Race to Mount Juliet - Final Standings

Lexus Race to Mount Juliet 2010 - Final Standings

A Tale of Two Higgins.....

At the eighth hole in Mount Juliet - in the final event of the Irish PGA season - and on his return to the venue where he worked some years previous Ted Higgins saw his putt on the eighth just slide the right of the hole to miss out going five under playing the ninth. On a glorious sunny and warm October day in a superb event sponsored by Lexus and supported by PING and Failte Ireland along with the venue Mount Juliet, Ted Higgins was really enjoying the day.

Five holes back his first cousin, David Higgins, leader of the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet was in the last group paired with two players who could clutch the title from him in the season finale event - perhaps less able to enjoy the day given so much was at stake for the Waterville man. Therefore it was with some relief that that an hour later David birdied the eighth to go one under walking to the ninth tee box and perhaps the turning point in what could at one point have been the battle of the Higgins’ cousins.

As is the way with the sport of golf the back nine told a different story. Perhaps reflecting as well the two sides of the sport and the consuming way of life it is for many of the Irish professionals - the touring player and the club professional.

It was summed up better later in the day when on the fourteenth Ted hit a tee shot slightly right landing on the flat of the green side bunker - with a tricky 25 foot pitch to the flag – with little room behind the pin should ball overrun – other than another deep bunker. Having successfully chipped out the ball came to rest more than 10 feet short of the hole as it failed to release coming off the sand - leaving the Omagh based professional with a tough putt to hold his par and a three under par score.

Showing tremendous composure Ted Higgins holed the putt and walked off the green content to be playing to his potential on one of those days that really mattered – and more particularly -on his old Mount Juliet stomping ground.

Six groups later the leading players arrived at the same hole with Mooney knocking his ball to the edge of the green less than six feet from the flag but just on the fringe. David Higgins landed his ball pin high but in the left green side bunker with not much room to stop the ball his side of the flag. When David Mortimer landed his shot in the back green side bunker Mooney was the easy favourite to birdie the fourteenth and go two under - with Higgins facing the possibility of a bogey given his position.

Mortimer pitched first and the ball went well past the hole. As he marked his ball he knew that at two over he was running out of holes unless his partners made some serious mistakes – to let him back in. Unlikely thought the Connemara man as he stood back to allow David Higgins play his shot.

With one of those smooth symmetrical swings David Higgins pitched the ball up beautifully onto the green with the ball releasing and rolling into the hole - allowing him walk off the green five under with the title more firmly in his grasp. Especially when Damian only managed a par at the hole and then Mortimer double bogeyed.

Ahead Ted Higgins had seen his second shot on the fifteenth hit a bunker after his drive was slightly wayward and given the bad lie in the bunker he was unable to limit the damage of a double bogey six. By the time he reached the eighteenth though he was still one under but faced a difficult putt to protect his hard earned score line on the last. Once again with great confidence he secured his par and posted the leading score at the recorders hut signing for a 71.

But for his cousin the work was still being done and the course gave up two more birdies - on holes 15 and 17 - to ensure that when he finished the 18th in regulation his winning score was a convincing total of 7 under – which was remarkable on a course that was not playing that easy

But it was more than an impressive showing by the former European Tour professional who has spent the past three years trying to regain his playing rights at Tour School only to fall short last December at the Final Stage and this year at Stage One. However golf of that quality merits and a round of 65 surely merits another chance on the Main Tour.

Having dominated the rankings this season David Higgins would have been the pre-event favourite given his consistency and so it is fitting reward that he wins the inaugural Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING and Failte Ireland - securing also a second consecutive title after taking the Irish PGA Order of Merit in 2009. The win also grants a sizable pay day along with a place at the 3 Irish Open next summer and the PGA flagship event at Wentworth the BMW Championship next May.

Hailing from a golfing family and with his Father Liam currently playing on the European Senior Tour, it was no surprise that by the time David was twenty-one years old he was the country's leading amateur. Years later after match play victories over Pádraig Harrington in the finals of the South of Ireland and the Irish Amateur Close championships he decided to turn professional in 1994.

