Glory for McElhinney in his home country - 21/04/2007

Click here to view the final results from" target="_blank" www.pga-tic.com/tic/tmtic.cgi]Click here[/url] to view the final results from Roganstown

IRISHMAN Brian McElhinney has won the first ever PGA EuroPro Tour event to be staged in his home country.

He hit a round of 68 to finish on two-under in the Oceanico Group Irish Classic at the Roganstown Golf and Country Club, Dublin to collect the £10,000 top prize.

The golfer, who is a member of the North West Golf Club in Fahan, County Donegal, had earlier scored totals of 71 and 72 and finished one shot ahead of three players in joint second.

After the first day McElhinney (pictured right) was tied 27th but four birdies in his final eight holes saw him come from nowhere to clinch the title. Robert Steele and Christopher Hanson had been at the top of the leaderboard at the start of the last day but scores of 74 and 75 respectively proved costly.

Elsewhere, Englishman Mark Prue, who represents the Hillside Golf Club, produced one of the finest rounds of the week as he hit a four-under 67 to end his tournament in style.

His round included six birdies and two bogeys and helped him restore some pride after a disappointing second day effort on Thursday of five-over that effectively ended his chances of winning. But the 67 on Friday saw him end on level par to finish in tied fifth position and earn him £1,125 in prize money.

Mark Laskey (Brocket Hall) and Glyn Bateman (Royal Eastbourne) had both been inside the top ten after Day One but scores of 80 and 81 respectively on Thursday saw them dramatically fall down the leaderboard.

Bateman recovered well to hit one-under but the tournament ended in poor fashion for Laskey as a final day 76 saw him end far further down the field than he would have hoped for.

The third event of the PGA EuroPro Tour season will also be held in Ireland , at the Faithlegg Golf Club in Waterford from Wednesday, May 16 to Friday, May 18.

Date posted: May 12, 2007