Higgins wins Irish PGA in play-off
Davids Higgins followed in the footsteps of his father Liam by winning the PGA Irish Championship after a three hole play-off at Mount Juliet. David Higgins followed in his father Liam’s footsteps when he captured the Irish PGA Championship with a brilliant birdie at the third extra hole of a sudden death play-off at Mount Juliet.
The 39 year old from Waterville - who also claimed the PING Race to Mount Juliet Order of Merit title - closed with a 67 to set the target at seven under par and force a play-off with Gary Murphy (70) and 22-year old Massereene assistant Noel Murray, who finished with two birdies for a 69.
Former European Tour regular Murphy was eliminated at the first extra hole when he three-putted the 17th for a par-five as Higgins and Murray made birdies.
Higgins and Murray shared the 18th in par but it all ended on their second visit to the par-five 17th.
While Higgins hit the tree on the right with his approach to come up 87 yards short of the pin, Murray had a tough pitch from an awkward lie left of the green.
Higgins hit a stellar pitch to two feet to set up a tap-in birdie but while Murray could only knock his third into the bunker, he lipped out with the birdie effort and settled for joint second place with Murphy and a cheque for €2,125.
Higgins claimed the winner’s prize for €3,500 and confirmed his status as the top performer on the PGA Irish Region circuit by securing the Order of Merit.
Higgins said it was the fulfillment of a boyhood dream to lift the trophy that his father Liam lifted in 1983.
“I remember looking at trophy as a young lad and saying it would be lovely to win it,” he said. “I tried for a long time to win it and did it today and I’m just delighted.”
Paying tribute to his fearless young rival Murray, he added: “He’s one for the future. Keep an eye out for him.”
Belfast’s Peter Martin, who led after the first two rounds, finished a shot outside the play-off in fourth place on six under after a closing 72 featuring a bogey at the 13th and a solitary birdie at the par-three 14th.
1 David Higgins Waterville Golf Links (p) -7 70 72 67 209 €3,500
T2 Noel Murray Massereene -7 70 70 69 209 €2,125
T2 Gary Murphy Laytown & Bettystown -7 70 69 70 209 €2,125
4 Peter Martin Riverside Golf Academy -6 67 71 72 210 €1,660
T5 Brendan McGovern Headfort -5 72 71 68 211 €1,375
T5 Eamonn Brady Clontarf -5 69 70 72 211 €1,375
7 Glen Robinson St Helen’s Bay Golf Resort -4 70 73 69 212 €1,200
T8 Patrick Devine Royal Dublin -3 73 72 68 213 €927.50
T8 Cian McNamara Limerick -3 72 69 72 213 €927.50
10 John Kelly St Margaret’s Golf & Country C -2 69 73 72 214 €830
T11 Jerry Scullion Kilkeel -1 73 72 70 215 €732.50
T11 Niall Kearney Royal Dublin -1 74 73 68 215 €732.50
T13 Barrie Trainor E 69 77 70 216 €531.67
T13 David Mortimer Galway E 73 75 68 216 €531.67
T13 John Dwyer Ashbourne E 71 71 74 216 €531.67
T16 John Dolan Ballybofey & Stranorlar Golf C +1 75 70 72 217 €423.33
T16 Mark O’Sullivan Ashbourne +1 73 72 72 217 €423.33
T16 Michael Collins Mallow Golf Range +1 73 74 70 217 €423.33
T19 Wayne O’Callaghan Wayneocallaghangolf.com +2 70 75 73 218 €368
T19 Tim Rice +2 76 69 73 218 €368
T19 James Roche Gorey Driving Range +2 72 71 75 218 €368
T19 Enda McLoughlin Wicklow +2 70 72 76 218 €368
T19 Seamus McMonagle Dunfanaghy +2 70 72 76 218 €368
T24 David Reilly Westmanstown +3 73 73 73 219 €326
T24 Damian Mooney Ballyliffin +3 72 73 74 219 €326
T24 Peter Jones Coollattin +3 73 72 74 219 €326
T24 Neil O’Briain +3 72 69 78 219 €326
T24 David Jones Bushfoot +3 72 75 72 219 €326
T29 John Murray Malahide +4 72 76 72 220 €293.33
T29 Peter O’Keeffe Muskerry +4 72 75 73 220 €293.33
T29 Enda Maguire Dundalk +4 74 73 73 220 €293.33
T32 Kevin McGivern Mannan Castle +5 71 77 73 221 €265
T32 John McDermott Grange +5 76 71 74 221 €265
T34 Philip Walton +6 72 74 76 222 €240
T34 David Ryan Cahir Park +6 75 71 76 222 €240
T34 Leslie Walker Dundalk +6 74 74 74 222 €240
T34 Donal Gleeson Old Conna +6 77 71 74 222 €240
T38 Ian Kerr Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club +7 75 71 77 223 €220
T38 Michael McDermott Pure Golf Leopardstown +7 75 75 73 223 €220
T38 John Dignam Slade Valley +7 77 72 74 223 €220
T41 Gary Wardlow American Golf +8 76 74 74 224 €205
T41 James Quinlivan Mullingar +8 75 74 75 224 €205
T43 Peter McClelland Peter McClelland Golf +9 74 76 75 225 €178.33
T43 Stephen Galvin Curragh +9 73 77 75 225 €178.33
T43 Melvyn Flanagan Mount Temple +9 73 77 75 225 €178.33
T46 Darren Walsh Wexford +10 73 77 76 226 €162.50
T46 Michael Allan Pure Golf Leopardstown +10 73 74 79 226 €162.50
T48 David Hughes Massereene +11 77 73 77 227 €151.67
T48 Daniel Beattie +11 76 73 78 227 €151.67
T48 Mark Staunton Ballinasloe +11 71 77 79 227 €151.67
T51 Tony O’Regan Carton House Golf Course +12 75 75 78 228 €150
T51 Gary Madden Bearna Golf & Country Club +12 71 78 79 228 €150
53 Gareth McCausland Ballyliffin +13 73 77 79 229 €150
54 Mark O’Mahony Titleist National Fitting Cent +15 71 79 81 231 €150