Bolger cashes in

As Damian Mooney’s effort to cling on to the top of the leaderboard during the second day’s play in the €31,000 PGA Heritage pro-am, sponsored by Aidan O’Connell & Associates Ltd, exploded, Jimmy Bolger strode in to clinch his first win of the season.

The Kilkenny man posted his second 69 for a six-under-par 138 as overnight leader Mooney slid to a 79, after opening with a 66. A triple bogey, two double bogeys and four bogeys wrecked Mooney’s card.

In contrast, Bolger was steady with five birdies and some excellent approach work and putting. Starting at the long 10th hole, he rifled a gap wedge to one foot for birdie and got down from eight feet at the next, also for birdie. A lob wedge to a foot gave him another birdie at 14 but he suffered bogey fives at 12 and 16 to turn in one-under 35.

On the way home, Bolger rolled home a 10-footer on the third green and sank a 15-footer at six for birdies and a front nine of two-under 34.

Best score of the second round, and equal best of the tournament, was posted by Noel Murray (Massereene) whose 66 included nine threes in his closing 13 holes!

Mark O’Sullivan, with a 68 took second place, one stroke ahead of Murray and David Mortimer.

David Ryan and his McCormick family partners, father Phil plus sons Luke and Paul, added a second 95 points to their opening 95 to win the team event.