Philip flips to the top

After quite an absence Philip Walton's name appeared at the top of the leaderboard at the 36-hole €20,000 Corrib Gas PGA Pro-Am tournament at Carne.

However, the former Ryder and Walker Cup player had to share the podium with Damien McGrane, who led after the first round with a four-under-par 68 but only managed regulation 72 second time out for his total of 140. In contrast, Walton strung together two rounds of 70 for four-under-par.

That score gave the unattached Walton and McGrane a comfortable six-shot lead over the field.

Tour player McGrane sprinkled six birdies over his first card as he closed with a four at the long 18th hole. Second time out, he highlighted his card with a golden eagle at the long fourth hole and made three birdies but also suffered five bogeys.

Walton got over bogeys at the first and third holes in his first round to cover the next six holes to the turn in three-under par. He then returned in one-under for his first 70 of the tournament.

In his second round he covered the front nine in regulation 35 and pencilled in three birdies in his closing five holes to be two-under on the homeward run.

Damian Mooney and his amateur partners posted a superb 101 points over the first 18 holes and added 84 more for a winning total of 185.