Farrell in fine fettle

While most of the country experienced rainfall yesterday, competitors in the opening round of the PGA Grand Prix for the Connor Mallon Trophy, at Ballyliffin, enjoyed relatively dry and mild weather.

Nobody enjoyed it more than Philip Farrell (above) who eased around the Old Course in four-under-par 67 with four birdies and 14 pars on his card. It was a solid performance from Farrell whose approach play was sound.

At the second hole, the winner reached the green with a drive and eight iron before rolling in a 15-footer for birdie three and he was on the putting surface with a drive and rescue at the fourth to set up birdie four. Out in two-under-par 33, Farrell glued back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12, steering a wedge to 10 feet at par four 11, and after missing the green left at the long par three 12th with a rescue he chipped in for a two.

That left him back in two-under 34 for a 67 and a three shots lead over Brian McElhinney and Paul Stevenson.

Winner of the amateurs’ gross award on 36 points was one-handicapper Michael O’Donovan while five-handicapper Greg Thompson made it a Castlerock double by taking the nett prize on 37 points.

The team event was a fourball betterball gross with the Kirkistown Castle combination of pro Neil Graham and amateur Gavin McBride (3) winning with 48 points.

The next Grand Prix outing will be at Royal Belfast on November 5 with the final at Ballyliffin (Glashedy) in March.

Next Monday, there will be an UGA outing at Shandon Park.