The Irish Golf Club Gazette: MickyMac70

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11/14/2014

Profile - Michael McGeady

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Michael McGeady began playing golf at the age of twelve as a member of the City of Derry club and quickly progressed in the game. He became a member of the Ireland set up and represented the Ireland Boys team from 1996, graduating to the Senior Team during the 2003 season.

He was also a member of that years winning Home International team and in 2004 earned a place on the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup panel. The runner up in the 2004 Irish Close, he captured the Dundalk Scratch Cup in 2005 and was again a member of the Ireland team for the Home Internationals and European Team Championships.

In late 2005 Michael made the decision to turn professional and began playing on the European Challenge Tour and PGA Europro Tour. In just his fourth event on the Challenge Tour, the 2006 Challenge of Ireland in Killarney, Michael finished in second position, missing out on taking the last round to a playoff by just one shot.

This result, combined with a top 20 finish in the Open des Volcans ensured that Michael received a category on the Challenge Tour for the 2007 season.

A disappointing 2007 was soon followed by his best season to date when in 2008 Michael secured his first Challenge Tour victory at the SWALEC Wales Challenge, following a play-off with overnight leader Joel Sjoholm of Sweden.

McGeady finished 42nd in the 2008 Order of Merit and gained entry into the Final Stage of Tour School. Agonisingly for Michael, he bogeyed the final hole to finish only one stroke outside the top-30, and with that the glory of full European Tour status in 2009.

Michael competed on the Challenge Tour in 2009 and finished 53rd at the Challenge of Ireland presented by Movalley, missing the cut at the 3 Irish Open in Baltray and progressing only to Stage 2 at European Tour Qualifying School at Sherry Golf in Jerez, Spain.

That season Michael played in five events missing the only cut at the ECCO Tour Championship in Germany finishing 121st in the Challenge Tour rankings At Stage 1 of Q School at The London Club he fished in third place to qualify.

2011 was a season of missed cuts in all the four tournaments entered and a trip to Q School at Ribegofle which left him 31st and outside the reckoning for another year.

In 2013 the Donegal-based McGeady golfer played in only his second Challenge Tour event of the year at Galgorm Castle after having lost lost his card for the second-tier European circuit at the end of the 2011 season. In the end he finished 34th at the Northern Ireland Challenge presented by Clannah and XJet.

A month later at the Cassidy Golf 103rd PGA Irish Championship at Roganstown McGeady won the title in a close finish with Damian Mooney and Cian McNamara.

McGeady posted rounds of 66, 72, 70 and 67 for a nine-under-par winning 275, one stroke ahead of Mooney and McNamara, after the leadership changed hands a few times during the day.

An attempt a few days later to win a Challenge Tour card at the PGA European Championship at Sandwich fell short when he finished T7.
Career Highlights

2008 Winner SWALEC Wales Challenge (European Challenge Tour)

2006 2nd Place Challenge of Ireland (European Challenge Tour)

2005 Ireland Senior Team Member

2005 Winner Dundalk Scratch Cup

2004 Member of Walker Cup panel

2004 Runner up in Irish Close

2003 Member of the Winning Irish Home International team

2013 PGA Irish Chapionship

Fact file

Date of Birth: May 11th 1978

Attachment: McCambridge Duffy - www.mccambridgeduffy.co.uk

Residence: Donegal, Ireland

Turned Professional: 2005

Qualifying School: (2005), (06), 07, 08, (09), (10), (11), (12) (14)

11/08/2014

Mixed Irish Grill on First Day QS

The first day of European Tour Qualifying School second stage teed off on Friday across four venues in Spain, with eight Irish hopefuls chasing the dream. Many of whom are now veterans of the annual tour school pilgrimage.

It is anticipated that there will be approximately 310 participants at 2nd Stage and around 80 (25%) will progress to the Final Stage. The exact number of qualifiers will be determined during the week of 2nd Stage.

At Las Colinas Golf and Country Club Niall Turner finished with a two over par 73, to hold a share of 65th place, and nine shots off the leader.

