Roy makes his mark at Black Bush Pro-Am

Black Bush Golf Club

Galway assistant Roy O'Neill fired a three under par 70 to win the Black Bush Ladies Assistants Pro-Am on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old from Carlow, beat Edmondstown's Andy Hogan by two shots with four players — Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC), Dara Lernihan (Elm Park GC), Shane Jenkinson (St Margaret's GC) and Joe Dillon (Headfort GC) finishing on level par.

“It's a good start to the season and it was great experience to play in the event,” said Roy who was competing in his first Pro-Am and only his second competitive PGA event at the Co Meath venue.

With a shotgun start in use, Roy began his round at the sixth and after three steady pars his round burst into life when he eagled the par five ninth, rolling in a 15 footer after a drive and four iron approach to the green.

He also birdied the third, 10th and 16th but dropped shots at the 11th and 17th, when he failed to get up and down from greenside bunkers, prevented him from stretching away from the field. 

The highlight of second placed Hogan's round was a hole-in-one at the par three second. The Edmondstown man found the bottom of the cup with a nine iron but he immediately followed it up with a double bogey at the par five third, hitting his second shot out of bounds.

Noel Murray (Massereene GC) guided his team to victory with 88 points.

Black Bush Ladies Assistants Pro-Am

• 1 Roy O'Neill (Galway GC) 70
• 2 Andy Hogan (Edmondstown GC) 72
• 3 R Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC), D Lernihan (Elm Park GC), S Jenkinson (St Margaret's GC), J Dillon (Headfort GC) 73
• 7 P Duff (Black Bush GC), M Kelly (Dun Laoghaire GC), N Murray (Massereene GC) 74