Irish PGA Championship

The Irish PGA Championship is a golf tournament played annually in Ireland since 1907. It is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, the oldest in the country, and has been played at many different golf courses in Ireland. It is the marquee event on the PGA Tour of Ireland's schedule, having many notable winners in the over 100 years of play. Christy O'Connor Snr and Harry Bradshaw have the most wins in the event with 10.[1] The event was played in match-play format from its inauguration in 1907 until it became a stroke play event in 1910.[2]

History

1907 Irish Professional Championship

The first Irish Professional Championship was played on 20 and 21 May 1907 at Royal Portrush Golf Club. There was an 18-hole stroke play contest on the first morning with the leading 8 qualifying for the knockout matchplay stage. James Edmundson and Harry Hamill led with scores of 76. Three players were tied for the final place and played a 9-hole playoff to decide the last place, won by Hugh McNeill. In the first round of the matchplay Edmundson and Hamill were drawn to play each other, Edmundson being the surprise winner by 5&4.[3] The semi-finals and final were played on the second day. Local professional Edmundson and Yorkshireman Bertie Snowball won their semi-finals and met in the final. The match was all square after 9 holes but Edmundson won the next three and eventually won 2&1.[4]

The Championship was preceded by the first professional match between Ireland and Scotland on 18 May. Teams of 12 played singles and foursomes. Ireland beat a weak Scotland team by 14 matches to 3 with 1 match halved.[5] The players had played a 36-hole stroke-play event the previous day, won by Michael Moran with a score of 154, 4 ahead of Bertie Snowball.[6]

1908 Irish Professional Championship

The 1908 Championship was extended to a third day, being played from 13–15 May at Portmarnock Golf Club. The first day was a 36-hole event with 8 qualifying for the matchplay stage. As in 1907 James Edmundson and Harry Hamill led, with scores of 160.[7] Edmundson and Bertie Snowball again met in the final.[8] In the 36-hole final Edmundson won comfortably 5&3 after being 4 up after 18 holes.[9] Edmundson won a gold medal and the £10 first prize.[8]

1909 Irish Professional Championship

The 1909 Championship retained the same format and was played from 12–14 May at Royal County Down Golf Club. James Edmundson was again joint leader, this time with Michael Moran, with scores of 167.[10] In the first round Edmundson was finally defeated. Moran and Harry Kidd won their two matches and met in the final.[11] Moran started badly and was 3 down after 6 holes. However, he then won the next 6 holes and was 2 up after the first round. Moran won the first hole in the afternoon and from the 5th to the 11th holes won 6 more to win easily 9&7, the first of five successive victories in the championship..[12]

1910 Irish Professional Championship

From 1910 the Championship became a 72-hole strokeplay event. It was played on 9 and 10 June at Royal Dublin Golf Club. Defending champion Michael Moran, pulled 7 ahead ahead at the end of the first day after a second round 72, a course record.[13] On the second day Moran extended his lead with another course record of 70, extending his lead to 13. A final round of 76 gave him a 10 stroke win over Michael Cahill and 23 ahead of the rest of the field.[14]

1911 Irish Professional Championship

The 1911 Championship was played on 8 and 9 June at Royal Portrush Golf Club. Michael Moran led after the first day on 159, three ahead of James Edmundson.[15] In the third round Edmundson scored 75 to Moran's 78 to be on level terms. Moran then scored a final round 72 to Edmundson's 78 to win by six strokes. Hugh McNeill finished third a further three shots behind.[16]

1912 Irish Professional Championship

The 1912 Championship was played on 9 and 10 May at Castlerock Golf Club. Pat Doyle led after the first day on 152, having set a course record of 72 in his afternoon round. Michael Moran was three behind on 155.[17] Moran scored 75 in the third round to Doyle's 82 to take a 4 stroke lead. Another 75 from Moran gave him a 6 shot win over Doyle who finished with a 77. Harry Hamill was third, a further shot behind.[18]

1913 Irish Professional Championship

The 1913 Championship was played on 31 July and 1 August at Portmarnock Golf Club. After two rounds Hugh McNeill led on 163, ahead of Pat O'Hare on 164. Defending champion Michael Moran was tied for fifth after a second round 88.[19] After a third round 79 O'Hare had a lead of 5 strokes from McNeill and Charlie Pope, with Moran a further shot back. McNeill and Pope faded in the final round, while O'Hare and Moran both took 39 for the front nine. O'Hare then took 7 at the 10th and 11th and came home in 44 to Moran's 36 to give Moran a two stroke victory and his fifth successive title. Pope had a final round 82 to finish third.[20][21]