Campo de Golf El Saler saw Michael McGeady trail the first round leader by just four strokes after a round of 73 left the 2013 Irish PGA Champion in favourable 14th place.

Lumine Golf and Beach Club hosted four contenders in the mix with Niall Kearney the best of the Irish after a one under par 70 in T15.

David Higgins finished Friday in a share of 50th place with a first round of two over par along side fellow Waterville golfer Mark Murphy.

Brendan McCarroll saw his dream end early this year with an opening nine over par 79.

At Panoramica Golf and Sport Resort Ruaidhri McGee signed for a level par round - eight strokes off top of the eladerbiard - and more worrinbgly for him in a share of 52nd place.

Gareth Shaw was unable to match his exploits from last week in Oman on the Challenge Tour and crashed to a first round 79.

10/24/2014

Profile - Brendan McDaid

Brendan McDaid is based at the Carr Golf Centre, Spawell in Templeogue, Dublin with all the on site facilities for his tuition needs. As European Tour coach continues to help golfers get the most out of their game is currently working with Irish golfer, Peter Lawrie.

Whether starting out for the first time or a seasoned campaigner, the McDaid Academy offers something uniquely different for golfers.

The Swing Reader, the most advanced video solution, analysis of your swing during the lesson, after which videos are made available to ensure continuous improvement.

At the Carr Golf Centre Brendan offers individual classes, one day golf group schools or junior golf lessons. All bookable on-line to more easily plan a lesson at a convenient time.

McDaid has coached many individuals and teams to success both at home and abroad, ranging from junior competitions to European PGA Professional tournaments. His Mother was a Inter provincial and also played for Ireland. His sister Eileen Rose Power played Curtis Cup in 1994 with his nephew Mark Power winning the Peter McEvoy Trophy this year

Under McDaid Peter Lawrie claimed his maiden victory at the Open de España in 2008, defeating home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a play-off. The following year he defended his title valiantly only to finish third in the end.

Having graduated from UCD on a scholarship Lawrie reached the European Tour through the Challenge Tour, after finishing fourth in the rankings at the end of 2002. All testament to his determination having spent one year on the Asian Tour and three seasons on the Challenge Tour.

Brendan has also coached former European Tour player Gary Murphy, and Challenge Tour players Colm Moriarty and Michael McGeady. As well as Tara Delaney, a one time member of the Ladies European Tour. As head coach for the Team Ireland Golf Trust for a number of years, McDaid has always been at the cutting edge of all golf coaching in Ireland and Europe.

McDaid has held a Category 14 card and played on the European Tour

www.brendanmcdaidgolf.com

8/02/2014

Archibald Walks in My Shoes at Mount Wolseley

PGA EuroPro Tour

Stuart Archibald won his first HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour title since 2011 with victory at the Walk In My Shoes Open at Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Country Club in Co. Carlow, Ireland.

The Englishman carded a final round 69 to finish 14 under par, two clear of second placed Michael McGeady (North West Golf Club), who shot 66 for his final round on the par 72 course.

The victory is Archibald’s third win on the Tour and propels him to eighth on the Order of Merit, from which the top five at the end of the season earn a Challenge Tour card for 2014.

Archibald collected a winner’s cheque for £10,000, a brand new Motocaddy and Shotsaver range finder. However, following a bet with former European and PGA Tour player turned TV pundit John E. Morgan, the 30 year old must now also dye his beard blue.

“I wasn’t really sure about this week,” admitted Archibald. “I wasn’t sure how the course would play. It is quite firm and the greens are soft but we weren’t really sure if it was going to be a low scoring week, so when Watts went a bit crazy the first two days I was teeing off for my second round and thought it would be a struggle to catch him.

“My group for the second round managed to shoot a combined score of 20 under par, so we all carried each other through and that put me in a good position for the final round. I had a target in mind of 14 under and I thought that might get me there, and it proved the case.

“At dinner on Tuesday evening John Morgan was reminiscing and we shared stories. He told us all about how he had blue hair when he played PGA Tour, and he has been on about my beard all year long. He has told me not to shave it, to keep growing it.

