bruff) and the reigning Irish Strokeplay champion Liam O Donovan (Bruff), both on -24.
In a year that just got better and better for them, Liam O'Donovan and Pacelli Darcy led from start to finish in the 2014 International Pairs Tournament at Lloret Papalus. O'Donovan and Darcy carded a 47 in Sunday's fourball better ball to end the tournament on 19 under par 143. That was good enough for just a single stroke victory over fellow Irish pair John Walsh and Chris Scannell.
Pacelli enjoyed a wonderful weekend at Lleida during the Catalan Open. "I would like to congratulate Victor Moscatel and his staff for the fantastic condition of the course, the entire weekend was superbly organised and very enjoyable," recalls Pacelli.
Pacelli was under no illusions about the scale of his task of trying to add the Catalan Open title to his 2014 Galicia Open triumph. "Going to Lleida I knew that I would face stiff opposition from previous winners Weeshie Murphy and tournament specialist Pepe Garcia."
Lleida, FIPPA's February 2009 Course of the Month (with its water hazards and a number of short holes), played to Pacelli's strengths. "The course suited my style of pitching and luckily enough I had many chances of birdies throughout the competition." A total of 12 under par 150 was good enough for joint sixth place overall (behind close colleague Liam O'Donovan, who won the Catalan Open for the second time).
"Leading by a shot I played with Pepe in the final round and we had a good battle with just one or two errant pitches costing Pepe his chance for victory," sums up Pacelli. Darcy's 49 on Sunday to Pepe's 49 gave the Limerick player, who gets better with age, a four shot margin.
"Many thanks to all the Irish lads who travelled, excellent ambassadors as usual and a special word to Weeshie, Paddy and Patsy Bennis for their great company on the trip," says Pacelli appreciatively of the customary camraderie amongst the Irish fellow Pitch and Putt travellers.
