Kilpatrick digs deep

Richard Kilpatrick (right) kept his cool in wet conditions to close out a wire-to-wire victory at the two-day Ballyliffin Pro-Am.

Leading by three after an opening round 70, the Banbridge golfer (pictured with Ballyliffin captain Phelim Davenport) made a terrible start to his second round but fought back over the back nine to win by just one shot from Michael McGeady, Mark O'Sullivan, Neil O'Briain and Eamonn Brady.

“It was lovely to get the win, I must admit. It's one of the bigger events on the PGA in Ireland circuit so it was fantastic to get the victory,” said Kilpatrick.

Sunny skies had greeted the players on day one but that was replaced by incessant rain on day two and initially, Kilpatrick struggled, dropping five shots in his opening three holes.

A further bogey followed at the sixth as the 33-year-old, making his second appearance on the PGA in Ireland circuit this season, went to the turn in six over 41, wiping out his advantage.

A further double-bogey at the par four 11th appeared to have ended his hopes of victory but a pair of birdies at the 13th and 14th repaired the damage and Kilpatrick closed out his round with four pars to claim the victory.

“It was like we had two totally different seasons over the two days. On Saturday, the conditions were perfect as we played the Glashedy,” he added.

“It's known as the more difficult course of the two but I played very steady golf to shoot a two under par 70.

“It was horrific on Sunday. I only got it really bad for the first 10 or 11 holes, whereas the guys going out earlier had horrendous conditions for the whole round.

“I knew it would still be tough to get the win and I hit a couple of bad shots in the poor weather early on. That cost me two sixes and then I lost a ball off the tee on the 11th, which ended in another double bogey. Thankfully I made a couple of birdies on 13 and 14 and managed to par my way in to get over the line.”

Castlerock's Bert Mackay guided his amateur partners to success in the team competition and earned them a fantastic golf holiday to Quinta do Lago, in Portugal.