Sugrue and McGeady share top spot at Mac Group Pro-Am

It’s a been a long time coming but Dooks GC professional Daniel Sugrue finally returned to the winners’ enclosure at Monday’s Mac Group PGA Pro-Am.

Sugrue and Michael McGeady (Evolve Golf Coaching) topped the leaderboard at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links with a pair of 67s (-4). They finished a shot clear of Steven Quinlan (SQ Golf) and Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC) with Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny GC) in fifth on two under.

Sugrue has played sparingly on the PGA in Ireland circuit in recent years. His last victory came in 2015 at the Etihad Airways Cork Pro-Am alongside Neil O’Briain (Old Conna GC) and Brendan McGovern (Headfort GC).

He wasn’t to be denied at Portmarnock, with 14 pars and four birdies good enough for first place and the €1500 bonus cheque courtesy of a card play-off which went to the last three holes of the front nine.

“I played well and didn’t really make any major mistakes,” said the 41-year-old. “It is the kind of course that you really have to drive it well on.”

Starting on the 11th, Daniel collected his birdies at the 12th, the driveable par-four 14th where he missed a good chance for eagle after finding the green from the tee, the seventh and the ninth. Two good pars saves at the first and the third were also significant in maintaining his momentum.

McGeady’s round followed a similar pattern with four birdies and 14 pars.

“I have been threatening to play well this last few weeks,” said Michael. “I keep getting myself into position and then dropping a few shots.”

He began his round at the second and picked up birdies at the fifth, eighth, 11th and 14th.
He added; “I kept the bogeys off the scorecard and had chances to get to five under but I just couldn’t get that extra putt to fall.”

The team prize went to Michael McDermott (Grange) along with amateur partners Paul McCormack, Eamon Gibson and Pat Dowling with 90 points.