Dunne keen for Morocco redemption

Paul Dunne thinks his runner-up finish at last year’s Trophee Hassan II was the catalyst for future success but wants to win this time.

The 25-year-old, who finished second to Jon Rahm in the Spanish Open on Sunday, held the 54-hole lead in Morocco 12 months ago but was caught and passed by Italy’s Edoardo Molinari during the final 18 holes.

The Irishman needed a birdie at the last to force a play-off, which he duly achieved only to go down to the 37-year-old Turin resident at the first extra hole.

However, Dunne took strength from that setback and claimed his maiden European Tour title at the British Masters later in the summer of 2017, and has just recorded three consecutive top-10 finishes across both the PGA Tour and in Europe.

The players will tee it up in Morocco later this week for the latest edition of the tournament and the County Wicklow man feels he has plenty to be thankful about at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam and is keen to lift the trophy this time around.

“Coming second to Edoardo at last year?s Trophee Hassan II was a huge learning experience for me,” Dunne told the European Tour’s website. “Although it was disappointing to miss out on the opportunity to win my first title, it gave me the drive to succeed last season. It was my best finish on the European Tour at that time.

“It made me more determined to secure my first victory, which I thankfully did later in the year. I would love to return to Morocco and go one better this season.”