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 9th and 10th 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
1st Donal McSweeney – Lahinch GC 54 (-2)
2nd Mark Collins – Charleville GC 55
3rd Walter Doyle – Ballyneety GC 56
4th Mark Beckett – The Golf Course at Adare Manor 57
4th Tim Rice – Limerick GC 57
4th Cian McNamara – Monkstown GC 57
4th Jack Ryan – Castletroy GC 57
4th Gary Howie – Castletroy GC 57
4th Kevin McGrath – Kevin McGrath Golf 57
Team Prize
1st Donal McSweeney, Walter Doyle, Jack Howard, Cian McNamara
2nd Tim Rice, Eanna Jones, Padraig Dooley, Kevin McGrath
Davey Barry continued his solid run of form with a top ten finish at the Irish PGA Championship in Bunclody. After a very impressive 68 yesterday, the Douglas Pro finished with a one over par 73, which saw him claim 7th place. It’s his fourth top ten of the season after positive results in Dromoland, Malahide and of course his win in the Conor O’Dwyer Pro-Am in Kilkea Castle. There were two birdies on Davey’s card today, bringing his total for the week to 10. At the start of the season he committed to give €10 to charity for every birdie he had in competition. He already has close to 40 birdies in the bag for the season and with a few more events left on the calendar. He’s headed for Derry this evening for the City of Derry Pro Am which 
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