Lernihan claims first pro win after play-off.

Dara Lernihan edged out Neil O'Briain in a three-hole play-off to win the Johnston Mooney & O'Brien PGA Challenge at Carton House.

The former Irish Amateur Close Champion finally made the breakthrough as a professional at the remodelled O'Meara Course.

“Other than the triple-bogey I played pretty well all day. Didn't hole many putts but I sometimes find it hard to hole putts when it's windy,” said Lernihan.

Lernihan (Elm Park) opened his campaign with a flawless six-under-par round of 67 but found the blustery conditions tougher to handle yesterday, eventually signing for a two-over 75 that included a triple-bogey at the 11^th.

O'Briain (Old Conna), who started the second round three shots back, carded a composed one-under 72 to set the clubhouse lead at four-under-par, which Lernihan matched with a four-foot putt at the 18^th.

“I wasn't too happy when I saw Neil coming out onto the practice range to warm up when I was standing over the putt at the 18^th because I thought I had it won,” he added.

The opening hole of the play-off was halved in bogeys, the second halved in pars before Lernihan finally triumphed when O'Briain failed to convert a par putt from seven feet.

“I was leading last year after the first round so it was nice to finally get the win this time around,” Lernihan said.

“I stuck to my plan today. Even though it was windy I continued to hit three-wood off the tee and just tried to keep the ball in play.”