Composed Staunton wins at The European Club

Mark Staunton carded a composed one-under-par 70 to win the PGA Sprint event at the European Club on Monday.

The Delgany GC man, a former Irish PGA Order of Merit champion, defied blustery conditions to beat Shane O'Sullivan (Shannon GC) by three shots at the beautifully presented Co Wicklow venue.

The 34-year-old went to the turn in one-over-par 36, a birdie at the opening par-four undone by a double-bogey at the fourth.

He dropped another shot at the par-four 11^th but responded in emphatic style with a birdie at 12, an eagle at the par five 13^th and another birdie at the 14^th.

He closed out his round with three pars and a bogey at the par four 16^th to come home in two-under 34.

Second placed O'Sullivan got off to a blistering start with birdies at the second, fourth and sixth but a dropped shot at the ninth signalled the end of his good scoring and having gone to the turn in two-under 33 he came home in four-over 40.

Massereene's Noel Murray finished third with a three over 74.

David Barry (Douglas GC) was right in contention after going to the turn in four-under 31 but his round was blown off course as conditions deteriorated in the afternoon and he came home in 11-over 47 to finish tied for 11^th on seven over par.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) David Ruddy and Noel Murray return to defend the Black Bush Ladies Assistants Pro-Am title they shared last year.