Surprised O'Briain holds his nerve

Neil O'Briain needed a birdie at the third extra hole to claim the PGA Southern Championship trophy at Powerscourt Golf Club. 

The Old Conna professional, leading by one shot after an opening round 68, followed up with a 66 to reach 10-under-par but, to his surprise, found that total matched by Michael McGeady. 

McGeady's brilliant best of the tournament bogey-free eight-under-par 64 saw him leapfrog the overnight contenders to set up a play-off with O'Briain.

“I was playing alongside David Higgins and Richard Kilpatrick and I was nine-under going up the last and saying to myself 'this is probably good enough',” said O'Briain, who also compiled a bogey-free round at the County Wicklow venue.

“I hit a nice drive down the last after an edgy two putt on 17 and from around 99 yards knocked it in to about eight feet and holed the putt only to find out that it was only good enough for a play-off.

“I was saying to myself 'that's it done’ but Mick must have played some superb golf today.”

The pair set off down the 10th again, halving the par four in pars. They moved on to the 18th and here O'Briain was out of position off the tee and could not find the green in two. He pitched and putted for a par while McGeady missed a birdie chance to win.

They returned to the 10th and McGeady's approach finished five feet away from the flag, while O'Briain from the left rough checked up two feet from the cup.

This time McGeady's putt for birdie lipped out leaving O'Briain to hole his for victory.

“I kind of stole that one to be honest, it feels like a bit of a robbery,” said O'Briain, who moved up to second in the PGA in Ireland Order of Merit behind leader David Higgins as a result of his victory.

“I played very solid overall today but it was playing very easy today. There wasn't much wind and the greens were receptive and running well. The conditions were very good and really I should have realised the scoring was going to be better than I originally thought.”