Composed Staunton wins at The European Club

Mark Staunton. Picture @ Mark Staunton/Facebook

Mark Staunton carded a composed one under par 70 to win the PGA Sprint event at the European Club on Monday.

The Delgany GC man, a former Irish PGA Order of Merit champion, defied blustery conditions to beat Shannon Golf Club's Shane O'Sullivan by three shots at the beautifully presented Co Wicklow venue.

The 34-year-old went to the turn in one over par 36, a birdie at the opening par four undone by a double-bogey at the fourth.

He dropped another shot at the par four 11th but responded in emphatic style with a birdie at 12, an eagle at the par five 13th and another birdie at the 14th.

He closed out his round with three pars and a bogey at the par four 16th to come home in two under 34.

Second placed O'Sullivan got off to a blistering start with birdies at the second, fourth and sixth but a dropped shot at the ninth signalled the end of his good scoring and having gone to the turn in two under 33 he came home in four over 40.

Massereene's Noel Murray finished third with a three over 74.

David Barry (Douglas GC) was right in contention after going to the turn in four under 31 but his round was blown off course as conditions deteriorated in the afternoon and he came home in 11 over 47 to finish tied for 11th on seven over par.

On Tuesday, David Ruddy and Noel Murray return to defend the Black Bush Ladies Assistants Pro-Am title they shared last year.

PGA Sprint, The European Club, Par 71

1 Mark Staunton 70 (-1)

2 Shane O'Sullivan 73 (+2)

3 Noel Murray 74 (+3)

T4 Brian Cosgrove 76 (+5)

T4 David Higgins 76 (+5)

T4 Keith Shannon 76 (+5)

T4 James Quinliven 76 (+5)

T4 Eamonn Brady 76 (+5)

T9 David Ryan 77 (+6)

T9 Brendan McGovern 77 (+6)