Mortimer Wins Second Irish PGA

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. 

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

David Mortimer

Results Irish PGA
Final Leaderboard 100th Irish PGA

Mortimer Leads In Seapoint

David Mortimer of FORE Ireland carded a round of 69 at the Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA Championship on Saturday to hold a one shot lead at Seapoint Golf Club on 7 under par - from Damien McGrane and Damian Mooney both on 6 under.

Mortimer had a bogey free round on day three with his first birdie on the eighth hole - which he then followed with two more on the 16th and 18th to move into the outright lead ahead of Sunday's final round. 

Damien McGrane signed for a 69 with a bogey on the 14th leaving one shot adrift of a share of the overnight lead. 

amian Mooney dropped two shots on the back stretch to finish with a 71 for a 6 under total – relinquishing the lead he has held since Thursday evening. 

Neil Manchip ended the day with a 73 to fall back to four under par. 

Barrie Trainor of Team Ireland completed a level par round to remain on 3 under and a share of fifth place along with Eamonn Brady, Seamus Clinton and John Kelly 

Des Smyth is one under par after a round of 71. 

Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland finished level for the tournament after a round of 71 and joins Shane Lowy who signed for a 74. 

David Higgins signed for a round of 76 after racking up seven bogeys and only three birdies - on holes 6, 10 and 13 – and a 2 over par total. 

Michael Collins of FORE Ireland carded a 68 - one of the lowest rounds of the day - along with Seamus Clinton and Darren McWilliams to move up to 3 over par and a share of 23rd place. 

Philip Walton ended with a 74 having caught the fairway bunkers on the first and tenth holes on Saturday to remain on 8 over. 

Ted Higgins and Kevin Dorrian signed for rounds of 76 and are eleven over par for the tournament. 

Mooney and Manchip Tied at PGA

Neil Manchip and Damian Mooney will be the final paring in round three of the Ladbrokes.com PGA Championship on Saturday having both finished on 5 under at the halfway stage at Seapoint Golf Club in County Louth.

The second last pairing sees 2010 Glenmuir PGA Championship winner, David Mortimer of FORE Ireland, play Ulster PGA Championship winner, Barrie Trainor of Team Ireland.

The pre-tournament favourite, Damien McGrane, plays with David Higgins, the leader of the 2010 Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING, and a 12/1 shot for the title. 

The 3 Irish Open winner from last year - on the neighbouring County Louth course - Shane Lowry, is paired with Jimmy Bolger. 

Des Smyth and Glen Robinson are together and set out in the 22nd pairing of a total of twenty six. 

On Friday Damien Mooney posted a one-over-par 73 - after his opening round of 67 - and made the turn in two under par only to bogey 15, 17 and 18, for an inward run of 39. 

"It is very tough out there and the finishing holes are right into the strong wind. Still, I'm very pleased with the way that I am playing and we will see what happens over the weekend," he said. 

Neil Manchip, who won the title in 1999, and has been unable to combine his teaching duties with the GUI national teams over the past four years, added a level-par-72 to his opening 67 to stay very much in contention. 

David Mortimer moved up the leader board with a second round of 70 that included three birdies and will keen to reclaim the title he won in 2006. 

Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland carded a 73 to finish one over par in a share of 11th place going into the weekend.

Four time winner,Philip Walton made the homeward journey from the eleventh in level par having triple bogeyed the par five 10th hole to finish with a 77 for a 6 over par total. 

Kevin Dorrian of Scrabo was one shot further back on 7 over after a first round of 76. 

Michael Collins made a strong recovery from his first round 78 to finish with a 73 - that included an eagle on the par five 10th - to finish inside the cut on +7.

Another Good Day for Mooney

Damien Mooney set the pace at 6 under at the end of the day one at the Ladbrokes.com 100th Irish PGA Championship after signing for a 66 - dropping only one shot all day at Seapoint Golf Club. 

Neil Manchip of the GUI Golf Academy is one shot behind after carding a round of 67. 

