DRAMATIC FINISH WINS 100TH IRISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP FOR MORTIMER.

Golf became an important part of David Mortimer's life many years ago when he discovered the Par 3 course at Renvyle House, in Connemara, just beside the Mortimer family home. Since those early days David has taken more than a passing interest in golf and has improved his game along the way - quietly and diligently – receiving recognition at Interprovincial level, Irish Youths and Irish Seniors level.

Standing six foot three, it is hard to imagine Mortimer as a quiet man but indeed he is. On a golf course that silence should not understate his winning mentality as he can go about his business with lethal efficiency. This was never more evident than at Seapoint Golf Club on the Saturday of the Irish PGA Championship, when he eased up the leader board unannounced to take the outright lead ahead of Sunday’s final round – winning the event with an eagle on the last green.

The reward for his round 69 on Saturday was a pairing with the pre-tournament favourite Damien McGrane in the chase for the Irish PGA Championship.

From the outset, composure never abandoned Mortimer, even at the second when McGrane levelled the scores with a birdie or even later at the ninth, when the best Mortimer could do was scramble a par, to remain just one shot behind.

Off the tenth tee box Mortimer replied with a fairway splitting drive, after McGrane went wayward, then carried two greenside bunkers with a superb second to settle on the green in two. With deadly accuracy, Mortimer holed his birdie chance to get back level - adding another birdie on the next hole to take a one shot lead until the 17th green.

On the final hole a stunning forty foot eagle putt was delivered by Mortimer with his usual calm, even under the pressure of a looming play off. That left even the experienced McGrane aghast and clutching his head momentarily - given he had just rattled the flag with his chip for an eagle and was waiting to putt for a birdie.

It was also the celebration of David's second Irish PGA title, four years after the last one. This has been a superb season for Mortimer that is culminating into a series of milestones, including the Glenmuir PGA Championship six weeks previously and passing through Stage 1 of the European Tour School - in dreadful weather conditions - at Dundonald Links.

Although the season is drawing to a close there are still more tournaments to be played before the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet order of merit is compiled. At present Mortimer is the leader.

Mortimer will also play in the Skins PGA Fourball Championship at Forest Pines on October 6-8th, with partner Kevin McGrath ( Birr ) as they seek victory in the 54-hole event at the Lincoln course against defending champion Stuart Taylor ( Island ) and new partner James Erskine ( Portpatrick ) Dunskey.

In mid November Mortimer then heads to Stage 2 of the European Tour Qualifying School with the other Irish prospects – team mate Michael Collins, Barrie Trainor and Gareth Shaw of Team Ireland, Damian Mooney, Michael McGeady of Cambridge-Duffy, Niall Turner, Stephen Grant and Mervyn Owens - where he believes there is unfinished business, having failed to make the grade on a couple of previous trips – even opting out last year as things were not right for him.

In 2011 Mortimer is lined up to play the PGA Cup for the Great Britain and Ireland team against the USA at CordeValle, California as part of his win at the Glenmuir PGA Championship Grand Final.

However before any of these trips, the 2010 Irish PGA Champion has earned a start at the £4,500,000 BMW PGA Championship flagship event at Wentworth next May and gets the opportunity to test his skills amidst the world’s best golfers on the redesigned West Course.

“At the start of the season, I was a bit cautious about how well things would go, but I'm not one for boasting and saying I'll do this and that," explained Mortimer recently. "I always knew what I was capable of and I feel it's best to be quietly confident."

Mortimer has achieved all this while still giving lessons at the GUI National Academy at Carton House where he is a teaching professional. Undoubtedly the students have learned that when the Quiet Man speaks one listens.

Rossa McDermott FOREIreland

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David Mortimer is a member of FORE Ireland
FORE Ireland promotes golf in Ireland and provides management to players on the European Tour - or trying to reach that goal. Team members included Michael Collins, Mark Staunton, Ted Higgins, Kevin Dorrian and Philip Walton.
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100th Irish PGA Championship results.

