Bolger poised for title defence

Jimmy Bolger will return to defend the Aidan O'Connell & Associates Pro-Am title at The Heritage GC on June 1-2.

The Kilkenny GC professional carded two rounds of 69 at last year's event to take the title ahead of Mark O'Sullivan who finished one shot back after rounds of 71/68.

The two-day event at the superb County Laois venue has attracted a high quality field with 2012 winner Donal Gleeson (Old Conna) lined up for another crack at the title alongside a host of key names on the PGA circuit including Damien Mooney (Ballyliffin) and Brendan McGovern (Headfort).

The tournament is once again supported by Portlaoise firm Aidan O’Connell & Associates Ltd, one of the leading Consulting Engineering practices in the country who have generously increased their sponsorship of the event to €33,500.

“Aidan O’Connell & Associates recognises the importance of supporting local strategic businesses of which the Heritage Golf & Country Club is one,” said Aidan O'Connell.

“In addition we also value the presence of all our national golf Pros and the benefits that they provide to everyday life.

“Without their presence Ireland would be worse off. We are honoured to be associated with the biggest Pro-Am in the British Isles and hope to be so for many years to come.”

The Heritage was co-designed by Seve Ballesteros and Jeff Howes and is set in the beautiful rolling countryside of County Laois, with the Slieve Bloom Mountains as a backdrop.

Niall Carroll, Golf Operations Manager at the Heritage, is delighted that the sponsor is back again this year.

“We are very fortunate in these tough times to have retained our main sponsor of the last two years and this has allowed us to maintain the very high standards attained for 2014,” he said.

“This event promises to be one of the highlights of the Irish PGA calendar with a €33,500 prize fund for the professionals taking part, the largest of the year in Ireland, together with numerous daily and overall prizes for the competing amateur teams, which this year are generously sponsored by Ping Europe."