Ex-Champion Devine hoping to party like it's 2009

Patrick Devine says victory in this year’s Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship Final would mean more to him than when he won the event in 2009.

The Sutton Golf Club professional partnered James Quinlivan, of Mullingar Golf Club, to comfortably win the Irish qualifying event at Headfort Golf Club.

They finished three shots ahead of their nearest rivals Ciaran Molloy (Ardee Golf Club) and Adam Dunmore (Bundoran Golf Club) at the Co Meath venue after shooting seven under par round of 65.

And it meant they booked a place at the £33,250 BMW-supported showpiece final which will be played at Belton Woods Golf Club in Lincolnshire on August 29-31.

For Devine, it represents a chance to relive his record-breaking victory with Stuart Taylor nine years ago at another Lincolnshire venue Forest Pines Golf Club.

“I’m delighted to get back to the final and have been lucky enough to win it before,” said Devine.

“And we did that with a tournament record score when we were 31 under par over the three rounds. It was hell of a score and no-one’s beaten it, everything went right for three days there.

“We have the flights booked and everything now, we’re in a good spot and looking forward to getting over there. I’m looking forward to it more than ever.

“I’m probably more enthusiastic now because I won it nine years ago. Back then, we just went and played it, we didn’t know much about the competition.

“It’d probably mean more to win it now than I did then, I haven’t played as much over the past few years, I have three kids and a new job 15 months ago at Sutton which is a nine hole links course between Royal Dublin and Portmarnock Golf Clubs.

“I’m enjoying running my own shop and business.”

Devine says Quinlivan will be an ideal partner to have for the event.

“Everyone’s gets on with James, it means we can have a bit of fun out on the course too as well as being competitive,” he said.