McNamara edges out Moriarty at Connemara

Monkstown's Cian McNamara carded solid rounds of 69 and 68 to win the Connemara pro-am.

The 28-year-old's two round total of 137 saw him edge out Glasson's Colm Moriarty who carded a brilliant five-under 67 at the Co Galway venue.

McNamara has been threatening a win in recent weeks and headed to Connemara on the back of a third place finish at the recent Galway Bay Pro-Am.

He made a steady start to round two and went to the turn in one-under 36 with birdies at 14 and 17 offset by a dropped shot at the 16^th.

After another birdie at the par-three third, he took control of proceedings with a run of three birdies in succession at the fifth, sixth and seventh but a dropped shot at his last hole, the par four ninth, gave the rest of the field a chance.

Former Challenge Tour regular Moriarty took up the chase with a scintillating run of golf around the turn. Beginning his round at the 10^th, he started quietly but then birdied the 17^th, eagled the 18^th, and birdied the first, second and fifth to close within a shot. The 35-year-old needed one more birdie from his final four holes to draw level but couldn't get the ball to drop and finished one shot shy.

Kenny Fahey (GUI National Academy) guided his team to success in the amateur event with a two round total of 184.