Niall Kearney finished as best of the Irish at the PGA Playoffs in Cyprus but it wasn’t enough to secure starts on the DP World Tour or HotelPlanner Tour.
Kearney carded a level-par 72 to finish in solo sixth place on one-over, five shots behind Paul O’Hara who blitzed the field to rise through the leaderboard and win by two shots.
Tim Rice finished well with a final round of 70 to take tenth place, with Michael McGeady in 16th.
Scottish golfer O’Hara has earned starts on the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour for the 2025 season after a dominant third-round performance secured victory.
Following two steady opening rounds at Aphrodite Hills Golf Club, PGA National Cyprus, O’Hara surged ahead of a leading Graeme Robertson with a five-under 66.
O’Hara, the 2024 Arnold Clark Tartan Tour Champion, came out strong, with four birdies in his opening seven holes. Despite a slight hitch just before the turn, he quickly regained his momentum, adding three more birdies in the next seven holes to secure the victory.
“It’s tremendous,” O’Hara said of his win. “I remember seeing the leaderboard when I was at five-under and I knew as long as I don’t do anything silly, I could secure the win. But one bad shot could easily lead to a double or triple-bogey. It’s such a tough course to play.
“I played some pin-point golf shots today and had great control of my irons. I even think I could’ve gone three or four better, but to shoot five-under was great. To come out on top against the 24 best guys last year is great for my confidence.”
The win grants O’Hara exemptions for the Betfred British Masters, Amgen Irish Open, and BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour, as well as the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge and Irish Challenge on the HotelPlanner Tour later this year.
“To get the tour starts is amazing,” he said. “I think this was my tenth year in a row playing in this tournament. To get to play the likes of the Irish Open and British Masters is fantastic. I’m really looking forward to that this year.”
Reflecting on PGA National Cyprus, he added, “The resort is fantastic. The course, facilities, chipping greens, practice greens—it’s a place you’d like to come on a coaching trip. I’d love to come back here again.”
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