Davids Higgins followed in the footsteps of his father Liam by winning the PGA Irish Championship after a three hole play-off at Mount Juliet. David Higgins followed in his father Liam’s footsteps when he captured the Irish PGA Championship with a brilliant birdie at the third extra hole of a sudden death play-off at Mount Juliet.

{Scores}

The 39 year old from Waterville - who also claimed the PING Race to Mount Juliet Order of Merit title - closed with a 67 to set the target at seven under par and force a play-off with Gary Murphy (70) and 22-year old Massereene assistant Noel Murray, who finished with two birdies for a 69.

Former European Tour regular Murphy was eliminated at the first extra hole when he three-putted the 17th for a par-five as Higgins and Murray made birdies.

Higgins and Murray shared the 18th in par but it all ended on their second visit to the par-five 17th.

While Higgins hit the tree on the right with his approach to come up 87 yards short of the pin, Murray had a tough pitch from an awkward lie left of the green.

Higgins hit a stellar pitch to two feet to set up a tap-in birdie but while Murray could only knock his third into the bunker, he lipped out with the birdie effort and settled for joint second place with Murphy and a cheque for €2,125.

Higgins claimed the winner’s prize for €3,500 and confirmed his status as the top performer on the PGA Irish Region circuit by securing the Order of Merit. 

Higgins said  it was the  fulfillment of a boyhood dream to lift the trophy that his father Liam lifted in 1983.

“I remember looking at  trophy as a young lad and saying it would be lovely to win it,” he said. “I tried for a long time to win it and did it today and I’m  just delighted.”

Paying tribute to his fearless young rival Murray, he added: “He’s one for the future. Keep an eye out for him.”

Belfast’s Peter Martin, who led after the first two rounds, finished a shot outside the play-off in fourth place on six under after a closing 72 featuring a bogey at the 13th and a solitary birdie at the par-three 14th.

1 David Higgins  Waterville Golf Links (p) -7 70 72 67 209 €3,500

T2 Noel Murray  Massereene -7 70 70 69 209 €2,125

T2 Gary Murphy  Laytown & Bettystown -7 70 69 70 209 €2,125

4 Peter Martin  Riverside Golf Academy -6 67 71 72 210 €1,660

T5 Brendan McGovern  Headfort -5 72 71 68 211 €1,375

T5 Eamonn Brady  Clontarf -5 69 70 72 211 €1,375

7 Glen Robinson  St Helen’s Bay Golf Resort -4 70 73 69 212 €1,200

T8 Patrick Devine  Royal Dublin -3 73 72 68 213 €927.50

T8 Cian McNamara  Limerick -3 72 69 72 213 €927.50

10 John Kelly  St Margaret’s Golf & Country C -2 69 73 72 214 €830

T11 Jerry Scullion  Kilkeel -1 73 72 70 215 €732.50

T11 Niall Kearney  Royal Dublin -1 74 73 68 215 €732.50

T13 Barrie Trainor E 69 77 70 216 €531.67

T13 David Mortimer  Galway E 73 75 68 216 €531.67

T13 John Dwyer  Ashbourne E 71 71 74 216 €531.67

T16 John Dolan  Ballybofey & Stranorlar Golf C +1 75 70 72 217 €423.33

T16 Mark O’Sullivan  Ashbourne +1 73 72 72 217 €423.33

T16 Michael Collins  Mallow Golf Range +1 73 74 70 217 €423.33

T19 Wayne O’Callaghan  Wayneocallaghangolf.com +2 70 75 73 218 €368

T19 Tim Rice +2 76 69 73 218 €368

T19 James Roche  Gorey Driving Range +2 72 71 75 218 €368

T19 Enda McLoughlin  Wicklow +2 70 72 76 218 €368

T19 Seamus McMonagle  Dunfanaghy +2 70 72 76 218 €368

T24 David Reilly  Westmanstown +3 73 73 73 219 €326

T24 Damian Mooney  Ballyliffin +3 72 73 74 219 €326

T24 Peter Jones  Coollattin +3 73 72 74 219 €326

T24 Neil O’Briain +3 72 69 78 219 €326

T24 David Jones  Bushfoot +3 72 75 72 219 €326

T29 John Murray  Malahide +4 72 76 72 220 €293.33

T29 Peter O’Keeffe  Muskerry +4 72 75 73 220 €293.33

T29 Enda Maguire  Dundalk +4 74 73 73 220 €293.33

T32 Kevin McGivern  Mannan Castle +5 71 77 73 221 €265

T32 John McDermott  Grange +5 76 71 74 221 €265

T34 Philip Walton +6 72 74 76 222 €240

T34 David Ryan  Cahir Park +6 75 71 76 222 €240

T34 Leslie Walker  Dundalk +6 74 74 74 222 €240

T34 Donal Gleeson  Old Conna +6 77 71 74 222 €240

T38 Ian Kerr  Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club +7 75 71 77 223 €220

T38 Michael McDermott  Pure Golf Leopardstown +7 75 75 73 223 €220

T38 John Dignam  Slade Valley +7 77 72 74 223 €220

T41 Gary Wardlow  American Golf +8 76 74 74 224 €205

T41 James Quinlivan  Mullingar +8 75 74 75 224 €205

T43 Peter McClelland  Peter McClelland Golf +9 74 76 75 225 €178.33

T43 Stephen Galvin  Curragh +9 73 77 75 225 €178.33

T43 Melvyn Flanagan  Mount Temple +9 73 77 75 225 €178.33

T46 Darren Walsh  Wexford +10 73 77 76 226 €162.50

T46 Michael Allan  Pure Golf Leopardstown +10 73 74 79 226 €162.50

T48 David Hughes  Massereene +11 77 73 77 227 €151.67

T48 Daniel Beattie +11 76 73 78 227 €151.67

T48 Mark Staunton  Ballinasloe +11 71 77 79 227 €151.67

T51 Tony O’Regan  Carton House Golf Course +12 75 75 78 228 €150

T51 Gary Madden  Bearna Golf & Country Club +12 71 78 79 228 €150

53 Gareth McCausland  Ballyliffin +13 73 77 79 229 €150

54 Mark O’Mahony  Titleist National Fitting Cent +15 71 79 81 231 €150