McGrane closes on Moriarty at Moyvalley
Damien McGrane. Photo: Adrian Donohoe
Colm Moriarty leads the way on six under par after two rounds of the 106th Irish PGA Championship at Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort.
With gusting winds making play difficult, particularly for the afternoon starters, Moriarty's four under par 68 gave him a one shot lead over Damien McGrane, Eamonn Brady (Clontarf GC) and Simon Thornton.
“I scrambled around yesterday but I played quite nicely today,” said the 37-year-old who had six birdies and two bogeys on the Twin Oaks Championship Course. “I chipped in for a birdie at the 10th – my opening hole - and that got me going.
“The wind picked up on the back nine and I dropped a shot at my 10th. “I hit a four-iron into two feet on the third for a birdie. That started a run of three birdies in a row.
“I dropped a shot at the eighth when I hit it in the hazard, but all in all, I'm right where I want to be.”
The lowest score of the day came from McGrane who prospered in the calmer early morning conditions, carding a six under par 66.
“I played alright yesterday [Thursday] but I couldn't really get going with the birdies,” said McGrane, who carded an opening round 73. “One over was not a disaster. I'm pleased to bounce back today and finish the day on five under.
“The wind was getting very strong as we were finishing. I hit a seven iron from 122 yards into the 18th green.”
The early starters definitely enjoyed the best of the conditions with the wind gusting to 40kph as the day wore on. In the circumstances, Michael McGeady's one under par 71, which followed his opening round 77 was a superb effort.
“I spent most of the round trying to make sure I left myself with putts into the wind,” said McGeady who is tied for 21st on four over par.
“It was very tough out there and you certainly didn't want to be putting downhill and downwind.
“I'm actually a bit disappointed with my round because I finished with two fives. A better finish could have got me back into the mix.”
- The third round is scheduled to get underway at 9am. A two-tee start will be in operation. 52 players made it through to the weekend with the cut falling at 11 over par.
- The 106th Irish PGA Championship is being staged - In Association with Title Sponsors Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort, Official Media Partners Golf Digest Ireland and Classic Hits 4FM and with support from House of Waterford Crystal and Skycaddie.
106th PGA Irish Championship, Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort (Par 72)
138 Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance Limited) 70 68
139 Damien McGrane 73 66, Eamonn Brady (Clontarf) 68 71, Simon Thornton 65 74
140 Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) 70 70
141 Neil O'Briain (Old Conna) 72 69
142 Daniel Beattie (Deer Park Hotel Golf & Spa) 72 70, James Quinlivan (Mullingar) 70 72, Cian McNamara (Monkstown)
143 Michael McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown) 71 72 , Glen Robinson 71 72
144 David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links) 71 73, Brendan McGovern 73 71, Damian Mooney (Nevada Bobs Belfast) 73 71
145 Mark O'Mahony (Titleist National Fitting Centre) 70 75, David Barry (Douglas)
146 Keith Shannon 68 78, Brian McElhinney (North West) 72 74, Andy Hogan (Edmondstown)
147 Mark Staunton (Delgany) 75 72
148 Christopher Carvill (Belvoir Park) 69 79, Michael McGeady 77 71
149 Tara Delaney (The Eddie Doyle Golf Academy) 74 75, Ciaran Molloy (Blackwood Golf Centre) 75 74, Eddie Doyle (The Eddie Doyle Golf Academy) 71 78, Steven Quinlan 72 77, Kenny Fahey (GUI National Academy) 73 76
150 Gary Chambers (Killymoon) 77 73, Scott Wilson (Co. Louth) 74 76, Adam Dunmore (Bundoran) 76 74
151 Brian Doheny (Mount Juliet) 75 76, Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny) 77 74, Matthew Dunmore (Bundoran) 72 79, Jerry Scullion (Kilkeel) 73 78
152 Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 70 82, David Leathem (Nevada Bobs Belfast) 81 71, Ciaran Mckenna (Mallow) 74 78, Dara Lernihan (Elm Park) 76 76, Peter O'Hagan (Luttrellstown Castle) 77 75, David Foley (Dromoland Castle) GC 75 77
153 Hazel Kavanagh (Carr Golf Centre at Spawell) 77 76, Shaun Donnelly (Castle Hume) 73 80, Mark Whelan (Castlewarden Golf & Country Club) 74 79
154 Patrick Sheehy McGuirks Golf 77 77, Brian Jnr McCormack Edenderry Golf Academy 77 77, Paul Stevenson Portadown) 75 79, Paul Masterson Macreddin) 78 76, Shane Jenkinson (St Margaret's Golf & Country Club) 75 79, Mark Murphy (McGuirks Golf) 77 77
155 Josh Adams (Unattached) 81 74, David Ryan (Cahir Park) 77 78, John Dignam (Slade Valley) 74 81
Missed cut
156 Robert Giles (Greenore) 81 75, Brendan Walton (Island) 74 82, David Mortimer (Galway) 80 76, Christopher Loughrey (Castlerock) 79 77,
157 Brian O'Reilly (Glenlo Abbey) 78 79, Dan Hinds (City of Derry) 78 79, William Noble (County Cavan) 77 80, Bernard Quigley (Tullamore) 79 78,
158 Padraig Dooley (Drive Golf Performance Limited) 76 82,
159 Ryan Madigan (Waterford Castle) 81 78, Conor Coyne (Lisheen Springs) 75 84, Michael O'Shea (Rathsallagh) 77 82, Michael Kelly (Dun Laoghaire) 78 81,
161 Stephen McCarthy (Black Bush) 80 81, Graham Byrne (Palmerstown Stud) 79 82,
162 Peter Hanna (Lurgan) 84 78, Ronan Collins (Halpenny) 78 84, Brian Sweeney (Naas) 77 85,
163 Roy O'Neill (Galway) 85 78, Stephen Hayes (Douglas) 77 86,
164 Lynn McCool (Lough Erne Golf Resort) 83 81, Alan Staunton (Hollywood Lakes) 81 83, Mark Beckett (Killarney Golf & Fishing Club) 78 86, Kevin Foy (Stepaside Golf Centre) 80 84,
166 Mark Heinemann (Beaufort) 80 86, Conor Gorevan (Hermitage) 82 84, Ross Young (Carr Golf Centre at Spawell) 83 83, Jim Robinson (Co. Sligo) 83 83,
167 Diarmaid Fraser (Killarney Golf & Fishing Club) 77 90, Fintan Lacey (Roganstown Golf & Country Club) 84 83,
168 Donard MacSweeney (Mullingar) 85 83,
169 Thomas Niland (Tuam) 81 88
171 Kyle Cannon (Portmarnock) 81 90,
172 Ciaran Hegarty (Castleknock) 88 84
173 Daniel Crowley (Fota Island) 88 85
174 Mark Peat90 85,
182 Peter Hickey (Cork) 88 94
WD Harry Coyne (Carton House Golf Course), David Hughes (Massereene), Matthew McCarthy, Kelan McDonagh (Lahinch), Mark O'Sullivan (Piltown Driving Range), Tim Rice (Limerick), Colin Starrett (GUI National Academy), Philip Walton,
RTD Patrick Small (Galway) 79 —, Thomas Johnston (Castlerock) 80, Padraig McGrath (P & M Golf Superstore Ltd) 80 —, Leonard Owens (Royal Dublin), Donal Gleeson (Old Conna).