“He said he would love to dye it, and I wasn’t so keen. But I told him if I won this week I would let him dye it any colour he wanted, and he went for blue. I have shot myself in the foot there so next week at Moor Allerton I will let John dye the beard blue.

“We have played in Ireland every year since I started playing the tour and we always get great support, so I want to thank everybody for that.”

Overnight leader Watts finished third on ten under after a final-round 71 and Billy Hemstock (Teignmouth Golf Club) and Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge Golf Club) shared fourth on eight under.

Mark Murphy forced himself into contention with eight birdies on the front nine. However, a double at the tenth and a bogey at 11 saw him slip back and he signed for a final-round 66 (-6) with a birdie at 14 to finish the tournament seven under and tied sixth with four other golfers, including Nick McCarthy who shot 29 for his back nine to card a 65.

Highlights of the Walk In My Shoes Open, including more on John E. Morgan’s blue beard bet with Archibald, air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, August 12 with repeats the following day.

The HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour heads to Leeds next week for the Clipper Logistics Championship at Moor Allerton Golf Club.

10/15/2013

Irish Adrift at EuroPro Final

Michael McGeady carded an opening round 69 at the 888Poker.com PGA Europo Tour Championship on Tuesday and showed no signs of fatigue from Roganstown on Sunday, where he emerged as Irish PGA Championship, in what was a close contest.

A three under par round at the Prince's Club in Kent came without loss - after three birdies before the turn - on holes, 2, 4 and nine. His seven way share of 7th reflects a tight leaderboard after round one, with four strokes separating the group from the leader.

At the end of each season the top five players on the Order of Merit progress to the Challenge Tour, meaning there is more than just the £15,000 winner’s cheque to play for this week.

Paul Grannell shot his best round of the season to lead by two strokes on seven under at the end of the first round. The 28 year old carded a 65 on the opening day of the final event of the 2013 season, and is trailed by four golfers who share second on five under.

Simon Lilly (Wellingborough), Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links Golf Club), William Harrold (Sheringham Golf Club) and Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw Golf Club) all shot 67 and Paul Shields (Kirkhill Golf Club) is one behind in sixth on -4.

Grannell (Vale Royal Abbey) hit eight birdies on Tuesday, with his only blemish a six on the par-five seventh.

“I like links golf, I have always had good success on links courses, as an amateur you play a lot of links golf,” he said.

“It equals my lowest ever tournament round of golf, and it is my lowest round of the year which is always nice to do, especially in the last tournament.

“I have had top 20s in my last three tournaments and two of those going down the closing holes I have been in contention. If I can carry on the form I have been showing then I would like to think I will have a chance.”

Grannell is currently 22nd on the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit and only a win at Prince’s will push him into the all-important top five.

“I am not thinking of any kind of result,” he said. “I am thinking purely of what I have been working on with my coaches. I didn’t know that other guys were at five under until I finished.

“I will do my best to avoid leaderboards for the rest of the week but it is difficult when you walk past them.”

At the end of each season the top five players on the Order of Merit progress to the Challenge Tour, meaning there is more than just the £15,000 winner’s cheque to play for this week.

George Woolgar (level, T31) leads the Tour rankings, with Daniel Gavins (-2, T14), Oliver Farr (-1, T22), Dave Coupland (level, T31) and Paul McKechnie (-3, T7) completing the current top five. Only Woolgar and Gavins have already secured their playing rights for next season’s Challenge Tour.

Time Rice signed for 70 and holds a share of fourteenth place overnight.

Ruaidhri McGee was three strokes further adrift after a mixed first day.

Colm Moriarty carded a 73, despite an eagle three on the par 6 fifteenth hole, to lie 40th along with Paul Cutler - who ended level par after giving back all four birdies to bogeys either side of the turn.

McGeady's Poker Challenge

PGA Europro Tour

Irish PGA Champion Michael McGeady tees of on Tuesday at the fianl event of the 2013 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour season, which draws to a close at Prince’s Golf Club iN Kent. The Order of Merit’s top 60 players will take part in the £60,000 888poker.com Tour Championship.

