Moriarty claims Connemara Pro-Am glory
COLM Moriarty collected the Connemara Pro-Am title over the weekend recording a 36-hole total of four under par in the annual €17,000 tournament.
The Glasson Hotel professional posted scores of 69 and 71 to top the leaderboard by a stroke from Monkstown’s Cian McNamara, Banbridge’s Richard Kilpatrick and Clontarf’s Eamonn Brady.
In the first round, Athlone man Moriarty made five birdies in a three-under-par 69 that also featured bogeys at the short 13th and long 17th holes.
His big hitting came into play at the long seventh, 14th and 18th holes as he trimmed a stroke of each, giving him an outward nine of two-under 33 and a homeward spin of oneunder 36.
He made just two birdies and one bogey in the second round with birdies at the ninth and the par-five 18th cancelling out his lone bogey at the par-three 13th
Limerick’s McNamara posted rounds of 74 and 68 while Brady carded 73 and 68 but Banbridge’s Kilpatrick was steadiest of the three, shooting 141 for second place.
His opening round he made birdie fours at the seventh, 14th and 17th but his chance of victory was dented by a bogey six at the par-five 18th as he
opened with a 70.
In his second round, he pencilled in two birdies and two bogeys over the front nine and went one-under with a two at the short 11th.
He then had a rare run from the difficult 13th hole as he went bogey-eagle-bogey for a back nine of 36 and a total of 71.
A new face climbed the rostrum as Cahir Park assistant Colin O’Gorman made his debut as he led his amateur partners Francis McCarthy, Noel Finn and Jimmy McCarthy to first place in the team event. The fourball posted scores of 88 and 92 points for a winning tally of 180.
PGA €17,000 Connemara Pro-Am, Connemara GC (Par 72): 140 C Moriarty (Glasson Hotel & Golf Club) 69,71; 141 C McNamara (Limerick) 74,67; T Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 70,71; E Brady (Clontarf) 73,68; 142 T Rice (Limerick) 72,70; 143 B McElhinney (North West) 73,70; 144 D Ryan (Cahir Park) 71,73; S Quinlivan (SQ Golf) 72,72; J Bolger (Kilkenny) 72,72. Team: C O’Gorman (Cahir Pk) 88, 92 (180 pts).