Ireland’s David Mortimer lifted the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship at the first attempt after a dramatic final day’s play at The Oxfordshire.
The Fore Ireland pro based at the GUI Academy at Carton House clinched the title on the second extra play-off hole with a 20 foot birdie following a tie with Mossock Hall’s David Shacklady.
Former Irish PGA champion Mortimer, playing in the third last pairing, forced his way to the top of the leaderboard with a four under 68 to set a nine under target with birdies on his final two holes including on the last where a pulled shot got a lucky bounce back on to the green to five feet.
The former Gaelic footballer, who got the golf bug as a teenager playing at Connemara, secured the £10,000 first prize on the ninth hole when Shacklady’s putt from 15 feet lipped out.
“It was a nice way to finish, it was hard luck on Dave he played a good hole but I just managed to sneak one in there,” he said.
“I wasn’t too nervous in the play-off. I enjoyed it and actually hit a couple of good shots.
“It’s my first time playing in the Glenmuir, I always wanted to see what the standard was and to be honest I just holed a few putts at the right time.
“I didn’t play particularly great all week but the golf course wasn’t too punishing with the rough so you can get away with it.”
Shacklady had no complaints and in fact nearly won it in regulation play with a sensational pitch shot that landed 20ft past the pin and span back missing the hole by inches. This was after he’d driven into a bunker on 18 and could only play up to 70 yards from the pin.
“It wasn’t quite enough but I can’t complain about the week, I’ve enjoying it immensely especially the way I’ve played under pressure,” said Shacklady.
“I felt like I was always going to have a good chance of winning. I was watching the leaderboards thinking two pars on the last might do it but David birdied the last which I wasn’t thinking was in the equation so fair play to him for doing that.
“You don’t get a sterner test than four rounds around here against the best players so losing a play-off is no problem – it would have been lovely to win it but so be it.”
In a good day for the Irish, Greenore’s Rob Giles finished in a share of seventh while Donal Gleeson (Old Conna) was joint 10th following a 68.
Overnight leader Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) endured a mixed round including a double bogey on the par four 10th when he found water. He got to eight under and needed a birdie at the last to join the play off but left his putt just short. His 73 earned him third place at eight under par, a stroke ahead of Cherry Burton’s John Wells.
Leaders:
1= 279 -9
David Mortimer (IRE) Fore Ireland 69 70 72 68
David Shacklady (ENG) Mossock Hall 70 68 72 69
3 280 -8
Stuart Little (ENG) Michinhampton 68 70 69 73
4 282 -6
John Wells (ENG) Cherry Burton 71 71 69 71
5= 283 -5
Crue Elliott (ENG) Sandy Lodge 71 71 71 70
Steven Parry (ENG) Steve Parry Golf School 75 68 69 71
7= 284 -4
Craig Corrigan (ENG) Haigh Hall 74 69 74 67
Jon Bevan (ENG) Wessex Golf Centre 71 73 68 72
Robert Giles (ENG) Greenore 73 66 71 74
10= 285 -3
Donal Gleeson (IRE) Old Conna GC 70 73 74 68
James Harris (ENG) Nevill 68 69 77 71
The Fore Ireland pro based at the GUI Academy at Carton House clinched the title on the second extra play-off hole with a 20 foot birdie following a tie with Mossock Hall’s David Shacklady.
Former Irish PGA champion Mortimer, playing in the third last pairing, forced his way to the top of the leaderboard with a four under 68 to set a nine under target with birdies on his final two holes including on the last where a pulled shot got a lucky bounce back on to the green to five feet.
The former Gaelic footballer, who got the golf bug as a teenager playing at Connemara, secured the £10,000 first prize on the ninth hole when Shacklady’s putt from 15 feet lipped out.
“It was a nice way to finish, it was hard luck on Dave he played a good hole but I just managed to sneak one in there,” he said.
“I wasn’t too nervous in the play-off. I enjoyed it and actually hit a couple of good shots.
“It’s my first time playing in the Glenmuir, I always wanted to see what the standard was and to be honest I just holed a few putts at the right time.
“I didn’t play particularly great all week but the golf course wasn’t too punishing with the rough so you can get away with it.”
Shacklady had no complaints and in fact nearly won it in regulation play with a sensational pitch shot that landed 20ft past the pin and span back missing the hole by inches. This was after he’d driven into a bunker on 18 and could only play up to 70 yards from the pin.
“It wasn’t quite enough but I can’t complain about the week, I’ve enjoying it immensely especially the way I’ve played under pressure,” said Shacklady.
“I felt like I was always going to have a good chance of winning. I was watching the leaderboards thinking two pars on the last might do it but David birdied the last which I wasn’t thinking was in the equation so fair play to him for doing that.
“You don’t get a sterner test than four rounds around here against the best players so losing a play-off is no problem – it would have been lovely to win it but so be it.”
In a good day for the Irish, Greenore’s Rob Giles finished in a share of seventh while Donal Gleeson (Old Conna) was joint 10th following a 68.
Overnight leader Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) endured a mixed round including a double bogey on the par four 10th when he found water. He got to eight under and needed a birdie at the last to join the play off but left his putt just short. His 73 earned him third place at eight under par, a stroke ahead of Cherry Burton’s John Wells.
Leaders:
1= 279 -9
David Mortimer (IRE) Fore Ireland 69 70 72 68
David Shacklady (ENG) Mossock Hall 70 68 72 69
3 280 -8
Stuart Little (ENG) Michinhampton 68 70 69 73
4 282 -6
John Wells (ENG) Cherry Burton 71 71 69 71
5= 283 -5
Crue Elliott (ENG) Sandy Lodge 71 71 71 70
Steven Parry (ENG) Steve Parry Golf School 75 68 69 71
7= 284 -4
Craig Corrigan (ENG) Haigh Hall 74 69 74 67
Jon Bevan (ENG) Wessex Golf Centre 71 73 68 72
Robert Giles (ENG) Greenore 73 66 71 74
10= 285 -3
Donal Gleeson (IRE) Old Conna GC 70 73 74 68
James Harris (ENG) Nevill 68 69 77 71
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