PGA Cup place in former captain's sights

Jon Bevan, the captain who led Great Britain and Ireland’s PGA Cup team to victory in 2015, boosted his chances of playing in this year’s match by setting the pace in the Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship.

Bevan, who represents Sherborne Golf Club, ended the first of four negotiations of the lengthy course at Luttrellstown Castle near Dublin on three-under-par after a round of 69.

That left him sharing pole position with Paul O’Hara at the head of the 144-strong field chasing the £10,000 first prize on offer in The PGA’s flagship event.

However, the victor of this year’s tournament could be rewarded with more than money and a trophy. Not least a place in Albert MacKenzie’s team to take on the Americans at Foxhills in September.

That is dependent on the points system in operation to determine which six players from this and last year’s event will book their places in the 10-man line-up.

And for the time being, Bevan is in with a shout. But that shout could be even more vociferous had he had not signed off with a double bogey at the par four 18^th.

By contrast, North Lanarkshire Leisure’s O’Hara enjoyed a more pleasurable visit to the hole by carding an eagle.

More portentously perhaps, O Hara, who finished second in last season’s Scottish Region Order of Merit, seems at home at Luttrellstown Castle.

His round of three-under matched his winning score in the pro-am prior to the tournament and he dispatches the ball a country mile. Which given the course was just shy of 7,100 yards in length is something of a positive.

The Scot is also making his debut in the tournament and hot on his and Bevan’s heels are some seasoned campaigners.

A quintet comprising Chris Gane, Adam Wootton, Christoper Currie, Paul Hendriksen and Andrew Turner are on two-under, while Brendan McGovern, Lee Clarke and Garry Houston are a shot further back.

Chasing them is a substantial posse on level par which includes Ireland’s Hazel Kavanagh who is understood to be the first female to participate in the final of the competition.

And any question marks over whether she could hold her own among the men were soon wiped out with an early birdie on the 12^th.

Having started on the tenth, the birdie came at her third hole and settled her nerves.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to become the first female player at this event,” she said.

“And I did feel nervous before I teed off because it’s the PGA final.

“I’ve played in a lot of tournaments in Ireland that very few girls play in, so I’m used to that but because it’s such a big event I was a bit nervous.

“It’s a tough course and the wind was up but I hung in. I didn’t strike the ball great but I just got round. I putted well and hit the ball much better on the back nine and I picked up two birdies too so I’m happy enough.”