New pro McDonagh cashes in at County Meath

Kelan McDonagh’s decision to leave the banking industry to turn pro paid dividends as he won the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship Irish qualifier at Co Meath Golf Club.

McDonagh, of Tullamore Golf Club, triumphed in only his second game in the professional ranks to finish top of the leaderboard by two shots.

The 26-year-old carded a three under par round of 70 to finish ahead of Andy Hogan (Edmondstown Golf Club)) and Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge Golf Club) who tied for second spot.

They will join 11 other qualifiers for the £32,000 grand final to be held at Little Aston Golf Club near Birmingham from August 3-5.

But for McDonagh, the victory justified his decision to leave the world of finance for a full-time golf career.

“I’d had a decent career as an amateur and won a few events,” he said.

“But for the last two years I’ve been working in banking and finance for a Dublin company.

“First it was retail banking, then corporate. Then I decided it was way over my head and not for me! But I was still playing as an amateur with the Royal Dublin club so I actively looked for an assistants’ role and one came up at Tullamore.

“And to win here in only my second game as a professional was fantastic. My first priority was to qualify but the win was a bonus.”

McDonagh admitted playing was not the main reason he turned pro however.

“I was 100 per cent looking at a coaching career, that’s why I took the PGA route to be honest,” he said.

“But if it helps me improve my game then I’ll take that as well.”

McDonagh has yet to play the Little Aston course - after he was denied by the weather six years ago.

“We went over to Birmingham to play in an event there, but it was December and when we got there it as covered in snow!” he recalled.

“I never got to play there in the end. So I won’t know anything about the course when I go over there for the final but I’ll be hoping to do well.”