Jenkinson wins Ruddy Cup by five shots
Sponsor Pat Ruddy presents Shane Jenkinson (St Margaret's) with The Ruddy Cup for Trainee Professionals at The European Club. 9 May 2018
St Margaret's Shane Jenkinson showed the rest a clean pair of heels when he cruised to an emphatic five-stroke victory in the Ruddy Cup for Trainee Professionals at The European Club.
He overcame a stiff wind and heavy rain, carding three birdies — at the sixth, 12th and 13th — against four bogeys in a one-over-par 72 to be one of just four players in the field to break 80.
"It was brutal, end of the world stuff to play in," said Dubliner Shane who recently completed his third year PGA exams.
"I haven't been playing much because of the exams and I've also had injury issues. I did a Tony Finau. I popped my ankle playing football a few weeks ago.
"I seriously considered not playing the event at all because my back was also giving me a problem but I went down, took some painkillers, put some rub on my back and tried not to make a show of myself."
The 29-year-old St Margaret's Golf and CC assistant went to the turn in two over 37 and came back in one under 35 which included back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th.
He added: "I wasn't expecting anything. It was damage limitation for 18 holes really but I know the course reasonably well and managed to miss it in the right places so I couldn't really mess it up totally."
Sponsor Pat Ruddy applauded the efforts of the winner in coping with the conditions.
"The players had their work cut out because of the weather so congratulations to Shane, it was a very good score," said Pat.
"I notice Shane trains at another Ruddy designed venue, St Margaret's, he clearly knows how to beat Ruddy!"
He took home the €1,000 first prize as Corrstown's Craig Melvin claimed the runner-up spot with a 77.
Royal Tara's Stephen Brady and Craddockstown's Liam Whelan tied for third with 78s but title holder Richard Kilpatrick had to settle for a share of ninth after an 82.
It was no huge surprise that the 449-yard seventh ranked as the toughest hole on the course with an average score of 5.4.
The Ruddy Cup for Trainee Professionals, The European Club (Par 71)
Sponsored by Pat Ruddy
72 Shane Jenkinson (St Margaret's Golf & CC)
77 Craig Melvin (Corrstown GC)
78 Stephen Barry (Royal Tara GC), Liam Whelan (Craddockstown GC)
80 Conor Coyne (Lisheen Springs GC)
81 Harry Coyne (Carton House), Richard Weldon (Black Bush GC), Mark Sutton (GUI National Academy)
82 Eric Byrne (Unattached), Conor Gorevan (Portmarnock GC), Damien Scott (Farnham Estate GC), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC), Paul O’Neill (Shannon GC)
83 Jack Howard (Fota Island GC)
84 Paul O’Connor (Island GC), Gerard Hall (Edenderry Golf Academy), Roy O’Neill (Galway GC), Brian O’Reilly (Glenlo Abbey GC)
85 Tara Delaney (Carlow GC), Brian McCormack Jnr (Royal Dublin GC)
86 Eoin Arthurs (Kinsealy Grange Golf Academy), Dan Hinds (City of Derry GC)
87 Colin O’Gorman (Cahir Park GC)
86 Andrew Gorman (Killeen Castle GC)
90 Matthew Cochrane (Edenmore Golf & Country Club), Daniel O’Connor (Athlone GC)
91 Nathan Kernaghan (Massereene GC), Callum Slater (Headfort GC), David Thompson (Killymoon GC)
92 Conor Keown (Old Conna GC)
94 Matthew Looby (Greystones GC), John McQuaid (Rossmore GC)
WD Brian Sweeney Naas GC), John Casey (Tralee GC), Colm Dunne (Castlewarden Golf & CC), Iarlaith Keane (Kinsealy Grange Golf Academy), Alec Myles (Bray GC), Steven Quinlan (Halpenny Golf)
RTD Sergio Coyle (Spain), Jamie Dreelan (Rosslare GC).