1914 Irish Professional Championship

In late 1913 it was announced that Michael Moran was leaving Royal Dublin Golf Club to be professional at Wearside Golf Club[22] and so he was not eligible to defend his title in 1914. The 1914 Championship was played on 28 and 29 May at Royal County Down Golf Club. Local professional Alex Robertson led after the first day on 151 with Jimmy O'Hare a shot behind.[23] After the third round Hugh McNeill and Charlie Pope were tied for the lead with Robertson a shot behind. In the final round Pope took 75 to McNeill's 89 to take the championship by 8 strokes from brothers Jimmy and Pat O'Hare with Robertson a further shot behind.[24]

Winners

YearWinnerVenueScore
2015 Niall Kearney Dundalk 266
2014 Niall Kearney Adare Manor 268
2013 Michael McGeady Roganstown 275
2012 David Higgins Mount Juliet 209**
2011 Simon Thornton Seapoint Golf Club 269
2010 David Mortimer (2) Seapoint Golf Club 277
2009 Pádraig Harrington (6) The European Club 283
2008 Pádraig Harrington (5) The European Club 285
2007 Pádraig Harrington (4) The European Club 279
2006 David Mortimer Druids Heath 286
2005 Pádraig Harrington (3) PGA National Ireland 285
2004 Pádraig Harrington (2) St. Margarets 287
2003 Paul McGinley (4) Adare Manor 280
2002 Paul McGinley (3) Westport 213**
2001 Des Smyth (6) Castlerock 273
2000 Paul McGinley (2) County Louth 270
1999 Neil Manchip Island 271
1998 Pádraig Harrington Powerscourt 216**
1997 Paul McGinley Fota Island 285
1996 Des Smyth (5) Slieve Russell 281
1995 Philip Walton (4) Belvoir Park 273
1994 Darren Clarke Galway Bay 285
1993 Martin Sludds (2) The K Club 285
1992 Eamonn Darcy (2) The K Club 285
1991 Philip Walton (3) Woodbrook 277
1990 Des Smyth (4) Woodbrook 271
1989 Philip Walton (2) Castle 266
1988 Eamonn Darcy Castle 269
1987 Philip Walton County Louth 144***
1986 Des Smyth (3) Waterville 282
1985 Des Smyth (2) County Louth 201**
1984 Martin Sludds Skerries 277
1983 Liam Higgins Woodbrook 275
1982 David Feherty (2) Woodbrook 287
1981 David Jones Woodbrook 283
1980 David Feherty Royal Dublin 283
1979 Des Smyth Royal Dublin 215**
1978 Christy O'Connor Snr (10) Royal Dublin 286
1977 Paddy Skerritt Woodbrook 281
1976 Paddy McGuirk Waterville 291
1975 Christy O'Connor Snr (9) Carlow 275
1974 Eddie Polland Portstewart 277
1973 Jimmy Kinsella (2) Limerick 284
1972 Jimmy Kinsella Bundoran 289
1971 Christy O'Connor Snr (8) Galway 278
1970 Hugh Jackson Massereene 283
1969 Jimmy Martin Dundalk 268
1968 Christy Greene (2) Knock 282
1967 Hugh Boyle Tullamore 214**
1966 Christy O'Connor Snr (7) Warrenpoint 269
1965 Christy O'Connor Snr (6) Mullingar 283
1964 Ernie Jones (2) Knock 279
1963 Christy O'Connor Snr (5) Cork 271
1962 Christy O'Connor Snr (4) Bangor 264
1961 Christy O'Connor Snr (3) Lahinch 280
1960 Christy O'Connor Snr (2) Warrenpoint 271
1959 Norman Drew Mullingar 282
1958 Christy O'Connor Snr Royal Belfast 279
1957 Harry Bradshaw (10) Ballybunion 286
1956 Christy Greene Clandeboye 281
1955 Ernie Jones Castletroy 276
1954 Harry Bradshaw (9) Royal Co Down 300
1953 Harry Bradshaw (8) Dundalk 272
1952 Fred Daly (3) Mullingar 284
1951 Harry Bradshaw (7) Balmoral 280
1950 Harry Bradshaw (6) Grange 277
1949 Christy Kane Royal Portrush 301
1948 John McKenna (2) Galway 285
1947 Harry Bradshaw (5) County Louth 291
1946 Fred Daly (2) Clandeboye 285
1945 John McKenna Newlands 283
1944 Harry Bradshaw (4) Hermitage 291
1943 Harry Bradshaw (3) Dun Laoghaire 277
1942 Harry Bradshaw (2) Hermitage 285
1941 Harry Bradshaw County Sligo 293
1940 Fred Daly Cork 305
1939 Paddy Mahon (3) Bundoran 290
1938 Paddy Mahon (2) Royal Portrush 291
1937 Paddy Mahon Portmarnock 298
1936 Joe McCartney (3) Galway 281
1935 Sydney Fairweather (2) Belvoir Park 293
1934 Willie Nolan Dun Laoghaire 282
1933 Jimmy Adams Castlerock 291
1932 Hugh McNeill (2) Royal Dublin 304
1931 Joe McCartney (2) Portstewart 273
1930 Joe McCartney Castle 291
1929 Hugh McNeill Royal Co Down 317
1928 Leo Wallace County Sligo 315
1927 Pat O'Hare (2) Royal Dublin 310
1926 Sydney Fairweather Malone 299
1925 Moses O'Neill (3) Portmarnock 315
1924 Moses O'Neill (2) Malone 305
1923 Moses O'Neill Milltown 309
1922 James Martin Royal Portrush 328
1921 James Cromwell Portmarnock 313
1920 Jimmy O'Hare Castlerock 315
1919 Pat O'Hare Portmarnock 326
1915-18 Cancelled due to World War I
1914 Charlie Pope Royal Co Down 305
1913 Michael Moran (5) Portmarnock 324
1912 Michael Moran (4) Castlerock 305
1911 Michael Moran (3) Royal Portrush 310
1910 Michael Moran (2) Royal Dublin 296*
1909 Michael Moran def. Harry Kidd Royal Co Down 9 & 7
1908 James Edmundson (2) def. Bertie Snowball Portmarnock 5 & 3
1907 James Edmundson def. Bertie Snowball Royal Portrush 2 & 1

