Moriarty walks away with top prize at The Heritage

Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance) carded a final round four-under-par 68 to edge out David Higgins (Waterville) for first prize at The Heritage Pro-Am on Sunday.

His 36-hole total of nine-under-par (135) gave him victory by one shot over Higgins who carded a second round 70 at the Co Laois venue.

“I played very nicely, particularly on the first day,” said Moriarty, who was bogey free in compiling a five-under-par 67 on day one.

“I was maybe a bit loose at the start of things and had to scramble a bit to keep things together but picked it up around the turn with a birdie and an eagle. I hit it in the water at the fourth, my 13^th, and ended up with a double but I was delighted then to birdie my 16th and 17th.

“You have to play good golf to score around here so I pleased with the performance.”

The tournament, sponsored by Fountains & Decor Ltd and LED Light Tech Ltd boasted the biggest prize fund of the season - €50,000 – and drew a full field of 55 competitors to the Seve Ballesteros-designed course. 

A gala dinner and charity auction in aid of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation on Saturday evening raised approximately €10,000. Items donated included a fourball at Royal Pedrena Golf Club, a visit to the Seve Trophy room in Seve’s house and a sculpture of Seve’s grip.

Overnight leader Michael McDermott (Pure Golf Leopardstown) was unable to match his stunning first round effort of seven-under-par 65.

Out in level par 36, a birdie at the par five second (he started at the 10th) got him to eight-under for the tournament but he immediately gave that shot back at the third and then a double-bogey at the par five eighth ended his chances.

McDermott finished in third place by himself on five-under-par. Eamonn Brady (Clontarf GC) finished tied for fourth with Damien McGrane, who carded the lowest round of the day on Sunday a five under par 67.

Neil O'Briain (Old Conna GC) guided his amateur partners to victory in the team event compiling 190 points over 36 holes.