Trainor Wins Race and Order of Merit

Barrie Trainor pressed the power pedal over the weekend to take the chequered flag in the final lap of the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING and Bord Fáilte.

The former Warrenpoint Senior Cup golfer, clocked rounds of 68 and 70 for a six-under-par total of 138 to win by four strokes from Brendan McGovern and, not only win the final Lexus lap, but also snatch the Irish Order of Merit from last year's winner David Higgins.

Trainor collected a cheque for € 4,000 for his weekend 36 holes work which left him on 43,458.75 Order of Merit points and, shooting to the top of the Order of Merit leaderboard, earned him an extra €10,000.

"It certainly has been the best weekend of my life," enthused Barrie, "and at the moment I just don't know where I am. It was a superb way to finish the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet.

"This is my sixth year as a professional and I was getting worried that I would end it without a title. I won the Irish Amateur Championship for the first three years and then for the last two years I won the PGA Ulster Championship.

"Thankfully, this year I have kept the record going of winning a title every year as a pro. I can relax a little now then I'll have to prepare for the Titleis PGA Play-Offs in Turkey next month."

Trainor and McGovern led on four-under-par 68 after Saturday's 18 holes but McGovern dropped to 74 yesterday with Trainor carding 70. He didn't set the tyres on fire until the back nine as he recorded eight opening pars before a birdie three at the ninth hole.

The brakes went on as he bogeyed 11 and 12, missing both greens, but then he slipped into overdrive with three-under-par for holes 13 to 17.

He rifled an eight iron over water to eight feet, at the stroke index one 13th for birdie three and made a two at the next with a six iron to 10 feet.

The winner was short at the long 17th but, from 70 yards, pitched to six feet for birdie four to clinch victory.

Higgins, who finished joint third alongside four others including PGA Cup player Rob Giles, ended second in the Order of Merit to add a bonus of €7,500 while Damian Mooney, tied 16th yesterday, retained his third position in the Merit table and earned a €5,000 bonus.

It was a good weekend for McGovern, too, as he jumped from 33rd position to 17th for the season.