Irish eyes are smiling in Italy
29/10/2019
County Louth Golf Club is on course to become the first Irish winner of the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge following the first round of the final at Argentario Golf Resort and Spa, Italy.
The club’s PGA Professional Enda Maguire (above) and its captain Paul Riley (below right) go into the second and final round four points clear of the field in the chase for the £5,000 first prize.
The pair negotiated the course at the home of The PGA National - Italy in seven-under-par to amass 43 Stableford points and leave the remaining nine teams playing catch-up in the competition that is supporting Prostate Cancer UK.
More than half those points were accrued on the last eight holes after an outward half which gave no hint of the birdie bonanza to come following a bogey on the par-four 10th.
The duo had also dropped a shot at the par-three eighth to reach the turn with 20 points but an eagle at the par-five 11th lit the blue touch paper.
Four birdies, including successive ones at 17 and 18, followed as County Louth established a four-shot lead over Stoneham Golf Club pair, PGA pro Adam Hickling and Mike Earney.
They also birdied the last two holes to finish on 39 points, one clear of Surrey Downs Golf Club duo, Craig Cowper, the PGA pro and captain Peter Crowe.
A shot further back sharing fourth place are Hartsbourne Country Club’s Paul Fiddes and Graham Goodkind and, flying the flag for Scotland, Kenny Monaghan and Andrew Malcolm of Stirling Golf Club.
Leading scores: County Louth Golf Club 43; Stoneham Golf Club 39, Surrey Downs Golf Club 38; Hartsbourne Country Club, Stirling Golf Club 37.
A selection of images ftom the practice and first round are acessible here
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- PGA Pro-Captain Challenge
