There was no joy today for the seniors who were playing in the Irish Seniors Open Championship in Co Tipperary, and Brian O’Donovan also failed to secure a full card in the PGA China final qualifying.

Holder Tom Cleary was among the local hopefuls in action but he couldn’t match the results of 2016 and rounds of 78,76,78 saw him finish just inside the top 20.  Not much of a consolation but he was the highest placed golfer from Cork after the three rounds.  Doneraile’s Tahg Heenan opened with a disappointing 81 on Wednesday but closed with two rounds of 76 to finish one shot behind Cleary and inside the top 30.  Micheal Quirke had threatened the lead on day one after shooting a 73 but rounds of 79 yesterday and 82 today saw him drop out of contention.  Kinsale’s Jerry Crean was the only other Cork golfer to make the cut and he finished one shot behind Quirke.  The winner was Wales Nicholas Grimmitt who finished on +7 to edge out Tramore’s John Mitchell by one shot.

Bandon’s Brian O’Donovan was in action in the final round of qualifying at the PGA China Tour School this morning.  O’Donovan had been hoping to claim on of the 16 full tour cards on offer after posting rounds of 71/72/70.  The wheels came off on the final round however and O’Donovan shot a 77 to finish outside the qualifiers.  In the past O’Donovan has used Monday qualifying to gain entry into some of the events, the Shenzen based professional is a Lead Instructor at one of the Mission Hills Academies in Shenzen.