Three-way tie at Cork

Brendan McGovern, Daniel Sugrue and Neil O'Briain (above) battled blustery conditions at Cork Golf Club to finish top of the pile at the Etihad Airways Cork Pro-Am.

O'Briain is making a habit of winning Etihad Airways events. The 28-year-old Old Conna professional won the Sprint event at the European Club in April and the Malahide Pro-Am in early June.

He made a solid start to his round yesterday, collecting a birdie at the par five second as he went to the turn in one-under 35. He added another birdie at the 11^th, dropped a shot at the 14^th but finished strongly with another birdie at the par four 17^th.

McGovern went to the turn in level par 36 with a birdie at the third, offset by a dropped shot at the seventh. The Headfort professional was more controlled on the back nine, with seven pars complimented with birdies at the 13^th and 15^th.

Of the trio, Sugrue will probably feel that he let a golden opportunity get away. The 36-year-old made a blistering start to his round, getting to four under par after six holes.

His momentum was halted somewhat with dropped shots at the ninth and 10^th but the Killarney professional bounced back with birdies at the 11^th and 12^th to grab control of the event once again.

Unfortunately, his chances of victory were ended by a poor finish as he dropped shots at the 15^th and 18^th.

In the amateur competition, Waterville's Liam Higgins made it a family affair, guiding his team of Tom Higgins, Ronan Higgins and Liam Higgins Jnr to the title with 93 points. Monkstown's Cian McNamara and his team of Denis O'Briain, James Keane and Vincent Meade finished second on 90 points.