John Dignam struck a blow for Irish professional golf when he won the £55,000 Quinn Life PGA Charity Trophy at Slieve Russell yesterday.
The power-hitting Slade Valley club pro brushed past a dozen European Tour players to snatch the first prize of £9,000. Dignam returned a closing, two-under-par 70 for an aggregate of 319 and a one-shot win over Des Smyth. "This is a nice little boost for me - it's the biggest prize of my career - but it is also a boost for Irish professional golf," said Dignam (33). "We regularly return good scores, but they are not noticed except when we are playing against the tour professionals." He began his final round one stroke behind the overnight leader, Smyth, but throughout the afternoon the lead switched hands regularly and with a few holes to play the pair were locked at four under par and heading for a shoot out.
However, Dignam stuck to his task and finished strongly with two birdies in the last three holes.
He had rattled off three birdies between the second and sixth, rolling in 10-foot putts at the second and sixth, and steering a seven-iron to one foot at the short fifth hole. After firing a nine-iron over the green at the eighth, he dropped a stroke, but recovered it at the 10th when he rolled home a 20 footer for a three.
Then came what looked like the downfall of Trim-born Dignam as the wheels came off and he pencilled in three bogey fives between 11th and 14th to allow Smyth to sneak one shot ahead.
But it did not ruffle Dignam, who made a two at the 16th with a six-iron to five feet and a fabulous four at the long 18th to sneak into the lead. On the home green he calmly slotted in a difficult, downhill five-footer for his round of 70.
Smyth's undoing was undoubtedly a lost ball at the 14th, where he drove into trees. He did make par four with his provisional ball but the two shots penalty left him struggling.
"I wasn't sure whether John had made a birdie at the last hole or not, but I knew I had to go for the green after driving into a bunker. It's a great win for him," said Smyth, who has never won this tournament but clinched the Irish PGA championship title at Slieve Russell in 1996.
Dignam also led in the winning team to collect an extra £600.
Leading scores: 139 - J Dignam (Slade Valley) 70 (£9,000). 140 - D Smyth (Westpoint Fitness Centre) 72 (£6,000). 142 - E Darcy (Druids Glen) 70 (£4,500). 144 - D Higgins (Waterville) 72, D Cooper (Eng) 72, M Bannon (Bangor) 74. 145 - W Riley (Aus) 71. 146 - M Mackenzie (Eng) 73, W Westener (Rsa) 76, J Kelly (The Ward) 73. 147 - N Manchip (Royal Dublin) 74, P Hanna (Fortwilliam) 76, D Mooney (Laganview) 73. 148 - E Logue (Hilton) 76, F Howley (Milltown) 75, G Loughrey (Knockbracken) 79, G Murphy (Kilkenny) 75. Team: 169 - Dignam with M Gilmartin (9 Woodbrook), J Treacy (13 Slieve Russell), J Bailey (17 Milltown).
Greg Norman will play in this year's Presidents Cup even though he may not qualify by ranking, according to International captain Peter Thomson.
Norman has slipped to 14th on the International team selection standings as he has struggled for form since his return from shoulder surgery. But Thomson confirmed the Shark would be one of the two picks he is allowed to make as captain if he failed to qualify automatically as one of the top 10 on the standings.
