Kearney birdies last to snatch Irish PGA
Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) winner of the 104th Irish PGA Championship at Adare Manor Golf Club on Sunday 5th October 2014. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
Niall Kearney birdied the 18th from three feet to edge out Michael McGeady and claim the 104th Irish PGA Championship sponsored by Down Syndrome Centre at Adare Manor Golf Club.
The duo started the day locked together at five under par but while defending champion McGeady moved into a two-shot lead at the turn, Kearney finished the stronger, closing with a three under 66 to win by a shot on eight under 268.
The former Brabazon Trophy winner had failed to take any of his chances on the front nine, but a birdie at the 10th narrowed the gap to one.
And while McGeady's challenge stalled on the back nine, Kearney birdied the 14th to level matters before wrapping up victory on the 18th, firing a nine iron into a couple of feet and rolling in the birdie putt.
“This title is always one that I wanted to win,” said the Royal Dublin golfer. “There is a huge history associated with the event and some fantastic names on the trophy and it's something I wanted to get my own name on for sure.
“It was nip and tuck all the way around between Michael and myself. I was hitting some good iron shots but I was getting a bit annoyed that I could not convert.
“I was fortunate enough to hit a great shot from 128 yards into the last. It probably finished a yard from the hole but it felt like 10 feet. I'd missed a few putts during the day but I just said to myself 'hit it firm, take the break out of it' and fortunately it went in the middle.”
Kearney's main focus has been on the Challenge Tour this season but his regular competitive appearances on the PGA in Ireland circuit has paid dividends
The 26-year-old had four victories to his name before Sunday's success in Limerick, a win that effectively secured him the Order of Merit title.
“It has been great for confidence, come home, get a card in the hand and stay competitively sharp,” added Niall who will play in the second stage of European Tour Q-school at the start of November.
“It has been brilliant for me, it really has.”
McGeady finished second on seven under with Donal Gleeson securing third on the back of a brilliant final day, six under 63.
“I had a chance at the last to get to seven under but it finished just short,” said Gleeson who collected six birdies and had no dropped shots in his round.
“I was really dialled in today. It was one of those days when I was thinking there was no limit to how low I could go.
“I have been right on the cusp of playing some really good golf and today I went out and relaxed and let it happen. It's been a good fun week and an excellent way to finish.”
Barrie Trainor also ended his tournament in style, carding a three under par 66 that included a hole-in-one at the par three 10th.
Irish PGA Championship (€29,450) in association with Down Syndrome Centre, Adare Manor Golf Club (Par 69)
Final
268 Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) 70 69 63 66
269 Michael McGeady (Unatt.) 70 66 66 67
270 Donal Gleeson (Old Conna) 70 68 69 63
272 Michael McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown) 67 67 69 69
273 Noel Murray (Massereene) 72 68 69 64
275 David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links) 72 68 69 66
276 Barrie Trainor (Cairndhu) 72 70 68 66, Colm Moriarty (Glasson Hotel) 75 69 66 66, Peter Jones (Coollattin) 67 69 69 71
277 Neil O'Briain (Old Conna) 73 67 70 67
278 Damian Mooney (Ballyliffin) 69 69 71 69, Daniel Beattie (Deer Park Hotel, Golf & Spa) 75 63 71 69, John Kelly (St Margaret's Golf & CC) 69 70 70 69, Graeme Dunlea (Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort) 67 67 74 70, Robert Giles (Greenore) 66 71 70 71
279 David Mortimer (Galway) 70 67 71 71
280 Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny) 69 69 72 70, Brendan McGovern (Headfort) 67 72 68 73
281 Cian McNamara (Monkstown) 68 73 71 69, Shane O'Sullivan (Shannon) 71 69 68 73
282 Mark O'Mahony (Titleist National Fitting Centre) 75 69 69 69, Glen Robinson (St Helen's Bay Golf Resort) 74 70 66 72
283 John Murray (Malahide) 69 72 73 69, David Ryan (Cahir Park) 75 72 68 68, David Hughes (Massereene) 73 67 70 73
284 Mark Staunton (Delgany) 71 74 68 71, Patrick Sheehy (Newcastle West) 74 73 70 67
285 Daniel Sugrue (Killarney Golf & Fishing Club) 73 74 69 69
286 Richard Creamer (Golfquip) 72 71 71 72
287 Patrick Small (Galway) 71 73 70 73, Hazel Kavanagh (Carr Golf Services) 71 69 72 75, John McHenry (McHenry Golf Ltd) 71 76 70 70, Mark O'Sullivan (Piltown Driving Range) 75 69 74 69
288 Chris Moriarty (Open Fairways Ltd) 71 70 72 75, Michael Collins (Mallow Golf Range) 76 69 71 72, Ciaran Molloy (Blackwood Golf Centre) 71 72 74 71, Gary Wardlow (American Golf) 74 70 73 71
289 Gerry Burke (Royal Curragh) 71 76 69 73, James Quinlivan (Mullingar) 72 67 69 81
290 Enda Maguire (Dundalk) 70 74 71 75, Michael Quinlivan (Mike Quinlivan Golf) 68 75 73 74, Wayne O'Callaghan (Fernhill Golf & CC) 73 71 74 72
291 Dara Lernihan (Elm Park) 77 70 72 72, Ian Brennan (Greenore) 75 70 75 71, Sean Cotter (Mount Juliet) 74 72 75 70
292 Liam Bowler (Wexford) 72 71 74 75, Brendan Walton (The Island) 78 67 79 68
294 David Ruddy (Unatt) 71 72 75 76
295 Paul Masterson (Coollattin) 73 70 72 80, Gary Howie (Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort) 75 72 77 71
296 Raymond Burns (Lisheen Springs) 73 70 76 77
297 Jerry Scullion (Kilkeel) 74 71 76 76
298 Seamus Clinton (Letterkenny) 70 72 80 76
301 Eddie Doyle (Natural Golf School) 74 72 77 78, David Hayes (Dungarvan) 76 71 76 78.
