Barry finds putting touch at Rosslare

David Barry made the most of rare start on the PGA in Ireland circuit to win the Kelly's Resort Rosslare Pro-Am at Rosslare Golf Club.

The Douglas Golf Club assistant professional fired a five under par 67 in blustery conditions to finish two shots ahead of Damien McGrane and Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance).

“It wasn't down to great ball striking, I holed everything on my front nine holes,” said the 30-year-old who started his round at the 13^th as a shot gun start was in operation.

“We were trying to work it out after the round and I think I had something like 16 putts over my opening 13 holes.”

The hot putter saw Barry play his opening 11 holes in six under par, collecting birdies at the 15^th, 17^th, 18^th, third, fourth and fifth.

His first blip came at the par five seventh when he lost a ball that cost him a bogey and he dropped another shot at the par three ninth when he failed to get up and down however, he closed out his round with a birdie at his final hole, the par five 12^th to wrap up victory.

“I rolled in a 15 footer at the second and just fell in love with the greens,” added Barry who will be playing in the Irish PGA Championship at Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort (Sept 22-26).

“It's a funny game. I had 37 putts in the qualifying event for the PGA Championship!”

Tim Rice (Limerick GC) and his amateur partners Tom Barrett, Pat Barrett and Adrian Usher collected the team prize with 94 points.