David Mortimer Wins Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship

Donal Gleeson admitted he was among friends as he tied top spot at the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship Irish Region qualifier at The Heritage.

Gleeson, of the Old Conna Club, played alongside David Mortimer as the pair both made two under par on a difficult day to win a place in the £78,000 final.

Mortimer, of Fore Ireland, is the 2006 Irish PGA Champion and had never played in the Glenmuir tournament before which is also supported by Peugeot and MPI Financial Services.

He had wanted to make sure he could be competitive before the event but comfortably joined the nine qualifiers for the 72-hole final at The Oxfordshire which takes place from August 10-13.

Gleeson admitted it was a tough day but said it was helpful to have Mortimer with him.

"I know David quite well so we had a lot of fun actually," he said.

"It got quite competitive as well, but as we are friends we were able to relax a little more.

"I was happy to get two under par and it was a co-incidence that both myself and David were playing together as we tied for the lead.

"Qualifying for the final was goal and I enjoyed the day.

"The course played extremely long. Some of the holes were playing crazy.

"But I tried not to get too excited about anything and play solidly, I was hitting the middle of the greens and putting well.

"I was pleased with one shot in particular at the eighth, I hit a five iron to within 20 feet."

Mortimer admitted he had to overcome a back problem the night before the event.

"I felt a twinge but thankfully it held off on the day," he said.

"I went from level par to two over on the front nine, but then shot four under on the back nine.

"But I was probably only playing at about 70 per cent.

"It was good to be playing alongside Donald, he's get a birdie and then I'd get one. He's right when he said we were having fun out there - if you're having fun then the scores look after themselves.

"I was pleased with two under, especially as it was my first Glenmuir event.

"And I think I'll be able to keep the back under control this year with a bit of stretching in the gym!"

The Glenmuir championship is the flagship event on the PGA calendar and the Irish last tasted success in the event three years ago when Ashbourne's John Dwyer landed the title at Royal Porthcawl.

"The start of the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship qualifiers always marks the beginning of the tournament season for PGA pros, and we are really looking forward to another fantastic year of golf," said Glenmuir managing director Colin Mee.

"Now more than ever the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship offers professionals the chance to compete with fellow professionals, but also to meet and share views and ideas on current trading. We hope all of the competitors will enjoy this year's tournament."

Courtesy of Irish PGA

Staunton and Collins Play Europro Event

The FORE Ireland duo of Michael Collins and Mark Staunton join the 2008 Order of Merit winner, Noel Fox, in The Motocaddy Masters which tees off on Tuesday at Wensum Valley Golf Club in Norfolk.

This year there will be a number of past winners playing in the event including the 2008 Tour Championship winner at Les Bordes in France, Robert Steele, along with a number of previous winning names like Matthew Ford, James Busby, Nicky Harris, Brian McElhinney and Graeme Clark - the 2007 Order of Merit winner.

Andrew Marshall currently sits in sixth spot on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit and plays a course that is local to him, while Zane Scotland featured in 12 European Tour events in 2009 and could prove to be the man to beat in Norwich.

This will be Mark Staunton’s second outing this season and first EUROPRO Tour event of the season having played the Irish PGA Sprint event at Killeen Castle last month. For Michael Collins there are a few additional events in Spain under his belt when he played in two Hi5 Series tournaments in Murcia in February.

The FORE Ireland pairing will be joined a large group of fellow Irish players that includes Damien Mooney, Michael McGeady, Gareth Shaw, Paul O’Hanlon, David Rawluk, Tim Rice, Darren McWilliams, Neil O’Briain and Brendan McCarroll.

Set in 350 acres of beautiful Norfolk countryside, Wensum Valley Hotel and Golf Club offers the Par 72 Championship Wensum Course that requires length off the tee and has smaller well protected greens, some with water, that need accuracy to score well.

David Mortimer Secures a Strong Finish

Courtesy of INPHO

European Tour players Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane took the honours in Des Smyth’s president’s prize at the final outing of the Links Golfing Society at Royal Dublin last week.

Second to Lawrie was FORE Ireland’s David Mortimer with a 72, and Frank Leonard from Knightsbrook a shot further back on 73. Jim Carvill (Warrenpoint), off plus one, was best of a trio on 74 that included Jude Doyle from St Anne’s and local Joe Enright, off eight.

McGrane’s 69 in the gross was three clear of Ashbourne’s John Dwyer, with Eamonn Brady from Clontarf on 73. Stuart Taylor from The Island took fourth place from Gary Cullen from Beaverstown, and Robert Giles from Greenore after all three finished on 74.

David Mortimer and Enright also figured in the team prize with Tony Diamond on an eight-under-par 64. Pat O’Brien from Laytown and Bettystown won the gross in the over 50s, with Terry Lilly from Slade Valley taking the nett.

Fore Ireland was created earlier last season to support Irish professional and amateur golfers fulfil their ultimate ambitions, which in some instances is playing on the European Tour. By introducing a team element and a sense of camaraderie in what is an individual sport, the players work together towards reaching their objective, which each believe has been helped dealing with the challenges.

In 2009 the players with FORE Ireland include Michael Collins, David Mortimer, Mark Staunton and Ted Higgins Jnr.

For further information on the players go to www.foreireland.com.