The Munster PGA got together for their final winter series event before Christmas and limerick man Tim Rice took the spoils with a five under par 67.  Despite playing a relatively short course, the unusually quick and smooth greens caught a fair few golfers on the front nine and the result was that only two golfers managed to break the par of 72.  Tim Rice made his return to the local scene after missing the Killarney event as he reached the second stage of European Tour Q School.  Now back on Irish soil, the PGA Assistant from Limerick was the only golfer to stay on track for the full round at Castlemartyr.  He birdied each of the par five’s on the front nine before recording an eagle at the ninth hole.  That meant that the Limerick man turned on -4, and unlike many of the other pro’s who turned with a  good score, Rice held on to it.  A bogey on the 10^th was balanced with a birdie on the 12^th.  He added a birdie on the 17^th in the middle of a run of five pars to secure the lead and take his first win of the current winter series.  Tralee’s John Sugrue was the only other golfer to break par, he finished with a 71 to take second place.  Killarney winner Davey Barry was also in the hunt today until he dropped a few shots on the way home.  He finished off with a level par to take third place and did his PGB Order of Merit hopes no real harm.  There was a three way tie for fourth place with Cian McNamara, David Ryan and Padraig Dooley all signing for 74’s.  The event was kindly sponsored by John Caulfield from TaylorMade Golf.

Gallery: Munster PGA at Castlemartyr

The course in Castlemartyr came in for great praise and resident PGA Professional Brady Sherwood was happy with the feedback: “I was delighted have my fellow Munster PGA professionals playing our course today.  The weather held out and its always nice to get very positive feedback in relation to the course set up and the playing conditions.  Our greens staff do an amazing job, the dry winter weather assisting in getting our fescue rough harvested ready for next season. It’s great to have our trademark greens running a cracking 10 on the stimp.”

David Ryan maintains his place at the top of the Premium Golf Brands Order of Merit with Cian McNamara close by in second place.  Dave Foley, Tim Rice and Davey Barry take up the next places with half of the schedule completed.  Details of the January and February will be announced shortly.