McKenna aspires to life-long career in golf

Promising Mallow assistant PGA Professional Ciaran McKenna is looking to kick-start a life-long career in golf with success in the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship final at Coventry.

McKenna, 26, qualified for the £32,500 showpiece event, to take place on August 5-7, after coming through the Irish qualifier at Co Meath at the first attempt.

The former hurling and rugby player only turned pro last September with his best result to date coming in the Irish PGA Assistants’ Championship where he finished second.

But he sees his long-term career in the sport as a coach, an area he is taking a particularly keen interest in while studying for The PGA’s Foundation Degree programme.

“I hadn’t been playing a lot in the run-up to the qualifier for this so I was delighted to make it through,” he enthused.

“Conditions were tough but I stayed with it and didn’t make too many mistakes.

“I’ve never played Coventry before but I’ve heard a lot of good things, and I’m looking forward to going over there and seeing what it’s like for myself.

“I’ll take it in a couple of steps, first looking to make the cut, see how I’m doing and then look at where I can take it from there.

“I’m coming in on the back of a second place finish at the Irish Assistants’ which was nice, especially with it being in my mum’s home town Carrickmacross.”

“I just need to maintain that form going into this event.”

McKenna took the decision to embark on a career in the sport while studying in America, and he hopes a career in the game will help him to work in more far-flung destinations.

“I’ve always quite fancied working in Dubai or Melbourne,” he said.

“If I could go somewhere like that while working as a golf coach I really would be living the dream.

“But I know the first step in doing that is to become a qualified PGA pro, so that is where all my focus is at the moment.

“Golf is something that you can do for your entire life, not like other sports where you have to retire at an early age.

“You see people out there golfing at 80 plus. I would love to be in a position where I can spend the rest of my working life contributing to a sport that I love.”

Other players from Ireland competing in the final include: Noel Murray (Massereene), Neil O’Briain (Old Conna), Patrick Small (Galway), Ian Brennan (Greenore), Christopher Crangle (Fortwilliam), Brian Carroll (Elm Park) and David Barry (Douglas).