Michael Hoey joins big turnout for Bobby Browne's testimonial
We wrote earlier this month about Bobby Browne's retirement after 48 years of loyal service to the members of Laytown and Bettystown. Last weekend, many of his fellow professionals including Ryder Cup player Des Smyth and multiple European Tour winner Michael Hoey turned out to pay homage to the great PGA professional and teacher.
RJ Browne with Michael Hoey
RJ, as he is known, has taught countless players and it is wonderful to see a player like Hoey, who went to Bobby during his amateur days, as well as former tour player Gary Murphy and many other younger players turning up to pay their respects to one of Irish golf's living legends.
As for the golf, Hoey shot a six under 64 to win by three shots from Ciaran Molloy while Des Smyth, who grew up playing the links with Bobby and the likes of Declan Branigan, was tied sixth with a 71.
Contemporaries and close friends of RJ's, such as Paddy McGuirk from Co Louth, Royal Dublin's Leonard Owens and former Donabate pro Hugh Jackson were also there for the big day.
Click here to learn more about Bobby Browne's career and his life in golf at Laytown and Bettystown.
Bobby Browne Testimonial Pro-Am
1 Michael Hoey -6 F 64
2 Ciaran Molloy Blackwood Golf Centre -3 F 67
3 Brendan McGovern Headfort Golf Club -1 F 69
T4 Mark O'Sullivan Piltown Driving Range E F 70
T4 Peter Morgan Elm Park Golf Club E F 70
T6 Damian Mooney Ballyliffin Golf Club +1 F 71
T6 Michael McDermott Pure Golf Leopardstown +1 F 71
T6 Desmond Smyth +1 F 71
T6 Melvyn Flanagan Athlone Golf Academy +1 F 71
T6 Scott Wilson Co. Louth Golf Club +1 F 71
T11 Jimmy Bolger Kilkenny Golf Club +2 F 72
T11 James Quinlivan Mullingar Golf Club +2 F 72
T11 Liam Bowler Wexford Golf Club +2 F 72
T14 Ian St.John Rush Golf Club +3 F 73
T14 Gerry Burke Royal Curragh Golf Club +3 F 73
T14 Barrie Trainor Cairndhu Golf Club +3 F 73
17 Krishna Padayachee Hollywood Lakes Golf Club +4 F 74
T18 Brian Kerley Green Life Golf Centre +5 F 75
T18 John Langan Pure Golf Leopardstown +5 F 75
T18 Stephen Hoey +5 F 75
T18 William Noble County Cavan Golf Club +5 F 75
T22 Karl O'Donnell Newlands Golf Club +6 F 76
T22 Hugh O'Neill Connemara Golf Club +6 F 76
T22 Philip Duff Black Bush Golf Club +6 F 76
T22 Mark O'Mahony Titleist National Fitting Cent +6 F 76
T22 John Dignam Slade Valley Golf Club +6 F 76
T22 James McBride Lucan Golf Club +6 F 76
T28 David Carroll Seapoint Golf Club +7 F 77
T28 Peter O'Hagan Luttrellstown Castle Golf Club +7 F 77
T28 Ciaran Carroll Bray Golf Club +7 F 77
T31 Zak Rouiller Beech Park Golf Club +8 F 78
T31 Gerard Hall Edenderry Golf Academy +8 F 78
33 Alan Staunton Hollywood Lakes Golf Club +11 F 81
34 Mark Peat Bray Golf Club +12 F 82
T35 Victoria Bradshaw Malahide Golf Club +15 F 85
T35 Adam Whiston +15 F 85
DID NOT FINISH
WD David Hughes Massereene Golf Club
WD Ed Martin Beaverstown Golf Club
RTD Peter Hanna Lurgan Golf Club +1
RTD Gary Murphy
RTD Tim Rice Limerick Golf Club
RTD Anthony Judd Forrest Little Golf Club
RTD Michael O'Shea Rathsallagh Golf Club
RTD John Kelly St Margaret's Golf & Country C
RTD Hugh Jackson
RTD Paddy McGuirk Co. Louth Golf Club
RTD Emmet Staunton Castleknock Golf Club
RTD Dermot O'Neill
RTD Leonard Owens Royal Dublin Golf Club
RTD Peter Hickey Cork Golf Club