In his Rookie season in 1996 Higgins earned £67,000 finishing just inside the top 100 on the Order of Merit. The following year he broke his left wrist and right elbow in a horse riding accident and failed to rediscover his form on his return to the game dropping down to the Challenge Tour in 1999.

In 2000 Higgins won three times on the Challenge Tour and was ranked 2nd at the end of the season earning his playing rights back on the European Tour for the following season. Having been unable to make the breakthrough over a few years Higgins returned to the Challenge Tour in 2005 finishing 12th - earning playing rights for the European Tour once again. However he lost his card at the end of 2007.

In 2009 he qualified for The Open Championship in Turnberry and in winning the Irish PGA Order of Merit earned a place at the 3 Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth - failing to make the cut at all three events.

On the other side of the family cousin Ted Higgins was going the other route and from 1997 to 2003 became the Head Professional and Assistant Director of Golf at Mount Juliet and on leaving formed a golf management company which years later was to develop into FORE Ireland.

An active player Ted has played on the Irish PGA region for many years electing last year not to return to European Tour School given his indifferent form which in his own mind didn't justify it. His round on Saturday though proves that his game still can justify it and the boost from playing so well will undoubtedly temper any regrets about giving those two shots back on fifteen

Since relocating to Northern Ireland Ted Higgins has been very involved in cross community teaching with several schools and golf clubs. Over the years he has also been involved coaching the Irish Special Olympic team, Curtis Cup and Ladies European Tour players. In 2006 the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) awarded him the status of “Advanced PGA Professional”.

Ted Higgins also become the first PGA Professional in Northern Ireland to undertake the worldwide “The First Tee” Programme which provides children from all backgrounds the opportunity to develop life-enhancing values through golf and character education. Prior to Mount Juliet Ted spent two years as Senior Assistant Professional at Royal County Down Golf Club, in Newcastle, Northern Ireland

As an amateur he played junior and senior golf winning competitions at national level in individual and team events for Cork, Munster and Irish Teams. He turned Professional in September 1993 - a year before his older cousin by twenty seven days.

Undoubtedly on Saturday though both David and Ted Higgins were a credit to the golfing heritage of both their families. Even if it never became a head-to-head in the end there was a point - as the players made the turn - that golf was about to throw another one of those great stories.


Rossa McDermott ©

David Higgins scorecard

Ted Higgins scorecard

Congratulations to David Higgins

David Higgins won the inaugural Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING and Failte Ireland in convincing fashion on Saturday with a blistering round of 7 under par at Mount Juliet - four shots ahead of his nearest rival - Damian Mooney who took second place. 

Having won the Irish PGA Order of Merit last year Higgins was the preseason favourite to retain the title and based on his form during the season the victory was deserved at the famous Kilkenny venue – particularly the manner in which he went about it – holing one spectacular bunker shot on the par three fourteenth. 

This season David has been very consistent on the Irish PGA Region winning five times - including the Quinn Insurance Pro Am and a second place at the Southern Championship in Powerscourt behind Eamonn Darcy. 

Race to Mount Juliet - Final Result

2010 Lexus Race to Mount Juliet - Revised

Revised Lexus Race to Mount Juliet 2010

Race to Mount Juliet - Tournament Draw

Race to Mount Juliet - Tournament Draw

John G. Kelly – Profile

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

Race to Mount Juliet - Entries

2010 Race to Mount Juliet - Tournament Entries

David Mortimer – Profile

David Mortimer of FORE Ireland heads into the final week of the season on the foot of a hectic month which has seen him qualify for Stage 2 of the European Tour Qualifying School at Dundonald Links in Scotland, then racing back to play in the Connemara Pro-Am, after which it was four rounds of the Irish PGA Championship at Seapoint Golf Club – which he won on the last green with an eagle putt – followed by two rounds of the Fota Island Pro Am.

Last week he also played in the Skins PGA Fourball Championship at Forest Pines in England with partner Kevin McGrath of Birr Golf Club in a 54-hole event. Not surprisingly, the duo failed to make the cut as a three under par was not enough to make the final round. 

Since winning the Glenmuir PGA Championship at The Oxfordshire in August the last few weeks of the season have been good to Mortimer and the final event of the season approaches he is aware there is a lot still at stake in Mount Juliet on Saturday. 

