Mick has Laois Heritage
EVOLVE Golf Coaching’s Michael McGeady eased to a three-shot victory at The Heritage Challenge Pro-Am sponsored by JustGolf.ie on Sunday.
The victory was built on a brilliant eight-birdie, opening round of 64 on Saturday during which the 40-year-old hit every green in regulation.
“The more impressive thing was that I had a family event on Friday evening so I drove down on Saturday morning to play,” said Michael, who won the event in 2014, finished sixth in 2015 and returned in 2017 to finish second.
“My expectations were pretty low, but I didn’t put any pressure on myself and started hitting the ball well. It was a really solid day’s golf.”
The Derry-based golfer finished day one with a two-shot lead over the in-form Colm Moriarty from Glasson Hotel and Golf Club with Monkstown’s Cian McNamara two shots further back in third.
The players returned for the second and final 18 holes on Sunday but the magic that marked out Michael’s play on Saturday had disappeared overnight.
He battled his way around, posting a one-under par 71 that included three birdies and two bogeys.
“Today’s round could easily have been four or five over,” added Michael. “I scrambled and worked really hard for that 71. My putting kept me in it, I putted like a god.”
Moriarty finished in second, three shots back after rounds of 66 and 72 with Banbridge’s Richard Kilpatrick third 71/69.
Limerick’s reigning Irish PGA champion, Tim Rice guided his amateur partners Daragh O’Sullivan, John Reilly and Dermot Doolan to victory in the team event with a two-round total of 186 (95/91). The Heritage Challenge Pro-Am sponsored by JustGolf.ie, The Heritage Golf and Spa Resort (Par 72): 135 Michael McGeady (Evolve Golf Coaching) 64 71; 138 Colm Moriarty (Glasson Hotel & GC) 66 72; 140 Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC) 71 69; 141 Cian McNamara (Monkstown GC) 68 73; Simon Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) 71 70.