MARK STAUNTON WINS IRISH CLUB PROFESSIONALS

Former Irish Assisants'Champion and a past winner of the Ulster PGA Championship,Mark Staunton(foreireland.com) rose to 3rd in the Lexus race to Mount Juliet with a brilliant victory in the wind swept Irish Club Professionals tournament at the beautiful Dundalk Golf Club.

Staunton played in the worst of the weather on day one.He produced some short game magic to card a 4 under par round of 68 that was made up with 14 pars & 4 birdies.
This gave him a one shot lead into the final round from John Kelly(St.Margarets).

There was a good improvement in the weather for the final round and it was reflected in the scoring. Glen Robertson (St Helens Bay) shot a 68 to set the clubhouse target on 141(-3)Robert Giles had a 69 to finish on 142(-1) The only other players to finish under par were Michael Collins,past Irish PGA Champion David Mortimer and J P Dolan on 143(-1).

Staunton held his nerve after making 3 bogeys on the back nine to hit a superb 5 iron into the 191 yard 17th hole and holed the putt for a birdie two that allowed him to win the title by one shot with a level par 72 and a total of 140 (-4)

IRISH PROFESSIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP.
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WINNER:MARK STAUNTON (FOREIRELAND.COM) 68,72 140.

2ND:GLEN ROBINSON (ST.HELENS BAY) 73,68 141.

3RD:ROBERT GILES (GREENORE) 73,69 142.

4TH:DAVID MORTIMER (FOREIRELAND.COM) 72,71 143.
JOHN P DOLAN (BALLYLIFFIN) 72,71 143.
MICHAEL COLLINS (FOREIRELAND.COM)75,68 143.

7TH:PATRICK DEVINE (ROYAL DUBLIN) 73,72 145.
LIAM BOWLER (WEXFORD) 72,73 145.
IAN KERR (BUNCLODY) 72,73 145.
DAVID WALKER (FOXROCK) 71,74 145.

11TH:BARRIE TRAINOR (TEAM IRELAND) 76,70 146.
JIMMY BOLGER (KILKENNY) 73,73 146.
RAYMOND BURNS (SOUTH COUNTY) 71,75 146.
JOHN KELLY (ST.MARGARETS) 69,77 146.