Handy Tip For Jimmy

Published: 07 May 2009

Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship Results Release

Kilkenny’s Jimmy Bolger thought he’d try out a new putting technique today   – and it brought him success at The Heritage in County Laois.

The 42-year-old, who’s been Kilkenny’s pro for the last eight years, shot a one-under 71, along with Antrim’s Johnny Foster, in the Irish qualifying round of the flagship event for Britain and Ireland’s club professionals, the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship.

They’ll now join nine other qualifiers from The Heritage at the 72-hole final over Dondonald Links, near Troon, in the middle of next month, where a field of 156 pros will take part.

Explained Bolger “I’ve been over to England to work with Dr Paul Hurrion, who’s been getting himself a reputation as a sports coach.  Without going into daft detail, he’s into biomechanics, and encourages you, among other things, to put the palms of your hands together on the grip. It feels different, and yesterday was the first time I’d tried it in competition.”

In blustery conditions, Bolger putted extremely well, carding four birdies along with three bogeys on a course that was giving little away.

What Johnny Foster described as a ‘penal, American-style course’, The Heritage proved nonetheless a layout he could cope with more than adequately.

The former South of Ireland amateur champion and the 2004 Irish Assistants’ winner, now based at Green Acres in Co. Antrim, matched Bolger’s 71, and his travel plans are relatively easy.
 
“I’m delighted it’s near Troon”, said Foster. “It means I can take the ferry from Larne – it’s only 20 minutes away from where I’m based – and although I’ve heard very little about the course, I understand it’s a terrific track.”

Foster, who teaches at a junior golf academy at Greenmount, showed he can still turn on his competitive juices with two birdies and no bogeys in a front-nine 34.   And despite a topsy-turvy inward half, where he traded birdies and bogeys alternately from the 10th to the 14th, he still managed a one-over 37.

And he was particularly satisfied with a two-iron from a fairway bunker on the 431-yard third to 20 feet, a putt which he despatched for his opening birdie.

John Kelly and Michael O’Shea were a stroke behind, with former PGA Cup player, Brendan McGovern, tied with three others a farther stroke behind.