Kilpatrick secures PGA Challenge crown at Tulfarris
Richard Kilpatrick receives his €1,500 cheque at Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort
Richard Kilpatrick hung on to win the PGA Challenge at Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort on Tuesday.
Joint overnight leader alongside Limerick's Tim Rice, the Banbridge Golf Club professional, carded a second round one over par 73 to win the Johnston, Mooney and O'Brien sponsored event by three shots.
“The pins were tucked away today and it was a wee bit windier so it was difficult to be overly aggressive,” said Richard who played in the final three-ball alongside Rice and Cahir Park's David Ryan.
“As a group, I think we only had two birdies between us. We all played reasonably well on the front nine but didn't manage to hole anything and then on the back nine, things got a bit edgy.
“There's no scoreboards around so you can't see what anyone else is doing. It was nice to see that a one under was the next best score when I came in.”
Richard opened his bid for the title with a five-under-par 67 on Tuesday helped by a strong driving performance that set up two eagle chances which he gratefully accepted.
“I probably hit is just as well today but it was more a case of hitting it to 30 or 40 feet and two-putting rather than firing at flags,” he added.
David Higgins (Waterville Links) grabbed second with Mark Staunton (Delgany), Adam Dunmore (Bundoran) and Simon Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) finishing in joint third on level par.
Rice struggled on day two signing for a six over par 78 that saw him slip down the leaderboard and into a tie for sixth.
PGA Challenge sponsored by Johnston, Mooney and O'Brien, Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort (Par 72)
1 R Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC) 67 73 140 (-4)
2 D Higgins (Waterville Golf Links) 72 71 143
T3 M Staunton (Delgany GC) 74 70 144
T3 A Dunmore (Bundoran GC) 73 71 144
T3 S Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) 73 71 144
T6 C Moriarty (Glasson Hotel & GC) 72 73 145
T6 T Rice (Limerick GC) 67 78 145
T8 J Dillon (Headfort GC) 77 69 146
T8 D Ryan (Cahir Park GC) 70 76 146
