Arthurs is king of Trim as he wins at County Meath
FORMER East of Ireland winner Eoin Arthurs loved the amateur game, but with a wife and two children to support, he has no regrets about his decision to take the plunge into the professional ranks.
So far, it’s working out well for the 33-year-old Dubliner, who won the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Irish qualifying round after hitting the highs and the lows at Co. Meath Golf Club.
Representing Co Dublin’s Kinsealy Grange Golf Academy, where he works alongside Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay champion Maria Dunne, Arthurs is in his first year of PGA training after making a decision to ‘better himself’ and leave the amateur circuit behind.
He certainly appears to have the game to challenge for the prestigious PGA Assistants’ title after firing a one-over-par 74 to win by a shot from St Anne’s Sergio Coyle and Michael McGeady from the Seamus Duffy Golf Academy.
A former Forrest Little star, Arthurs made five birdies but held on for victory despite making an eight at the par-four 13th.
Now he will join 12 other qualifiers from Ireland at the £32,000 showpiece event being held at Coxmoor Golf Club in Nottinghamshire from August 2-4.
Now Arthurs wants to make the most of the opportunities the PGA course can give him.
“I’d been working at the Kinsealy driving range, where I’m based, for about ten years,” he said.
“In the last year, I decided I didn’t to be sitting around and collecting balls; I wanted to be somebody better and support my family more.
“I wanted a better life for everyone concerned. I live by the saying that if you find something you like doing, then find a way of making money doing it!
“It doesn’t matter if it’s teaching or playing golf.
“I was still playing as an amateur, but I felt I’d done all I needed to do. It’s just a change, I suppose, to get a profession.”
Arthurs admits he is unfamiliar with the Coxmoor venue.
“I haven’t a clue at the moment. When I get home with the wife and two kids then all golf talk stops, but I’ll take a look nearer the time,” he smiled.
But he admits qualifying for his first PGA Assistants’ final was far from easy.
“The wind was swirling; it was awkward at times,” he said.
“There was an eight in there after the five birdies. At the 13th I had my one iron, which I love to bits.
“The wind was coming hard off the right, I tried to cut it over the corner, but I caught the last tree and the ball was never to be seen again.
“I did exactly the same thing again. But after that, I just made sure I had the ball definitely in play — in the end, it was a good eight!
“I was smiling afterwards; I played well apart from that.”
Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship - Ireland Qualifying Event, Co Meath Golf Club (Par 73). Qualifiers:
74 Eoin Arthurs (Kinsealy Grange Golf Academy); 75 Sergio Coyle (St Anne’s Golf Club), Michael McGeady (Seamus Duffy Golf Academy); 76 Ciaran McKenna (Mallow Golf Club), Keith Shannon; 77 Victoria Bradshaw (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Shane Jenkins (St Margaret’s Golf & Country Club), Iarlaith Keane, Kelan McDonagh (GUI National Academy); 78 Andy Hogan (Edmondstown Golf Club), Stephen Barry (Royal Tara Golf Club), Stephen McCarthy (Black Bush Golf Club), Steven Quinlan (Halpenny Golf Club).