Ginn leads at PGA National

By Brian Keogh

Aussie Stewart Ginn celebrated his 58th birthday in style by taking a two stroke lead into the final round of the AIB Irish Seniors Open at Palmerstown House.

The Melbourne man fired a one under par 71 in tough conditions at the PGA National Ireland track near Naas to lead on six under par from former Ryder Cup ace Costantino Rocca and American left-hander Doug Johnson.

Beaten by Sam Torrance in a four-man play-off last year, Ginn planned a low key birthday celebration last night as he prepared to chase his first senior win in Europe.

He said: "I'll limit myself to a cafe latte and a glass of red. I can't afford to do any celebrating yet.

"My wife is Malaysian and when I called her this morning she was celebrating for me with cocktails by the pool."

Rocca and Johnson also carded 71s to get to four under with Warrenpoint's Peter O'Hagan the best of the home brigade on one under par after a 71.

The former K Club professional, who has invested $100,000 in trying to play his way onto the Champions Tour through Monday qualifiers this year, birdied two of the last three holes.

Defending champion Torrance crashed seven behind after a 74 with Denis O'Sullivan (74) and Eamonn Darcy (77) well off the pace.

It was also a day to forget for Ulsterman Jimmy Heggarty and Paul Leonard.

Heggarty bogeyed four of the last five holes to finish on six over par after a 78 with Leonard two shots further back after a disappointing 80.

AIB Irish Seniors Open, PGA National Ireland (Par 72)
138 S Ginn (Aus) 67 71
140 C Rocca (Ita) 69 71, D Johnson (USA) 69 71
141 J Quiros (Spa) 73 68, K Spurgeon (Eng) 71 70
142 D Merriman (Aus) 72 70,
143 P O'HAGAN (Ire) 72 71, G Levenson (Rsa) 68 75
144 D Good (Aus) 73 71, A Garrido (Spa) 73 71, J Bland (Rsa) 71 73, H Carbonetti (Arg) 71 73, A Tapie (USA) 69 75
145 A Fernandez (Chi) 74 71, T Allen (Eng) 73 72, G Encina (Chi) 72 73, S Torrance (Sco) 71 74
146 B Cameron (Eng) 74 72, M Gray (Sco) 74 72, C Mason (Eng) 73 73, T Gale (Aus) 73 73, B Lincoln (Rsa) 73 73
147 D Cambridge (Jam) 77 70, G Cali (Ita) 75 72, D O'SULLIVAN (Ire) 74 73, T Johnstone (Zim) 73 74, L Carbonetti (Arg) 73 74, N Job (Eng) 73 74, G Ralph (Eng) 73 74
148 J Rivero (Spa) 75 73, S Owen (Nzl) 75 73, G Watine (Fra) 74 74, R Drummond (Sco) 74 74, E DARCY (Ire) 71 77, J Chillas (Sco) 71 77
149 T Horton (Eng) 75 74, M Clayton (Aus) 72 77, B Longmuir (Sco) 72 77, G J Brand (Eng) 70 79
150 M Miller (Sco) 73 77, J HEGGARTY (Ire) 72 78, A Sowa (Arg) 72 78, P Oakley (USA) 71 79
151 D Durnian (Eng) 77 74, B Smit (Rsa) 76 75, E Rodriguez (Spa) 75 76, P Teravainen (USA) 75 76, L HIGGINS (Ire) 74 77, P Dugeny (Fra) 73 78, R Carrasco (USA) 73 78, D Creamer (Eng) 71 80
152 A MORROW (Ire*) 74 78, M Pinero (Spa) 74 78, I Mosey (Eng) 73 79, P LEONARD (Ire) 72 80
153 V Garcia (Spa) 79 74, M Ferguson (Aus) 79 74, M Bembridge (Eng) 77 76, T Charnely (Eng) 76 77, B Larratt (Eng) 76 77, S Martin (Sco) 75 78, J Rhodes (Eng) 75 78, B Heuchan (Can) 73 80
154 N Ratcliffe (Aus) 75 79
155 J Lapsley (Nzl) 78 77, J Mashego (Rsa) 76 79, T Rastall (Eng) 75 80, J Hawkes (Rsa) 74 81, D J Russell (Eng) 74 81
156 L MacNAMARA (Ire*) 77 79
158 E POLLAND (Ire) 79 79, M Poxon (Eng) 79 79
159 B Shearer (Aus) 80 79
167 J Benda (USA) 82 85
168 D MORRIS (Ire*) 89 79