Richard O’Donovan claimed the opening PGA in Ireland event of the season as he edged to a two-shot victory at the Roganstown Pro-Am.
O’Donovan shot a two-under 69 to hold off Simon Thornton on Friday afternoon.
O’Donovan had started well with an eagle on the fifth hole but an errant tee shot on the par-3 6th found the water and cost him a double. He bounced back with a brace of birdies on the back nine to finish the day as the only man in the red and a fitting winner.
The Dubliner earned his Sunshine Tour card last month but has been at home in Ireland looking for sponsors for the coming year thus missing out on the opening event of the season in South Africa.
“It was good to get out on the first event of the season. Unfortunately, it was an Irish PGA event, I got my Sunshine Tour card a few weeks ago and the second round of the first event was on today so I should really be out in South Africa playing my golf but I’m at home trying to pick up a few sponsors before heading out to the Sunshine Tour when I can.”
O’Donovan is confident with the state of his game and was pleased with how he fared from tee to green feeling he could have won by more had his putter behaved a little better.
“Played pretty well today, golf course was playing super long and it was very soft. I hit a lot of fairways, drove the ball very well, gave myself a lot of chances from very good iron play I didn’t really execute my chances to be fair.
“The game is in good shape and it’s nice to get a win on the first outing of the region. The weather was nice and warm with a club and a half of breeze but two-under was the worst score I could have shot today.”
Thornton was representing Spa Golf Club for the first time and he chipped in with a level-par 71 while Liam Grehan warmed up for the Clutch Pro Tour with a one-over 72 as he shared third place with Damian Mooney of Lough Erne, Limerick’s Tim Rice and Ardee’s Brian Kerley.
Order of Merit champion Richard Kilpatrick shared seventh on two-over.
Scoring HERE
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