Damien McGrane made light of blustery conditions at Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club yesterday, storming home in 29 shots to grab control of the 109th Irish PGA Championship.

After reaching the turn in a pedestrian one over par 38, the Carlow Golf Club professional suddenly flipped the switch and picked up six birdies on the back nine, including five in a row from the 14th.

“I played lovely yesterday (Monday) and my putting was weak. I played lovely again today, the back nine came good for me and I had a really strong finish in tough conditions,” said Damien who opened his campaign with a two-under-par round of 70.

Heading into Thursday's final round, the 2016 Irish PGA champion has a valuable four-shot cushion over the 2017 Irish PGA champion Tim Rice from Limerick Golf Club.

Damien added; “My whole career I watched the legends of Irish golf play and compete. As a younger man, my ambition was to one day win the Irish Championship which I did at Moyvalley two years ago which was fantastic.

“I'm playing good golf. I like the course here at Bunclody, it's in great condition, so I'm looking forward to whatever tomorrow brings.”

Overnight leader, Steven Quinlan (SQ Golf) posted a two-over-par round of 74 to drop into a share of third alongside Kilkenny Golf Club’s Jimmy Bolger and Douglas’ David Barry on two under par.

“I thought the course set-up was definitely a bit tougher. The wind, combined with some of the pin positions made it more difficult,” said Quinlan.

Barry's second round 68 was one of only three rounds in the 60's yesterday and came after he made a putter switch overnight. Michael McGeady, who was very disappointed with his opening round 77 (+5) responded with a three-under-par 69 that moved him up to a tie for 13th.

The cut fell at +12 with 52 players making it through to the final round today. The first group will tee off at 8am with McGrane, Rice and Jimmy Bolger getting started at 11.10am.

109th Irish PGA Championship, Bunclody Golf & Fishing Resort (Par 72), August 20-22, Sponsored by TLC Nursing Homes (€24,000)

Detailed scores

Final round tee times

After 36 holes

137 D McGrane (Carlow) 70 67;

141 T Rice (Limerick) 69 72;

142 J Bolger (Kilkenny) 69 73, D Barry (Douglas) 74 68, S Quinlan (SQ Golf) 68 74;

143 B McElhinney (Evolve Golf Coaching) 70 73, S Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) 71 72, N Grant (Knock) 71 72;

144 D Higgins (Waterville) 73 71, C Moriarty (Glasson Hotel & GC) 70 74;

145 R Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 72 73, G Madden (Glenlo Abbey) 73 72;

146 M O'Mahony (Titleist National Fitting Centre) 76 70, D Mooney (Damian Mooney Golf) 76 70, B Doheny (Callan) 74 72, M McGeady (Evolve Golf Coaching) 77 69, T Delaney (Carlow) 75 71;

147 J Dillon (Headfort) 74 73, C Power (McGuirks Golf) 71 76;

148 C McNamara (Monkstown) 75 73;

149 R Bridges (Castle) 77 72, S Jenkinson (St Margaret's Golf & CC) 76 73, G Burke (Royal Curragh) 76 73, A Dunmore (Bundoran) 75 74, E Brady (Clontarf) 73 76, E Arthurs (Kinsealy Grange) 77 72, S Franklin (Cregmore Park) 77 72;

150 R O'Neill (Galway) 78 72, M O'Sullivan (Piltown Driving Range) 78 72, P Dooley (Drive Golf Performance) 74 76;

151 E O'Connor (Kilkenny) 74 77, J Scullion (J Scullion Golf) 76 75, R O'Donovan (Dun Laoghaire) 78 73, B McCormack Jnr (Royal Dublin) 71 80, B Kerley (Ardee) 72 79, S O'Donoghue (Kilkenny) 77 74;

152 R Giles (Greenore) 77 75, E Tracey (Ballina) 77 75, M Whelan (Castlewarden) 72 80, D Gleeson (Old Conna) 78 74, P Masterson (Macreddin) 74 78;

153 T Higgins (www.tedhiggins.com) 76 77, J Howard (Fota Island) 75 78;

155 J Dignam (Slade Valley) 78 77, S Barry (Royal Tara) 73 82, M Murphy (Mount Wolseley) 77 78, P O'Hagan (Luttrellstown Castle Golf) 75 80;

156 C Watt (Royal Dublin) 76 80, L Walker (Dundalk) 81 75, G McGrane (St Anne's) 82 74, G McLean (Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club) 80 76, E Byrne (Rathfarnham) 77 79.

Missed cut

157 D Kiely (Faithlegg) 76 81, S Cannon (Athenry) 79 78, A Gorman (Killeen Castle) 82 75, K McDermott (Hermitage) 80 77, C Hegarty (Millicent) 74 83;

158 J Walsh (Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort) 79 79, G Byrne (Palmerstown House Estate) 81 77, M Beckett (Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort) 78 80, A Mulhall (Ardglass) 80 78;

159 P Devine (Sutton) 75 84, D Walsh (Wexford) 80 79, E Doyle (The Eddie Doyle Golf Academy) 77 82, K Goodwin (Beaverstown) 80 79, H Coyne (Carton House) 81 78;

160 B Cohen (Wexford) 83 77, C Stewart (Craig Stewart Golf) 80 80;

161 R Ryan (Thurles) 83 78, P Jones (Coollattin) 77 84, L Whelan (Craddockstown) 80 81, A Hanlon (Stackstown) 78 83;

162 R Leech (Dunloe) 80 82, B Sweeney (Naas) 76 86;

163 M Dunmore (Bundoran) 82 81, G Young (Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort) 79 84;

164 M Burke (Concra Wood) 79 85;

165 D Murphy (Grange Castle) 80 85;

166 J Casey (Tralee) 83 83;

170 D Hayes (Dungarvan) 86 84, P McLaughlin (Unatt.) 88 82;

172 R Higgins (Balbriggan) 91 81;

173 M Collins (Charleville) 87 86, M Looby (Greystones) 85 88;

RTD J Dreelan (Rosslare), L Campbell (Co Armagh), C Doherty (Unatt). S McCabe (Killeen);

NR M O'Boyle (Heath), J Quinlivan (Mullingar), G Sweeney (Elmgreen Golf Centre).