Born in Connemara thirty seven years ago Mortimer saw golf enter his life early on after discovering the Par 3 course at Renvyle House just beside the family home. Since those days David has taken more than a passing interest in golf receiving recognition along the way at Interprovincial level, Irish Youths and Irish Seniors level.

Next month Mortimer travels to Spain to play Stage 2 of the European Tour Qualifying School with eight other Irish hopefuls – FORE Ireland team-mate Michael Collins, Barrie Trainor and Gareth Shaw of Team Ireland, Damian Mooney; Michael McGeady of Cambridge-Duffy; Niall Turner; Stephen Grant and Mervyn Owens.

But first there is the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING to be settled and no one knows better than David Mortimer how competitive the field will be in the season finale with Waterville’s David Higgins amongst those names. Having held the number one spot for most of the season the current number two, Mortimer, will face a tough battle at the Kilkenny venue.

On the Irish PGA Region this season Mortimer has notched up five wins including the Dundrum House Pro-Am and most significantly, the 2010 Irish PGA Championships title for a second time – following his win at the Druids Heath in 2006.

Fact File:

DOB: August 23rd, 1975

Attachment - Fore Ireland

Turned Professional - 2002

Achievements

2010 Winner Irish PGA Championship, Seapoint Golf Club

2010 Winner of Glenmuir PGA Championship, The Oxfordshire

2006 Winner of the Irish PGA Championship in 2006

2005 2nd British Assistant Championship; 6th Irish PGA Championship

2004 1st Stage 1 European Tour Qualifying School

2003 2nd Irish Assistant Championship and 10th Irish PGA Championship

Selected for the Connacht youths team in 1994 and senior team.

Played 9 years with the Connacht Senior Interprovinical team from 1994 - 2002.

In 2000 selected to represent Irish in the Governor Hugh Carey Cup.

Something that Mortimer is most likely to say:

“I'm not one for boasting and saying I'll do this and that…."

David Higgins - Profile

David Higgins currently leads the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING as the season culminates at the famous Kilkenny venue next week with the final event. 

Having won the Irish PGA Order of Merit last year Higgins will be favourite to retain the title based on his form during the season. But wisely, he is aware that the points differential is such that there are a handful of names that could also win the number one spot at Mount Juliet next Saturday.

Hailing from a golfing family and with his Father Liam currently playing on the European Senior Tour, it was no surprise that by the time David was twenty one he was the country's leading amateur.

Following match play victories over Pádraig Harrington in the finals of the South of Ireland and the Irish Amateur Close championships he decided to turn professional in 1994.

In his Rookie season in 1996 Higgins earned £67,000 finishing just inside the top 100 on the Order of Merit. The following year he broke his left wrist and right elbow in a horse riding accident and failed to rediscover his form on his return to the game dropping down to the Challenge Tour in 1999.

In 2000 Higgins won three times on the Challenge Tour and was ranked 2nd at the end of the season earning his playing rights back on the European Tour for the following season. Having been unable to make the breakthrough over a few years Higgins returned to the Challenge Tour in 2005 finishing 12th  - earning playing rights for the European Tour once again. However he lost his card at the end of 2007.  

In 2009 he qualified for The Open Championship in Turnberry and in winning the Irish PGA Order of Merit earned a place at the 3 Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth  - failing to make the cut at all three  events. At Stage of 3 of Q School last December at the PGA Catalunya the Waterville professional man also missed out on a return to the main Tour

This season David has been very consistent on the Irish PGA Region winning five times -  including the Quinn Insurance Pro Am and a second place at the Southern Championship in Powerscourt behind Eamonn Darcy. However he failed to qualify for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrew's with a bigger disappointment to come  in September when he failed to make it through European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 at Dundonald Links.

Personal Fact File

DOB:  December 1st 1972 in County Cork.

Attachment: Waterville GC

Career:

1989Irish Boys Championship

1994 Irish Amateur Closed Championship, South of Ireland Championship

Challenge Tour

2000 NCC Open;

Günther Hamburg Classic

Rolex Trophy