Ryder Cup stars turn out for Christy

Ryder Cup legends Des Smyth and Philip Walton have confirmed their participation in the inaugural Christy O’Connor Jnr Irish PGA Championship Pro-Am at Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort on Wednesday, September 21.

O'Connor's sudden death in January this year shocked the entire golfing community. As a mark of respect, the PGA in Ireland, in association with the O'Connor family and the directors of Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort agreed that the Irish Championship Pro-Am would be named in his honour.

Smyth, aged 63, is a two-time Ryder Cup player who has also served as a vice-captain on two occasions in 2006 and 2014.

The Drogheda golfer continues to play regularly on the European Senior Tour where he has a best placed finish this season of tied for fifth at the Acorn Jersey Open.

Walton, 54, holed the crucial winning putt for Europe at Oak Hill in 1995 on his only Ryder Cup appearance.

The Dubliner is a regular competitor on the PGA in Ireland Pro-Am circuit when he is not playing on the European Senior tour.

The Christy O’Connor Jnr Irish PGA Championship Pro-Am will precede the staging of the 106th Irish PGA Championship on the Twin Oaks Championship Course (22-25 September).

Tim Rice booked his place in the field by topping the leaderboard at the second qualifier which was held at Moyvalley on Tuesday. The Limerick GC professional carded a three under par 69 to finish one shot ahead of Michael Kelly (Dun Laoghaire GC) and Andy Hogan (Edmondstown GC).

Qualifiers - Tim Rice, Michael Kelly, Andy Hogan, Bernard Quigley, Scott Wilson, John Dignam, Mark O'Mahony, Mark Heinemann, David Foley, Shaun Donnelly, Brian Jnr McCormack, Fintan Lacey, Ryan Madigan, Josh Adams, Stephen McCarthy, Shane Jenkinson, Brian O'Reilly, Kelan McDonagh, Brian McElhinney, Brian Sweeney, Tony O'Regan, Ross Young, Kevin Foy, Mark Peat, Dan Hinds, Christopher Loughrey, Ciaran McKenna, Thomas Niland, David Leathem, Dean Redmond, Paul Masterson, Michael O'Shea, Paul Stevenson, Matthew McCarthy, Matthew Dunmore, Derry Kiely, Padraig McGrath.