McNamara collects PGA Challenge Pro-Am crown

Cian McNamara edged out John Kelly and Peter Jones to win the PGA Challenge Pro-Am at Carton House.

The Monkstown PGA Professional was cruising along at five-under-par after 13 holes at the O'Meara Course but a couple of late bogeys almost cost him the title.

McNamara went to the turn in three-under 34 with birdies at the first, sixth and ninth. He picked up two more shots at the 11^th and 13^th but dropped shots at the 14^th and 16^th saw him sign for a three-under-par round of 70.

However, his target could not be overhauled, with Kelly (St Margaret's Golf & CC) and Jones (Coollattin GC) finishing a shot shy on two-under-par.

The opening round of the two-day PGA Challenge sponsored by Johnston Mooney & O'Brien gets underway on July 1 at 7.30am.

The competitors will be competing on the redesigned O'Meara Course, featuring a new par-five opening hole and a tough closing par-four 18^th.

The team event was won by Massereene's Noel Murray with a superb score of 92 points, three shots better than nearest competitor, Carton's director of golf, Francis Howley.