 |
| Mick Collins with caddy at 3 Irish Open |
Michael Collins of FORE Ireland finished the opening day at the 12th PGA Greenore Challenge on two under and started the final round in the second last group, between Ted Higgins of FORE Ireland in the last group – along side cousin David Higgins - and another FORE Ireland player, Mark Staunton, playing in the third last group.
Ted Higgins was overnight joint leader with Michael Mulryan, after both signed for rounds of 5 under par on a first day that offered very mixed weather conditions – gusty winds and some heavy rain for the later groups.
In his first round Collins had been paired with Ted Higgins and said afterwards that his two under par finish did not accurately reflect some of the golf played with a few birdie chances just lipping out. So in tougher conditions on the second day prudence was order of the day for Collins signing for a second 69 for a four under par aggregate of 138.
Collins bogeyed the par four third hole but regain the dropped shot when he made a birdie three at the seventh and making the turn in a one under par 34 - after a birdie three at the eighth.
At the long 11th, the Mallow man carded another birdie but then bogeyed the par four 15th followed with another birdie at the 17th to finish the back nine in 35 shots.
In second place two shots behind was Damian Mooney with an aggregate of 140 - on 2 under par.
Ted Higgins the joint overnight leader was third on 141 after a round of 75 after opening with a double bogey then making the turn in 6 over par. But a two under par back nine was rewarded with outright third place.
Brendan McDermott and Donal Gleeson shared fourth place but Michael Mulryan dropped back after a 79 to finish joint seventh.
Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland finished with a 77 for an aggregate of 145 on 3 over and was joined by David Higgins of Waterville.
Philip Walton of FORE Ireland signed for a 72 for an aggregate score of 146 and 13th place.
David Mortimer of FORE Ireland ended with a total of 149 after a 74 to end the two days on 7 over par.
Kevin Dorrian was two shots further down the field on 9 over following a 71 to finish in a share of 38th place.
Michael Collins said afterwards:
“A big goal finally achieved at Greenore this week! At last I have finally achieved a long time goal of mine which was to capture one of the main events in the regional schedule with this weeks win in the 2 day Pro Only Greenore Challenge,”
“This is something that has been frustrating me for a while as I have come close a few times without winning. Simon Thornton beat me in a play off for the Club Professionals Championship 5 years ago and though I had got into position after round one since, I hadn’t been able to go one better.”
“So why this week?
“There are a few reasons that helped me this week. Firstly, I got a new driver and 3 wood made for me at the Irish Open from the TaylorMade lads and they are making a big difference to my game. I am getting a much stronger flight which made a big difference in the very windy conditions in the final round.”
“Secondly, my chipping and pitching hasn’t been great over the past 3 weeks or so and was annoying me as I was dropping soft shots around the greens. However, after round 1, David Ryan who is a legend around the greens, gave me a 2 hour chipping lesson which made a massive difference.”
“I am a player who likes to have a swing thought all the time from driving through to chipping and Dave gave me something to work on. In fact it worked so well I beat him in a chipping competition after the lesson for the first time ever! Golf is a crazy game and its little things such as those above that can give that little boost to the confidence which allows you to perform to your ability.”
“This result means I should jump from 24th into the top 10 on the Order of Merit and a lot closer to those Irish Open spots.”
“It was a good week for Ted Higgins also who finished 3rd and Stan (Mark Staunton) who finished 7th. By my calculations, that means that there are now 5 FORE Ireland players in the top 20 in the rankings….. A good week all round!”
PGA News: Ted Higgins Leads Round 1
PGA News: Collins Mines out Win
At the long 11th, the Mallow man carded another birdie but then bogeyed the par four 15th followed with another birdie at the 17th to finish the back nine in 35 shots.
In second place two shots behind was Damian Mooney with an aggregate of 140 - on 2 under par.
Ted Higgins the joint overnight leader was third on 141 after a round of 75 after opening with a double bogey then making the turn in 6 over par. But a two under par back nine was rewarded with outright third place.
Brendan McDermott and Donal Gleeson shared fourth place but Michael Mulryan dropped back after a 79 to finish joint seventh.
Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland finished with a 77 for an aggregate of 145 on 3 over and was joined by David Higgins of Waterville.
Philip Walton of FORE Ireland signed for a 72 for an aggregate score of 146 and 13th place.
David Mortimer of FORE Ireland ended with a total of 149 after a 74 to end the two days on 7 over par.
Kevin Dorrian was two shots further down the field on 9 over following a 71 to finish in a share of 38th place.
Michael Collins said afterwards:
“A big goal finally achieved at Greenore this week! At last I have finally achieved a long time goal of mine which was to capture one of the main events in the regional schedule with this weeks win in the 2 day Pro Only Greenore Challenge,”
“This is something that has been frustrating me for a while as I have come close a few times without winning. Simon Thornton beat me in a play off for the Club Professionals Championship 5 years ago and though I had got into position after round one since, I hadn’t been able to go one better.”
“So why this week?
“There are a few reasons that helped me this week. Firstly, I got a new driver and 3 wood made for me at the Irish Open from the TaylorMade lads and they are making a big difference to my game. I am getting a much stronger flight which made a big difference in the very windy conditions in the final round.”
“Secondly, my chipping and pitching hasn’t been great over the past 3 weeks or so and was annoying me as I was dropping soft shots around the greens. However, after round 1, David Ryan who is a legend around the greens, gave me a 2 hour chipping lesson which made a massive difference.”
“I am a player who likes to have a swing thought all the time from driving through to chipping and Dave gave me something to work on. In fact it worked so well I beat him in a chipping competition after the lesson for the first time ever! Golf is a crazy game and its little things such as those above that can give that little boost to the confidence which allows you to perform to your ability.”
“This result means I should jump from 24th into the top 10 on the Order of Merit and a lot closer to those Irish Open spots.”
“It was a good week for Ted Higgins also who finished 3rd and Stan (Mark Staunton) who finished 7th. By my calculations, that means that there are now 5 FORE Ireland players in the top 20 in the rankings….. A good week all round!”
PGA News: Ted Higgins Leads Round 1
PGA News: Collins Mines out Win
