Top 10s for Moriarty, Higgins and Brady in Turkey; but will they get into Wentworth?
Gareth Wright. Picture courtesy Tony Marshall/Getty Images
Ireland's trio of contenders finished in the Top-10 but it remains to be seen if Colm Moriarty, David Higgins or Eamonn Beady will get to play the BMW PGA at Wentworth next year.
If you are looking for a statement of play when it comes to agreements between the PGA and the PGA European Tour, the official report on Gareth Wright’s victory in the PGA Play-Offs at Antalya Golf Club in Turkey said it all.
“Wright will now secure entry to several European and Challenge Tour events next year," the report ran, "including, subject to confirmation from the European Tour, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
“There he will likely be joined by the rest of the top 10, including Cort and third-placed Greig Hutcheon [or fifth placed Colm Moriarty, David Higgins (tied sixth) or Eamonn Brady (tied eighth]
"Subject to confirmation" and "likely" were the key phrases.
“Hopefully we’ll get those Tour spots again and that will be something we can really look forward to next year," Wright said.
Hopefully.
The European Tour is going through changes and has a new Chief Executive at the helm in Keith Pelley. Besides all that, of perhaps because of it, there is uncertainty about how many PGA pros will play at Wentworth.
It appears there are also plans to hold a qualifier for the Irish Open at The K Club next year rather than hand out places to the top finishers in the Order of Merit — six this year compared to eight in 2014.
Whatever the future holds, Welshman Wright holed a vital 15-foot putt for birdie on the PGA Sultan Course’s 18th green for a 67 to nip in ahead of Matt Cort and secure the Play-offs title by one stroke on nine under par 275
“To win an event like this where you’ve got 24 of the top players in the country is really thrilling,” Wright explained. “There’s some guys out here that have had European Tour cards, it’s a big achievement to come out and win an event like this.
“I’m proud to be the PGA number one and it’s the perfect way to end the PGA season. I’ve had a lot of second place finishes this year and of course you always want to win, so I’m really pleased to get this on the board.”
Moriarty closed with a two over 73 to finish fifth and earn £850 as Higgins (71) was tied sixth, picking up £725, and Clontarf professional Brady (70) eighth place finish on one over worth £650.
The other players to finish in the top 10 and with it potentially secure a place at Wentworth were fourth placed James Ruth, Graham Fox (tied sixth), Guy Woodman (ninth) and James Ablett who was 10th on countback.
PGA Play-Offs, PGA Sultan Course, Antalya Golf Club (Par 71)
Final - Detailed scores
275 Gareth Wright (West Linton) 68 72 68 67
276 Matthew Cort (Beedles Lake) 68 74 65 69
279 Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 68 71 70 70
280 James Ruth (China Fleet) 74 66 69 71
282 Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance) 67 74 68 73
283 David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links) 68 73 71 71, Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) 74 68 69 72
285 Eamonn Brady (Clontarf Golf Club) 72 73 70 70
286 Guy Woodman (Longball Inc) 73 73 74 66
287 James Ablett (Lee-on-The-Solent GC) 72 73 70 72, Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge Golf Club) 72 72 70 73.