1 David Mortimer ( foreireland.com ) 70 70 69 68 -11.
2 Damien Mc Grane ( Unattached ) 71 70 69 68 -10.
3 John Kelly ( St.Margaret's ) 73 73 67 68 -7.
4 Neil Manchip ( GUI National Academy ) 67 72 73 70 -6.
Damian Mooney ( Unattached ) 66 73 71 72 -6.
6 Barrie Trainor ( Team Ireland Golf ) 70 71 72 70 -5.
7 Eamonn Brady ( Clontarf GC )71 75 67 71 -4.
8 Glen Robinson ( St Helen's Bay ) 72 72 72 69 -3.
9 Mark O'Sullivan (Ashbourne ) 70 76 69 71 -2.
10 Darren McWilliams ( Unattached ) 71 75 68 73 -1.
11 David Higgins ( Waterville ) 71 71 76 70 Par.
Brian McElhinney ( Team Ireland ) 69 76 69 74 Par.
13 Michael Allan (Pure Golf at Leopardstown ) 74 75 70 70 +1.
14 Des Smyth ( Unattached ) 69 75 71 75 +2.
Seamus Clinton ( Portsalon )72 73 68 77 +2.
16 Seamus McMonagle ( Edmondstown ) 71 80 71 69 +3.
Graeme Dunlea ( Adare Manor ) 71 74 72 74 +3.
Robert Giles ( Greenore )71 74 72 74 +3.
Shane Lowry ( Esker Hills ) 70 72 74 75 +3.
Mark Staunton ( foreireland.com ) 72 73 71 75 +3.
21 James Quinlivan ( Unattached )75 70 73 75 +5.
Michael McDermott ( Pure Golf Leopardstown )71 77 69 76 +5.
23 David Ryan ( Cahir Park ) 73 74 76 71 +6
John Dwyer ( Ashbourne ) 75 72 70 77 +6.
25 John Dignam ( Slade Valley ) 73 75 73 74 +7.
26 Cian McNamara ( Limerick ) 71 78 75 72 +8.
Jimmy Bolger ( Kilkenny ) 72 70 75 79 +8.
28 Michael Collins ( foreireland.com ) 78 73 68 78 +9.
29 Leslie Walker ( Dundalk ) 74 77 76 71 +10.
Peter Jones ( Coollattin )76 75 73 74 +10.
Liam Bowler ( Wexford ) 74 75 74 75 +10.
Enda McLoughlin ( Wicklow ) 70 79 74 75 +10
33 Eamonn Logue ( Hilton Templepatrick ) 76 75 75 73 +11.
34 Patrick Devine ( Royal Dublin ) 70 76 79 75 +12.
Connor Mallon ( Narin & Portnoo ) 72 75 76 77 +12.
Joe Murray ( Hollystown ) 78 69 72 81 +12.
37 Brendan McGovern ( Headfort ) 71 78 78 74 +13.
Ted Higgins ( foreireland.com ) 78 73 76 74 +13.
Michael Mulryan ( Athenry ) 72 77 75 77 +13.
40 Michael O'Shea ( Callan ) 76 73 78 75 +14
41 Peter Hanna ( Lurgan ) 74 76 75 78 +15.
Peter Martin ( Riverside Golf Academy ) 76 75 73 79 +15.
43 Chris Moriarty ( Donaghadee )75 73 78 78 +16.
Richard Creamer ( Tuam ) 71 74 79 80 +16.
Philip Walton ( foreireland.com )73 77 74 80 +16.
Marcus Twitchett ( Hilton Templepatrick )76 75 73 80 +16.
47 Kenny Fahey ( GUI National Academy )71 78 78 78 +17.
Kevin Dorrian ( Scrabo ) 75 76 76 78 +17.
49 Paul Stevenson ( Portadown )76 72 77 81 +18.
50 Nigel Howley ( Balbriggan ) 74 74 77 82 +19.
51 Melvyn Flanagan ( Mount Temple ) 76 74 78 80 +20.
52 David Walker ( Foxrock ) 74 77 81 80 +24.