New era for Irish PGA

A new agreement will see the Irish PGA Championship move up country this season to Roganstown Hotel, Golf and Country Club, near Swords in North County Dublin.

It is part of a new arrangement reached with Cassidy Golf and Peter Gaw of Down Syndrome Centre, which will be the beneficiary.

Down Syndrome Centre has also committed to promoting the event with the PGA for the next three years with the event titled The Cassidy Golf PGA Irish Championship and will have a minimum prize-fund of €30,000.

This year’s 72-hole tournament will take place from October 10 to 13 with the usual curtain-raising pro-am on Wednesday, October 9.

''The Down Syndrome Centre is delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Irish PGA for the next three years,'' said its founder, Peter Gaw.

''We look forward to developing our relationship with the many members around the country and putting together schemes which will be mutually beneficial to the charity and the PGA.

“We are currently in the process of opening our first Centre in Dublin, which we hope will assist the Down Syndrome community in every aspect of their life and, I have no doubt, our relationship with the PGA will help us to do so.''

Last year’s championship winner, after a thrilling three holes play-off, was David Higgins from Waterville, who outshot Massereene’s Noel Murray and former European Tour player Gary Murphy.

The shootout took three extra holes before Higgins emulated his dad Liam by becoming the winner. Liam won in 1983 at Woodbrook.

Winning the championship last year clinched the PING Order of Merit for David Higgins who, since then, has secured his European Tour Card.

Roganstown, founded only in 2004, has staged a number of PGA events, including the Southern Branch Championship. It has also hosted GUI and ILGU tournaments.