Confidence boosting victory for Kearney at St Margaret's
15/09/2015
Niall Kearney headed to the PGA Cup in America on a back of a stunning victory at the St Margaret's Pro-Am.
The Royal Dublin man carded an eight-under-par round of 65 in difficult conditions to cruise to victory at the Co Dublin venue.
“It was one of those days when everything inside 15 feet went in,” said Kearney who recorded a hole-in-one at the par-three fifth to help him reach five-under after five holes.
“It's a great boost and I'm looking forward to getting over to America to play against the US team.”
Birdies at the first, second and third set the tone for the 27-year-old who parred the fourth before using a seven iron to ace the fifth. Three more pars followed before he dropped a shot at the ninth to reach the turn in four-under 32.
The heavy rain that started to fall from the 10th onwards failed to halt his momentum as he birdied the 10th and 11th and then eagled the par five 12th, firing a five iron into 12 feet and rolling in the putt. He dropped another shot at the par three 15th but immediately hit back with a birdie at the par five 16th, closing out his round with pars at 17 and 18 to come home in four-under 33.
Wayne O'Callaghan (Fernhill) finished alone in second place after carding a two under par round of 71 with Noel Murray (Massereene), Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance LTD) and Eamonn Brady (Clontarf) a shot further back.
Brian Kerley (Green Life Golf Centre) and his amateur partners edged out Kearney in the team event with 93 points.
