McElhinney puts his career back on track with Powerade win at Co Meath

Former British and European amateur champion Brian McElhinney booked a place in the Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship with victory at Co.Meath Golf Club.

McElhinney, of Foyle Golf Centre, is in his first year of PGA training after admitting his career needed a shot in the arm.

The 30-year-old won the Powerade qualifying event by one shot after carding a three- under-par round of 70.

He beat Daniel Sugrue, of Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, into second place.

Now they - along with 11 other qualifiers from the event - will tee off in the £32,500 final, supported by FootJoy, which will be held on August 7-9 at Coventry Golf Club.

And McElhinney will take a wealth of experience into the event after a number of professional wins under his belt.

He said: “I’m used to the tournament feel of the event and I hope I can challenge.

“After my amateur wins, I turned professional, but although I was doing well over a five year spell, I didn’t feel I was ever going to take that next step.

“It was kind of ‘same thing, different year’.

“Things didn’t seem to be heading in the direction I was looking for, but I wanted my career to be in golf and felt that the PGA course could give me that.

“This is my first year so it’s too early to say where it’ll lead.”

McElhinney, who was the British amateur champion in 2005, felt comfortable with his round at Co.Meath.

He added: “I only really made a couple of mistakes, but I ended up with five birdies so that proved to be good enough.

“Now I’m really looking forward to getting over to Coventry to play in the final.”