Golf
Another major milestone for Lester as he makes pro debut
By Daire Walsh
LAST weekend marked yet another milestone in the burgeoning career of Rowan Lester after the Hermitage Golf Club star made his professional debut at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet Estate in Kilkenny.
Following some notable successes in the amateur ranks over the past few years, Lester has taken a giant leap forward into the highest level of the sport.
While he could have competed at the Irish Open under his original status, Lester used the tournament as an opportunity to step into the world of full-time golf.
He may have missed the cut in the end, but it will prove to be an invaluable experience for the 25-year-old in the long run.
Indeed her was rubbing shoulders in the Marble County with Major champions like Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Rathfarnham’s Padraig Harrington.
Having shot a commendable 73 at the end of the first round – which put at +1, ahead of several competing Irish golfers – he followed up with 76 in the second round.
This unfortunately brought his tournament to an end, with his +5 finish leaving him sharing 139th place in the final standings.
The professional ranks can be a steep learning curve for first-timers, but Lester certainly has the capacity to build from here.
A lifelong member of the Lucan-based Hermitage – where his talents were nurtured by Simon Byrne and the late Paul Harmey – he enjoyed notable successes as an amateur.
As recently as last September, he secured top honours at the Connacht Stroke Play Championship in Portumna, Co. Galway.
He also won the North of Ireland Amateur Open at Royal Portrush in July 2017, while he also lists provincial and international representation amongst his career highlights.
He helped Leinster to an Interprovincial Championship triumph in September 2019 and was part of the Irish side (captained by Lucan’s Tony Goode) that claimed a fourth consecutive Men’s Home International title two years before that.