John Kelly was the Number 1 ranked player on the PGA Irish Region in 2008 and finished in third place last season behind David Higgins and Damian Mooney – both of whom are also in the chase for the top spot in 2010 - which will be settled in the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING and Failte Ireland in Kilkenny in Saturday.
This year John has won four tournaments in the Irish PGA Region starting out with the first Sprint event at Killeen Castle in June which then led into the 3 Irish Open in Killarney where Kelly - not unlike his fellow regional professionals – missed the cut. However the consistency of 2008, when John held off the challenge of Philip Walton and Robert Giles to win the Order of Merit, has held up for the most part this season with the only major disappointment perhaps failing to beat the elements at Dundonald Links at Stage 1 of European Tour Qualifying School in September
But a third place at the Irish PGA Championship a few weeks later will reassure Kelly that he may have timed his season perfectly going into Saturday.
Kelly has been a regular at Q School since 2004 and last December reached the Final Qualifying stage at the PGA Catalunya and like David Higgins, the current kleader of the Race to Mount Juliet, failed to make the final thirty places that guaranteed a Tour Card for this season.
Off the course John Kelly is the highest ranked Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) coach in Europe and has achieved the highest level in Golf Professional with level 2 in Golf Fitness, Golf Biomechanics and Junior Golf.
He is also studying Physical Fitness and Sports Conditioning at Setanta College under the guidance of Dr. Liam Hennessy fitness trainer to Padraig Harrington and Director of Fitness to the I.R.F.U.
Although 2008 was a strong season in which John captained Ireland to victory in the European team championship his most consistent year was probably 2006 when he qualified for the Open Championship in Hoylake and also played an extensive season on the Challenge Tour.
John is a fully qualified member of the PGA since 1995 coaching players from the European Tour to top amateurs and beginners.
Fact File
DOB: September 22nd 1971
Attachment St. Margarets G&CC
Turned Pro 1994 (scratch)
Qualifying School (1999), (00), (01), (02), (04), 05, (06), (07), (08), 09
Achievements
2008 Number 1 ranked player in the PGA Irish Region
2008 Number 1 ranked player in Ireland
2008 Captain of victorious Ireland in European Team Championship
2008 Irish Club Professional Champion
2008 Southern Professional Champion
Highest ranked Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) coach in Europe
Testimonial
"One of the finest teaching pros I have met on the local scene in Ireland, it did not surprise me when he captured the 2008 Irish Order of Merit title because of his attention to detail and dedication to the game of golf. I would strongly recommend him as a first class teacher to anyone who possesses these same qualities. If you are prepared to work hard he will not fail you."
Padraig Harrington, 3 Time Major Winner and Ryder Cup Champion
