Wayne O’Callaghan continued his great record in Monkstown Golf Club on Monday when he won the Morgan O’Donovan Trophy.  The event was the final competition of the Munster PGA winter series and it was the second time that PGA members played to remember their colleague. In 2013, Peter O’Keeffe and Damien McGrane tied to take the title and O’Callaghan was extremely happy to add his name to the commemorative trophy; “this trophy meant a lot as I was great friends with Morgan since we both played boys golf together.  I would put it up with my win at the Irish Assistants championship 1997”.  The busy teaching professional who runs his Academy from Fernhill Golf Club has four Monkstown Pro-Am titles to his name.  However in spite of his great record he must have been worried as he carded a 7 on the par 4 final hole.  O’Callaghan had done enough though, four birdies and a bogey on the front nine saw him take a lead and he added another birdie on the 15^th before finding trouble on the 18^th.  It was still good enough to take the prestigious title by one shot from David Ryan.  Stephen Hayes, John Kelly, Walter Doyle and Danny Sugrue all finished with 71 and locals Simon Keelan, Brady Sherwood and Cian McNamara were one shot back on 72.  This was the final event of the winter series, eight competitions were held across Munster and all were very well supported.

The Winter Series order of merit was also settled and the top three finishers were the same as in 2013.  The order however was reversed as Killarney’s Danny Sugrue took top spot.  David Ryan was second and Monkstown’s Cian McNamara was third.  While the PGA Irish Region events kick off this month, McNamara and Sugrue both have the Irish Open to look forward to.  Both have secured entry into the showpiece golf event which takes place in Fota in June.  April see’s the start of the PGA calendar with a two PGA Sprints taking place.  The pro-am season begins at the start of May with the Kinsale pro-am scheduled for July and the Cork pro-am taking place in August.

In amateur golf, interest in building in the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup which takes place on 12^th & 13^th April.  Muskerry winner John Hickey and Fota winner Mark Shanahan are both confirmed for the event as are current Irish internationals Rory McNamara and Richard O’Donovan.  The closing date has been extended to Monday next and anyone interested in playing should contact Lee Valley.  Tomorrow see’s the start of the qualifiers for the Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy.  The timesheet for both Friday and Saturday is virtually and the top 64 qualifiers will go forward to the matchplay stage which takes place over the Easter weekend.