Mooney wins BMW Eastern Open

Damian Mooney (Damian Mooney Golf) edged out Colm Moriarty (Glasson Hotel & Golf Club) on the second playoff hole to win the BMW Eastern Open at St Anne's Golf Club on Thursday.

Strong winds battered the competitors in what was the opening event of the PGA in Ireland competitive schedule.

“Conditions were really tough. It was a four-club wind and if anything it was more difficult downwind trying to get the ball to stop,” said Mooney.

“I said going out that level par would be a good score. We were hitting five irons into most of the par threes.”

In the end, Mooney and Moriarty carded a pair of two-under-par 69s with Michael McGeady a shot back on one under par.

The leading duo went back down the par four 18th in a sudden-death playoff.

Moriarty fired an excellent iron shot into 15 feet while Mooney's approach finished short of the green. He pitched to tap in range handing Colm a putt for the win but the ball stayed above ground.

The pair went down to the 18th again and this time both players found the putting surface with a short iron.

“Colm hit another lovely iron shot in to around the same distance as his first effort while I left mine eight feet from the hole,” said Damian.

“He hit a good putt but it just shaved the hole and I rolled mine in for the birdie. It was a lovely putt.”

The Belfast golfer turns 50 at the end of May and is looking towards earning a place on the European Seniors Tour but more immediately, he will continue to play PGA in Ireland events.

“I will try to qualify for the Irish Open at Ballyliffin and I'm looking into qualifying for the Senior British Open which returns to St Andrews this year. I'm very tempted to try that,” added Mooney.

The next event on the PGA in Ireland circuit is the K Club Pro-Am on May 5-6.