At the end of the week the top five on the Order of Merit will receive Challenge Tour cards for the 2014 season, putting them just one step away from the European Tour.

Colm Moriarty, Ruairdhr mcgtee, Stage 1 European Q School winner, Tim Rice and Paul Cutler are the other irish entries.

George Woolgar and Daniel Gavins have already secured their places on the second-tier tour but remain locked in a battle to end the season as the tour’s number one, while Oliver Farr, Dave Coupland and Paul McKechnie will need a solid final tournament in order to maintain their places in the top five.

Any one of the 57 entrants at Prince’s could leave the Kent coast in the Order of Merit top five come Thursday evening, ensuring a dramatic end to a fantastic season on the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour.

Tour Director of Operations Daniel Godding said: “We’ve upped the prize fund by 50% compared to the regular-season events and I know that means there will be one more big twist to end a dramatic season on the tour.

“Prince’s is a really good test of golf, and whoever wins the £15,000 first prize really will have earned it. I was there last week and the course is looking great. The players are in for a treat but so too is everybody who comes down to watch.”

10/14/2013

McGeady Wins Irish PGA

Michael McGeady secured the Cassidy Golf 103rd €30,000 PGA Irish Championship at Roganstown on Sunday in a tight finish with Damian Mooney and Cian McNamara.

McGeady posted rounds of 66, 72, 70 and 67 for a nine-under-par winning 275, one stroke ahead of Mooney and McNamara, after the leadership changed hands a few times during the day.

As well as the silverware, the winner also collected the top prize of €3,500 while Mooney and McNamara earned €2,125 each and Mooney moves up to second in the 2013 end-of-season Order of Merit with €26,217 points, less than 90 behind winner John Kelly, who withdrew from the championship because of family commitments.

“Winning the Irish Championship is a fantastic boost heading for the Europro finals,” enthused the 35-year-old as his victory began to sink in.

“It would be a great double to add my Challenge Tour card to my Irish Championship title.

“This win is amazing for me as I have struggled recently. It is only my second time to play in the Irish Championship, maybe the third, but that is all. It is really a great boost to my game.”

McGeady posted rounds of 66, 72, 70 and 67 for a nine-under-par winning 275, one stroke ahead of Mooney and McNamara, after the leadership changed hands a few times during the day.

Mark Staunton and Michael McDermott led overnight at six-under with McGeady, Mooney and McNamara a stroke behind but it didn’t take long for the leaderboard to change, once the final round began.

Staunton had a horror front nine as he began with a double-bogey and made only one par to the turn. He had four bogeys and three birdies to drop to four-under for the tournament and he could never get back into the pack, finishing tied fifth. The best McDermott could do was level par for the day to finish in fourth place.

Mooney raced to the turn in two-under with a hat-trick of birdies, 4-4-2, from the fourth hole and he eagled the long 10th to move top of the leaderboard at nine-under-par.

McNamara was creeping up, as well, helped by an eagle at the fourth and birdies at the first and 10th to be one shot behind Mooney, along with McGeady who had pencilled in birdie fours at the fourth, fifth and 10th holes.

An unfortunate three-stab on the 15th green cost Mooney the outright lead as he went back to eight-under. McGeady, who bogeyed the 12th from sand, rolled in an uphill 12-footer for birdie on 14 to draw level and when McNamara, who had bogeyed 11, sank a birdie putt on 16 it was a three-way tie heading to the tape.

It was then that McGeady’s resolve shone as he had the scent of victory in his nostrils. He rolled in a steel-nerved five-footer for par at 17and snatched victory from Mooney and McNamara on the home green with birdie four.

“I birdied all the long holes and didn’t have a five on my card. At the last, I fired a sand wedge at the flag from 76 yards and the ball settled five feet below the hole. I was delighted to see the putt dropping – it was an amazing way to win the championship,” smiled a delighted McGeady, who headed off to Derry to see his folks before flying from Belfast this morning.

Brian McElhinney, finished tied 12th at Roganstown, which just secured him enough points to claim third place on the Order of Merit – four ahead of Staunton – and a place in next month’s Titleist PGA Play-Offs.

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