Inaugural Killeen event attracts high quality field

Killeen Golf Club in Co Kildare is primed and ready to host an inugural PGA in Ireland Pro-Am on August 21.

The one-day event, sponsored by SIG Ireland in association with KN Network Services is offered a prize-fund of €10,000 and has attracted some of the PGA in Ireland's leading lights including, Brendan McGovern, Damien Mooney, John Kelly and reigning Irish PGA Champion, Niall Kearney.

This will be the first time many of the professionals will have played Killeen and resident professional, Brian Cosgrove is promising a stern test.

“It's quite a tight course and a tough challenge. The front nine is tree-lined while the back nine has a number of water hazards that really come into play over the closing holes,” said Cosgrove.

“It's a difficult finish and the final four holes will really make or break the round.”

The course was designed in 1980 but has undergone many changes both in size and design to get it to the high USGA standard that it is at today.

With the purchase of extra land in 1990 the team of Tom Craddock and Pat Ruddy were brought in to completely redesign the layout.

Further extensive work by Maurice Kelly and course builder Bernard Mullins in 1998 brought the course up to full Championship standard.

The amateur record is six under par 66, recorded last year by member Donal Hogan.

“The event has been well supported by everyone here at the club,” added Cosgrove.

“The members have really rolled their sleeves up in recent weeks to get everything ready and there is great buzz around the place. Everyone involved is really looking forward to the event.”

Amateurs will compete for a nearest the pin prize on the 18^th, sponsored by Irish PGA Championship sponsors, LowFuelcard.ie. They will also have the opportunity to win a golf holiday in Spain, courtesy of the PGA in Ireland and Spanish Tourism.