Practice makes perfect as Bradshaw books final spot
10/09/2015
Newlands Golf Club’s Dermot Bradshaw admitted his extra golf lessons paid off in style as he reached the Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge final in Turkey.
Bradshaw teamed up with the Dublin club’s PGA Professional Karl O’Donnell to win the Irish qualifying event at Luttrellstown Castle Golf & Country Club in Castleknock.
The pair recorded an eight-under-par round of 64 to win by just one shot ahead of Seamus Clinton and Gerard Duffy of Letterkenny Golf Club.
Bradshaw and O’Connell will now play in the £25,000 showpiece final to be held over the PGA Sultan Course at Antalya Golf Club in Turkey between November 25-26.
But 57-year-old Bradshaw, who plays off a handicap of nine, was rewarded for his hours of practice.
“I was just fed up of playing badly,” said Bradshaw, an IT manager who has been a member at Newlands for 40 years since joining the club as a junior member.
“Once I realised the greenkeeper was driving the ball further than me, I realised it was time to get some lessons.
“I’d been working with Karl and it looks like it’s worked out.
“I knew I’d be playing more golf this year, but it wasn’t just that, I just wanted to play better.
“And we had a great day, I’d never played golf like that before to be honest.
“I was a bad nine handicapper and now I’m a better nine handicapper!”
The pair never looked back after starting their round with three birdies in a row.
They were six-under-par after the front nine and only suffered one blip with a bogey at the 13th hole.
It will be O’Donnell’s first appearance in the final.
“I’ve been trying for 26 years and now I’ve finally got there,” he said.
“Dermot’s been having lessons and it would seem they’re working out for him.But he’s a work in progress!” smiled the Newlands head professional.
“Dermot has been playing well recently so I thought we’d be in with a chance.”
