It may have taken three attempts but the 2019 staging of the Morgan O’Donovan Perpetual Trophy was completed on Monday, with Lahinch’s Donal McSweeney winning.  Two earlier attempts to hold the event in Monkstown were rained off, and rather than cancel this year’s event the Munster PGA committee decided to hold the event in Castletroy which was part of the autumn run of winter series events.  The Lahinch Head Professional had three birdies in his opening four holes in Castletroy giving him an excellent start.  Two bogies on the 9^th and 10^th pegged him back but the Charleville native finished well to post a winning score of 54 stokes for his 14 holes.  It was a north Cork 1-2 as Mark Collins from Charleville came in on one under thanks to four birdies and three pars.  Ballyneety’s Walter Doyle was third on 56 (L) while there were six golfers tied on +1.  Donal McSweeeny is the latest winner of the prestigious trophy, joining Damien McGrane, David Higgins and David Ryan who are among the previous winners.  Morgan O’Donovan was a very popular PGA Professional who passed away in 2012.  The event has been held since 2013 and is usually hosted by Monkstown Golf Club where Morgan was Club Professional.

McSweeney also won the team event, partnering with Walter Doyle, Jack Howard and Cian McNamara they carded ten birdies.  Tim Rice, Eanna Jones, Padraig Dooley and Kevin McGrath were second with nine birdies.  The event was kindly sponsored by Gary O’Flaherty from Cobra/Puma Golf.

Morgan O’Donovan Perpetual Trophy
1^st Donal McSweeney – Lahinch  GC 54 (-2)
2^nd Mark Collins – Charleville GC 55
3^rd Walter Doyle – Ballyneety GC 56
4^th Mark Beckett – The Golf Course at Adare Manor 57
4^th Tim Rice – Limerick GC 57
4^th Cian McNamara – Monkstown GC 57
4^th Jack Ryan – Castletroy GC 57
4^th Gary Howie – Castletroy GC 57
4^th Kevin McGrath – Kevin McGrath Golf 57

Team Prize
1^st Donal McSweeney, Walter Doyle, Jack Howard, Cian McNamara
2^nd Tim Rice, Eanna Jones, Padraig Dooley, Kevin McGrath