Damien McGrane birdied three of his last five holes to join some legends of the Irish game as a three-time Irish Professional champion.

With his daughter Gemma on his bag, the Carlow Golf Club professional closed with a three-under 69 to win the 112th Irish PGA by two strokes from North West’s Brian McElhinney on eight-under 208 at Carne Golf Links’ Wild Atlantic Way course.

“It was a great week for me I came here expecting nothing and found form,” said 51-year-old Kells native McGrane, who joins Joe McCartney, Moses O’Neill, PJ Mahon, Fred Daly and Simon Thornton as a three-time Irish Professional champion in a week when his son Ethon made his debut in the championship.

“My daughter Gemma and Odhran were here with me today so to have them was the highlight for me. To have my daughter caddy for me is a lifelong memory made for both of us.” 

Tied for the overnight lead with McElhinney, two shots clear of 2013 champion Michael McGeady on five-under, McGrane turned in 36 to McElhinney’’s two-under 35 before drawing level with a birdie at the 12th.

He admitted a double bogey seven at the 13th was a body blow, but he lost just one shot there to McElhinney, who three-putted for bogey, and played his last five holes in three-under par to win for the third time since 2016.

After drawing level again with a birdie two at the 14th, he birdied the 17th and 18th to win by two strokes on eight-under from former Amateur champion McElhinney, who shot a one-under 71

“You still dig deep, rely on what you knew in the past,” McGrane said. “I think the realisation is that days like these are few and far between for me now at this stage of my career so to win is special. I might never get the opportunity again to hold the trophy so today I went out and won the trophy.  

“I’m very proud of myself and to have Gemma and Odhran here means the world to me.”

112th Irish Professional Championship, Carne Golf Links, Wild Atlantic Way Course (Par 72), August 18-20

Sponsored by Columbia Sportswear

Detailed scores

Final

208 Damien McGrane (Carlow) 70 69 69

210 Brian McElhinney (North West) 69 70 71

214 Simon Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) 71 74 69, Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 72 73 69

215 Michael McGeady (Michael McGeady Golf) 72 69 74

216 Neil O'Briain (McGuirks Golf Finglas) 69 74 73

217 Ciaran Lavery (Concra Wood) 73 73 71

218 David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links) 74 76 68

219 Tim Rice (Limerick) 73 75 71, Liam Grehan (The K Club) 73 74 72, Colm Moriarty (Glasson Lakehouse) 71 72 76;

220 Richard O'Donovan (72 80 68)

221 Eamonn Brady (Clontarf) 71 78 72, Damian Mooney (Lough Erne Resort) 70 78 73, Owen O’Loughlin (Millicent) 73 72 76;

222 James Quinlivan (Mullingar) 76 74 72;

223 Brian O'Reilly (Glenlo Abbey) 74 74 75;

224 Liam Power (Rathfarnham) 70 81 73;

225 Eoin O'Connor (Kilkenny) 74 78 73, Shane Franklin (Portumna) 76 75 74, Mark Staunton (Mark Staunton Golf) 75 75 75, Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 67 81 77

226 Paul Eivers (Cahir Park) 70 79 77

227 Brendan Walton (Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (75 74 78), Patrick Geraghty (Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort) 70 78 79, Adam Mulhall (Ardglass) 74 72 81;

228 John McClean (Blackwood Golf Centre) 78 77 73, David Mortimer (Galway) 77 76 75, David Hughes (Massereene) 77 75 76, Richard Bridges (Stackstown) 77 70 81, Richard Weldon (Black Bush) 69 76 83 ;

229 Seamus Clinton (Redcastle Hotel & Spa) 74 83 72, Ciaran Molloy (Golf4Kids) 76 78 75, Donal Gleeson (Old Conna) 79 75 75, Dylan Burke (Millicent) 76 76 77, Eoin O'Brien (Clontarf) 74 78 77 , Brian Cosgrove (Newlands) 77 74 78, David Barry (Douglas) 73 77 79;

230 Glen Robinson (Craddockstown) 79 77 74;

231 Shane Jenkinson (The Island) 75 79 77, Sean O'Donoghue (Mount Wolseley Golf & CC) 71 81 79

232 Lee Campbell (Royal County Down) 76 81 75, Gerry Burke (Royal Curragh) 78 79 75, Andrew Hogan (Edmondstown) 73 81 78, Eddie Tracey (Ballina) 75 76 81

233 Raymond Ryan (Thurles) 76 81 76, Brian McCormack Jnr (McCormack Golf Ltd) 76 80 77;

236 Paul O'Neill (Shannon) 78 76 82

237 Darren McHale (The K Club) 80 75 82;

238 Reece Black (Holywood) 72 82 84;

239 John McQuaid (Rossmore) 81 74 84.

Missed cut

159 Philip McLaughlin (Unatt) 78 81

160 Nicholas Grant (Clandeboye) Ronan Higgins (Golf Station) 77 83, Eric Byrne (Elm Park) 83 77, Graham Byrne (Palmerstown House Estate) 76 84;

161 Jack Ryan (Castletroy) 79 82, Shane Irwin (Monkstown) 81 80;

162 Gary McGrane (Clontarf) 78 84, William Noble (St. Anne's) 80 82;

163 James McVicker (Unatt.) 82 81, Darragh Lynch (Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort) 79 84;

164 Brian Sweeney (Beaverstown) 85 79, Callum Slater (Unatt) 77 87;

165 Craig Stewart (Craig Stewart Golf Limited) 86 79, Paul Behan (Black Bush) 86 79;

166 John Dignam (Spawell Golf Academy) 81 85;

167 Joe Dillon (Headfort) 84 83, Peter O'Hagan (Luttrellstown Castle) 79 88;   

168 Damien Scott (Farnham Estate) 80 88, David Ruddy (Ballykisteen Hotel & Golf Resort) 86 82;

170 Keith McDermott (Hermitage) 85 85, Mark Sutton (Corrstown) 85 85;

171 Stephen Rayfus (Knightsbrook Golf & CC) 81 90;   

175 Aodan Comerford (Balbriggan) 82 93, Michael Gielty (Grange) 89 86;

176 Aaron Crotty (Lisheen Springs) 73 103;   

179 Ethon McGrane (Carlow) 82 97;

184 Conor Muir (Bandon) 94 90

NR Conor Coyne Elm Park), Karl O'Donnell (Unatt), Cian Healy (Portmarnock), Gavin Young (Ballyneety), Ciaran Hegarty (Millicent), Ian Halpin (Nenagh), Jack Ahearne (Douglas)