David Mortimer of FORE Ireland eagled the 18th hole at Seapoint Golf Club to win the Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA Championship on Sunday holding off the ever present challenge of Damien McGrane.
John Kelly of St. Margaret's Golf and Country Club finished in third place on 7 under after a final day 68.
In a close Mortimer and McGrane were well matched for the early holes up until the ninth - where the Galway man could only salvage a bogey on the par 3 after his tee shot took a bad bouncing in the right hand rough – to give McGrane a one shot lead on 9 under.
Having taken the lead McGrane then drove his tee shot right of the fairway into the rough and with the ball plugged the Kells man got a free drop drilling the ball through the rough to the front of the green. With a good chip to within a few feet he just failed to make birdie and settled for par.
Mortimer was left with a lengthy uphill putt - which dropped into the hole on the last roll for a birdie - to level the match again on 9 under.
On the eleventh Mortimer ran a chip deftly from the right hand fringe across a ridge in the middle of the green to rest the ball within a few feet of the hole - from where he putted for another birdie to go 10 under and regain the lead. McGrane, who had knocked his ball within about 6 feet, could only par the hole.
And so it stayed until the 17th where Mortimer dropped a shot on the par 3 after an edgy putt slipped past the hole bringing the match back to level.
Level pegging at the eighteenth both players drove within a few feet of each other - with McGrane perhaps shorter on purpose so he could hit first and add some pressure following Mortimer's error on 17.
McGrane hit a superb second to with 20 feet of the front edge of the green - in line with the flag.
If Mortimer had been unsettled by his error it didn't show as he replied with a five wood that landed to the left fringe on the raised green - a few feet ahead of McGrane.
McGrane then played a chip and run straight at the flag only to see the ball lipping out left of the hole to stop about 2 feet away form the pin – and a certain birdie.
As a play-off loomed Mortimer then putted the ball through the fringe - down-hill – on the green right at the flag. The ball didn’t stop rolling until it fell into the hole for an eagle 3 - and the 2010 Irish PGA Championship.
At which Mortimer leapt skywards in celebration in a jump that would have made the former NBA basketball player “Micheal Jordan" proud - said Irish PGA Captain, Eamon Logue, at the prize giving moments later.
For Mortimer the win adds to what is already a strong season having won the Glenmuir PGA Championship at The Oxfordshire only six weeks ago. With this win he now takes the lead in the 2010 Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING - having been second for most of the season.
The last time he won the Irish PGA title it was at Druid's Heath in 2006 and there were no Tour players involved then – which this time he said made a difference:
“The fact that Shane and Damien were here has brought the crowds and it's great that they have played at the event this year.
“I used to think that The Oxfordshire was my favourite course after winning the Glenmuir trophy. But now it’s Seapoint."
“This means a lot to me – more than the last time. It is the one I wanted to win coming into the season and to have done it today is a fantastic feeling.”
“Whatever about wining once being a fluke – when you win it twice the same can’t be said – especially against Damian McGrane.”
Of the early leaders Damian Mooney, finished with a final round of 72 and Neil Manchip with 70, to both finish on 6 under with an aggregate of 282.
Barrie Trainor of Team Ireland completed the final day on two under par for a five under total on 283 shots.
Eamonn Brady finished on 5 under.
David Higgins was two under for the last round which could only secure level par and an aggregate 288.
David Higgins was two under for the last round which could only secure level par and an aggregate 288.
Des Smyth had a final found 75 to end with an aggregate of 290 and a 2 over par total..
Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland finished three over for the tournament after a round of 75 along with Shane Lowry.
Michael Collins of FORE Ireland carded a 78 to sign for 8 over par.
Philip Walton of FORE Ireland ended with a round of 80 for a +16 total.
Ted Higgins of FORE Ireland signed for a round of 74 and thirteen over par total for the tournament.
Kevin Dorrian of Scrabo finished on +17 following a final round 78.
David Mortimer - Career Summary
