McGeady unbeatable in Derry
MICHAEL McGeady posted a brilliant second round 63 to retain the Bishop’s Gate Hotel Walled City Pro-Am title at City of Derry on Sunday.
Tulfarris Golf Resort’s Simon Thornton carded a bogey-free, six-under 65 at Foyle Golf Centre to lead by a shot from McGeady and Glasson Hotel & Golf Club’s Colm Moriarty after the first day.
But McGeady came out firing on the final day, putting his local knowledge to good use, signing for a seven-birdie, no-bogey round to win by five shots.
“In the back of my mind I was trying to beat the number I won the event with last year which was 12 under but it was a difficult day,” McGeady said.
“When I stood up on the first tee I was just expecting it to be a real battle, I had discovered something the day before in my swing that was helping me move through the ball better.
“I have to say I hit the ball fantastically well for two days. I hit 34 of 36 greens in regulation which was pretty decent in those conditions.
“I was hitting the ball where I was aiming and it was plain sailing from there. Once I was doing that it took the pressure off the rest of my game.”
Thornton finished alone in second on seven under while Mark O’Mahony from the Titleist National Fitting Centre came through the field with a second round 67 to finish in third on five-under par.
Professional Brendan McCarroll and amateur partners Jimmy Foley, Kevin Hennessy and Ronan Curran won the team prize with a two-round total of 176.
Bishop’s Gate Hotel Walled City Pro-Am, Foyle Golf Centre & City of Derry GC: 129 M McGeady (Evolve Golf Coaching) 66 63; 134 S Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) 65 69; 136 M O’Mahony (Titleist National Fitting Centre) 69 67; 137 C Moriarty (Glasson Hotel & GC) 66 71; 138 D Higgins (Waterville Golf Links) 69 69; 140 C Molloy (Ardee GC) 70 70; 141 E Brady (Clontarf GC) 71 70, R Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC) 69 72, D Mooney (Damian Mooney Golf) 71 70, N O’Briain (Old Conna GC) 70 71.