Tracey and Donnelly make triumphant return to final

Eddie Tracey and Shaun Donnelly will make their return to the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship Final after a five-year gap.

The duo won the Irish qualifying event at Headfort Golf Club when they carded a seven-under-par round of 65.

Co Mayo-based Tracey, left, representing Nevada Bob Castlebar, teamed up with Donnelly, from Enniskillen’s Castle Hume Golf Club, to head the list of four qualifying teams.

They will now head for the £33,250 BMW-supported grand final at St Mellion on August 20-22.

And Tracey, who plays his golf at nearby Ballina, admitted it was the lure of the Cornish venue that tempted them back into the competition.

“We last made it to the final five years ago when it was played at Forest Pines,” said Tracey.

“And although we made the cut, the scoring was pretty hot.

“We won the qualifying event that year as well.

“But this time, we saw the final was going to be held at St Mellion and we fancied playing there.

“It was definitely one of the attractions and the reason why we decided to play in the competition again this year.”

The duo beat Ryan Madigan and Leo Hynes, of Co Dublin’s Killiney Golf Club, by one shot.

But with so few places on offer, there was little margin for error.

Tracey admitted however that he and Donnelly were rarely in trouble at the Co Meath course.

“We knew it was going to be tight qualifying with only four places available, but we played pretty solidly throughout,” said Tracey.

Tracey and Donnelly have been friends for years and they are confident they will combine well at the final.

“We came through the ranks together, I’ve known Shaun a long time, we go way back,” he said.

“It’ll be great to go back to the final after such a long gap, we’re really looking forward to it, it should be a great venue to play at.”

Mark Gallagher and Scott Kirkpatrick, of Ardee Golf Club, claimed the final qualifying spot after a play-off.