* format changed to stroke play in 1910
** reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather
*** reduced to 36 holes due to bad weather

Most wins

Rank Player # Wins Last win
T1 Christy O'Connor Snr 10 1978
Harry Bradshaw 10 1957
T3 Pádraig Harrington 6 2009
Des Smyth 6 2001
5 Michael Moran 5 1913
T6 Paul McGinley 4 2003
Philip Walton 4 1995

References

  1. ↑ About the Championship
  2. ↑ Past winners
  3. ↑ "Professionals at Portrush". The Glasgow Herald. 21 May 1907. p. 4.
  4. ↑ "Championships at Portrush". The Glasgow Herald. 22 May 1907. p. 12.
  5. ↑ "Professional International match". The Glasgow Herald. 20 May 1907. p. 5.
  6. ↑ "Professional at Portrush". The Glasgow Herald. 18 May 1907. p. 11.
  7. ↑ "Irish Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 14 May 1908. p. 13.
  8. 1 2 "Irish Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 15 May 1908. p. 14.
  9. ↑ "Irish Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 16 May 1908. p. 12.
  10. ↑ "The Irish Meeting". The Glasgow Herald. 13 May 1909. p. 13.
  11. ↑ "Irish Championship Meeting – Defeat of the holder". The Glasgow Herald. 14 May 1909. p. 14.
  12. ↑ "Irish Championship Meeting". The Glasgow Herald. 15 May 1909. p. 12.
  13. ↑ "The Irish Professional Championship – Record by M Moran". The Glasgow Herald. 10 June 1910. p. 14.
  14. ↑ "The Irish Professional Championship – Victory of M Moran". The Glasgow Herald. 11 June 1910. p. 15.
  15. ↑ "Irish Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 9 June 1911. p. 14.
  16. ↑ "Irish Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 10 June 1911. p. 15.
  17. ↑ "Irish Native Championships". The Glasgow Herald. 11 May 1912. p. 14.
  18. ↑ "Irish Professional Championships". The Glasgow Herald. 11 May 1912. p. 14.
  19. ↑ "Irish Professional Championships". The Glasgow Herald. 1 August 1913. p. 12.
  20. ↑ "Irish Professional Championship – Victory of Michael Moran". The Glasgow Herald. 2 August 1913. p. 12.
  21. ↑ http://www.irishgolfarchive.com/Events/1913%20Timeline.htm Irish Golf Timeline - 1913
  22. ↑ "Michael Moran's English appointment". The Times. 22 November 1913. p. 13.
  23. ↑ "Irish Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 29 May 1914. p. 12.
  24. ↑ "Irish Professional Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 30 May 1914. p. 13.

External links

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