Waterville’s David Higgins birdied the last to edge out overnight leader, Mark Staunton and win a second Irish PGA Championship title at Carne Golf Links.

In very wet and windy conditions, the 2012 winner capitalised on an 18th hole double-bogey from Staunton to seal victory.

“I knew I was a couple behind so I had to commit to the tee shot, try to take it on, and make eagle,” said David. “I hit my best drive of the week and then hit a seven iron into 15 feet (he missed the eagle but tapped in for an easy par.

“I guess it put some pressure on. Look, Mark was unlucky, but you have to hang in, especially in conditions like today.

“You never know what is going to happen. All you can do it work on your own ball and I did that and won the tournament. I am proud of myself for that.”

Higgins began the day five shots behind Staunton but by the 12th he had cut that lead to three shots. With the other contenders struggling – winds were gusting at 35mph – the closing holes turned into something of a match-play encounter.

Playing the 18th, Higgins found the green in two but Staunton’s approach missed the green and disappeared into the thick rough never to be found. 

His provisional had also missed the green but he managed to find it and pitched onto the putting surface however, his putt to force a play-off stayed out.

“It’s been a tough time for everyone with Covid. I haven’t played golf for the last eight and half months,” added Higgins. “I didn’t know if I was coming or going to be honest but this shows I am on the right track.

“I am at it long enough now to know that anything can happen when the weather is like that you have to keep trying and dig deep. Keep going to the very end, that’s what happened and I am after winning a huge tournament.”

Defending champion, Simon Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) and Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC) finished joint third on even par.

1111th Irish Professional Championship, Carne Golf Links, Wild Atlantic Way Course (Par 72), August 5-7

Sponsored by Columbia Sportswear and Vermilion Energy

Detailed scores

Final

213 David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links) 71 69 73 

214 Mark Staunton (Mark Staunton Golf) 68 67 79

216 Simon Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) 69 73 74, Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC) 66 71 79; 

221 Sean O'Donoghue (Mount Wolseley Golf & CC) 70 77 74, Jack Ryan (Castletroy GC) 71 73 77, Colm Moriarty (Glasson Lakehouse) 72 70 79 ; 

223 Tim Rice (Limerick GC) 77 73 73, Neil O'Briain (Old Conna GC) 75 71 77, Leslie Walker (Dundalk GC) 72 72 79; 

224 Liam Power (Galway GC) 74 75 75, Steven Quinlan (SQ Golf) 73 75 76; , Michael McGeady (Evolve Golf Coaching) 73 72 79, Lee Campbell (County Armagh GC) 71 71 82;

225 James Quinlivan (Mullingar GC) 76 73 76, Raymond Ryan (Thurles GC) 73 76 76, Liam Grehan (The K Club) 71 77 77;

226 Richard Weldon (Black Bush GC) 74 76 76, Brian Jnr McCormack (McCormack Golf Ltd) 74 75 77, Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny GC)  73 75 78

227 Eoin O'Brien (Clontarf GC) 77 76 74

228 Seamus Clinton (Redcastle Hotel & GC) 72 76 80, Damian Mooney (Damian Mooney Golf) 71 75 82

229 Jack Howard (Fota Island GC) 72 78 79, Michael Alexander (Blackwood Golf Centre) 74 80

230 Joe Dillon (Headfort GC) 72 79 79

231 Gary Madden (Glenlo Abbey GC) 80 75 76, Shane Jenkinson (St Margaret's Golf & CC) 81 74 76, Ciaran Lavery (Concra Wood GC) 75 74 82; 

232 Brian O'Reilly (Glenlo Abbey GC) 76 72 84

233 Adam Mulhall (Ardglass GC) 73 78 82, David Hughes (Massereene GC) 76 75 82, David Mortimer (Galway GC) 73 76 84;

234 Shane Franklin (Cregmore Park GC) 77 80 77;

235 Brendan Walton (Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Link)  77 79 79, Dylan Burke (Millicent GC) 76 79 80, Patrick Geraghty (Druids Glen GC) 75 75 85, Ciaran Molloy (Golf4Kids) 74 72 89;

236 Cathal Simpson (Green Life Golf Centre) 77 78 81; 

237 Nicholas Grant (Knock GC) 77 79 81;

238 Brian Kerley (Ardee GC) 78 81 79

240 Owen O’Loughlin (Millicent GC) 76 82 82, Enda Maguire (Co. Louth Golf) 81 75 84, Brian Cosgrove (Newlands GC) 76 80 84, Shane Irwin (Monkstown GC) 74 81 85;

241 Gavin Young (Ballyneety GC) 74 78 89;

244 Damien Scott (Farnham Estate GC) 77 79 88, Philip Duff (Laytown & Bettystown GC) 78 78 88.

Missed cut

160 Paul Eivers (Cahir Park) 82 78, Craig Stewart (Craig Stewart Golf Ltd) 81 79, Eric Byrne (Rathfarnham) 75 85

161 Ciaran Hegarty (Millicent) 82 79, Niall McGlynn (Golf Ireland Academy) 80 81, Jerry Scullion (J Scullion Golf) 75 86, Karl Goodwin (Rathfarnham) 76 85

162 Matthew McCarthy (Ballybunion) 75 87, Paul O'Neill (Shannon) 76 86163 Peter O'Hagan (Luttrellstown Castle) 76 87, Michael O'Shea (Palmerstown House Estate) 79 84164 Peter Morgan (Elm Park) 83 81, James McVicker (Unatt) 77 87165 Keith McDermott (Hermitage) 85 80166 John McQuaid (Rossmore) 75 91167 Darren McHale (The K Club) 84 83169 Ronan Higgins (Balbriggan) 88 81DQ Mark Sutton (The Ward Golf Centre)

DQ Glen Robinson (Craddockstown)

RTD Kevin McMillan (P & M Golf Superstore Ltd)

RTD Donal Gleeson (Old Conna)

NR David Barry (Clonmel)

NR Nathan Kernaghan (Massereene)