Peter Jones gave himself the perfect birthday present by winning the PGA Southern Championship sponsored by Irish Life Assurance at Powerscourt Golf Club.

The Coollattin professional, who turned 39 on Monday, carded a second round 68 to finish the 36-hole event on six under par (138), beating Glasson's Colm Moriarty by three shots.

A former winner of the event in 2006, Jones opened the tournament with a solid two under par 70 on the venue's West Coast but he stepped things up over the second 18 holes on the Peter McEvoy designed East Course.

Peter got off to steady start before picking up two birdies in a row at the sixth and seventh but a dropped shot at the ninth saw him out in one under 35.

He responded to that set-back by collecting five birdies in the next seven holes at 10, 11, 12, 15 and 16 but then stumbled on the way home with dropped shots at 17 and 18. However, those late mistakes didn't prove fatal in the blustery conditions and his 68 proved to be the lowest score of the tournament.

“I was playing with Colm Moriarty and we were driving each other on for a while,” said Jones.

“I kind of really got it going from the 10th, rolled in some nice putts and nearly had a hole in one at the 16th.”

Overnight leaders, John Kelly (St Margaret's) and Leo Hynes (Killiney) fell away during the final round. Kelly posted a 75 to finish tied for fifth, with Hynes finishing in a tie for seventh after a 77.

PGA Southern Championship (sponsored by Irish Life Assurance), Powerscourt Golf Club, Par 72

1 Peter Jones (Coollattin GC) 70/68 -138

2 Colm Moriarty (Glasson Hotel & GC) 71/70 - 141

3 Padraig Dooley (Drive Golf Performance Limited)  71/71 - 142

4 Damian Mooney (Ballyliffin GC) 71/72 - 143

T5 Neil O'Briain (Old Conna GC) 70/74 - 144

T5 John Kelly (St Margaret's Golf & CC) 69/75 - 144

7 Graeme Dunlea (Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort) 76/69 -145

T8 John Dwyer (Ashbourne GC) 75/71 - 146

T8 Leo Hynes (Killiney GC) 69/77 - 146

T10 Brian Kerley (Green Life GC) 76/71 - 147

T10 Noel Murray (Massereene GC) 74/73 - 147

T10 Mark Staunton (Delgany GC) 73/74 -147