Damien McGrane
Eleven years after losing out in a play-off to Pádraig Harrington and six years after David Mortimer beat him by holing a monster, 40 footer for eagle across the 72nd green, Damien McGrane captured the Irish Professional Championship at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort.
The 45-year old from Kells began the day tied for second with Niall Kearney on seven under par, one adrift of Colm Moriarty. But he finished on ahead of everyone in the end, carding a three under 69 to win by one on 10 under par from 2011 champion Simon Thornton, who bogeyed the par-five 18th for a 69.
Thornton started the final round two behind Moriarty, who would make just one birdie in a one over 73 to end up third, three behind the winner on seven under.
Kearney, who was going for his third successive win, went out in two over and while he birdied the 10th, bogeys at the 11th and 12th put paid to his chances and he signed for a 74 and solo fourth place on five under.
McGrane covered the front nine in level par and turned for home level with Thornton, who followed a bogey at the first with birdies at the sixth and eighth, and one behind Moriarty..
Both McGrane and Thornton then birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th to edged clear and go to the last level on 10 under par with Moriarty three behind after a bogey at the 14th.
At the finishing hole. McGrane made a par five to Thornton's six to claim a title he has always coveted.
As he explained before the event: “I’ve always said I’d love to win the Irish championship and I have an opportunity this week. I just hope I do myself justice.”
Full report to follow
106th PGA Irish Championship, Sponsored by Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort (Par 72)
278 Damien McGrane 73 66 70 69
279 Simon Thornton 65 74 71 69
281 Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance Limited) 70 68 70 73
283 Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) 70 70 69 74
284 Neil O'Briain (Old Conna) 72 69 71 72
286 David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links 71 73 71 71
289 Cian McNamara (Monkstown) 69 73 77 70, Daniel Beattie (Deer Park Hotel Golf & Spa) 72 70 77 70, David Barry Douglas) 71 74 71 73
290 Brian McElhinney (North West) 72 74 74 70, Glen Robinson 71 72 74 73, Eamonn Brady (Clontarf) 68 71 74 77
291 Brendan McGovern (Headfort) 73 71 76 71, James Quinlivan (Mullingar) 70 72 71 78
293 Michael McGeady 77 71 72 73, Mark O'Mahony (Titleist National Fitting Centre) 70 75 72 76
294 Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 70 82 71 71
295 Mark Staunton Delgany) 75 72 75 73, Andy Hogan (Edmondstown) 69 77 75 74
296 Gary Chambers (Killymoon) 77 73 74 72
297 Ciaran Molloy (Blackwood Golf Centre) 75 74 75 73, Damian Mooney (Nevada Bobs Belfast) 73 71 79 74, Tara Delaney (The Eddie Doyle Golf Academy) 74 75 71 77
298 Kenny Fahey (GUI National Academy) 73 76 75 74
299 Steven Quinlan 72 77 75 75
300 Mark Whelan (Castlewarden Golf & Country Club) 74 79 72 75, David Ryan (Cahir Park) 77 78 73 72
302 Hazel Kavanagh (Carr Golf Centre at Spawell) 77 76 73 76
303 Dara Lernihan (Elm Park) 5 76 76 72 79
304 Jerry Scullion (Kilkeel) 73 78 75 78, Keith Shannon 68 78 81 77, David Leathem (Nevada Bobs Belfast) 81 71 75 77, Patrick Sheehy (McGuirks Golf) 77 77 76 74,
305 Christopher Carvill (Belvoir Park) 69 79 77 80, Mark Murphy (McGuirks Golf) 77 77 74 77
306 Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny) 77 74 77 78, Shane Jenkinson (St Margaret's Golf & Country Club) 75 79 77 75
307 David Foley (Dromoland Castle GC) 75 77 78 77
308 Matthew Dunmore (Bundoran) 72 79 78 79, Josh Adams (Unattached) 81 74 77 76, Brian Jnr McCormack (Edenderry Golf Academy) 77 77 80 74
309 Eddie Doyle (The Eddie Doyle Golf Academy) 71 78 81 79, Peter O'Hagan (Luttrellstown Castle) 77 75 78 79, Shaun Donnelly (Castle Hume) 73 80 80 76
311 Adam Dunmore (Bundoran) 76 74 78 83
314 Paul Stevenson (Portadown) 75 79 81 79, Brian Doheny (Mount Juliet) 75 76 87 76
316 John Dignam (Slade Valley) 74 81 78 83
330 Ciaran Mckenna (Mallow) 74 78 90 88 330
from News - Irish Golf Desk http://ift.tt/2d9er1K
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