Course designer, Des Smyth, and Brian McElhinney of Team Ireland share third place on 3 under par. 

Shane Lowry is in a group in fifth place along with Barrie Trainor of Team Ireland and David Mortimer of FORE Ireland. 

Pre tournament favourite, Damien McGrane, is one under par in a group of eleven players that features Darren McWilliams and Eamonn Brady of Clontarf Golf Club. 

Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland is level par after Thursday’s first round. 

Philip Walton signed for a 73 to remain one over par in another group of eleven that includes John Kelly of St Margaret’s Golf and Country Club – who dropped shots late in the day - having held second place for the early part of the day. 

Kevin Dorrian of Scrabo Golf Club signed for a 76 to finish 3 over par. 

Michael Collins of FORE Ireland dropped back to 6 over par after a double bogey on his tenth hole - and then a triple bogey five holes later – the major setbacks. He is joined by Ted Higgins who made the turn in 40 after bogeys on the first four holes signing for a 78. 


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Early Movers - Irish PGA Championship

Neil Manchip of the GUI Golf Academy is the breakaway leader of the Ladbrokes.com 100th Irish PGA Championship at Seapoint Golf Club in County Louth - on four under par midway through round one – holding a two shot lead from John Kelly of St Margaret’s Golf and Country Club. 

Shane Lowry shares third place with a group of ten other players on one under par that includes Mark Staunton of FORE Ireland. 

Tournament favourite, Damien McGrane, is currently level par in a group of twelve players at the half way stage that features Darren McWilliams, Barrie Trainor of Team Ireland Golf along with Michael Collins of FORE Ireland. 

Philip Walton is one over par after nine holes in a group of nine that also includes FORE Ireland team mate, David Mortimer.

Seapoint Hosts Centenary PGA

The Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA Championship marks a special anniversary this week with the staging of the event for the 100th time at Seapoint Golf Club in County Louth.

With a strong field the 72-hole tournament the 2010 Irish PGA Championship will be played from September 23rd -26th and sees Shane Lowry and Damien McGrane from the European Tour join the field, as well as Des Smyth – the course designer. 

Damien McGrane hopes to continue the form shown at the Austrian OpenGolf last week and is currently the favourite to win the tournament with Ladbrokes.com currently posting odds at 4/1. 

The winner of the event for the last three years, Padraig Harrington, is unable to defend his title this year given the schedule clash with the Vivendi Cup in Paris - which is part of the Dubliner’s the build up to the 38th Ryder Cup matches next week at The Celtic Manor. 

Also included in the field is leader of the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association wit PING Order of Merit, David Higgins, he is joined by 2010 Glenmuir PGA Championship winner, David Mortimer and four time PGA Championship winner, Philip Walton. 

European Tour School Stage 2 qualifiers Damien Mooney, Michael Collins and Barrie Trainor of Team Ireland golf are also down to play. 

The venue this week, Seapoint, was opened in 1993 and designed by Des Smyth, the oldest winner of a European Tour event at 48 years of age in 2001, and one of Ireland's best amateur players, Declan Brannigan. 

The venue has hosted distinctive Amateur events over the years and played host to The Glen Dimplex International Tournament in 1995 and was voted number 27 in Golf Digest Ireland's Top 100 courses in 2009. 

It will be 100th time the championship has been contested since its inception in 1907 - there were no Championships played from 1915-18. James Edsmundson won the first two titles in match play, followed by the legendary Michael "Dyke" Moran who also triumphed in 1909 in the match play format that year before reeling off four more titles 1910-13 when the event changed to stroke-play. 

Sadly Moran was later killed in the last few weeks of The Great War. 

The former champions of this historic event are also “a who is who” of Irish golf including the likes of Fred Daly; joint record winners Christy O' Connor Snr and Harry Bradshaw who lifted the title 10 times apiece, and 2010 Ryder Cup Vice Captains, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley.