Irish PGA Championship
| Established | 1907 |
|---|---|
| Course(s) | Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort (2016) |
| Month played | September (2016) |
| Damien McGrane (2016) | |
The Irish PGA Championship is a golf tournament played annually in Ireland since 1907. It is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, the oldest in the country, and has been played at many different golf courses in Ireland. It is the marquee event on the PGA Tour of Ireland's schedule, having many notable winners in the over 100 years of play. Christy O'Connor Snr and Harry Bradshaw have the most wins in the event with 10. The event was played in match-play format from its inauguration in 1907 until it became a stroke play event in 1910.
The first Irish Professional Championship was played on 20 and 21 May 1907 at Royal Portrush Golf Club. There was an 18-hole stroke play contest on the first morning with the leading 8 qualifying for the knockout matchplay stage. James Edmundson and Harry Hamill led with scores of 76. Three players were tied for the final place and played a 9-hole playoff to decide the last place, won by Hugh McNeill. In the first round of the matchplay Edmundson and Hamill were drawn to play each other, Edmundson being the surprise winner by 5&4. The semi-finals and final were played on the second day. Local professional Edmundson and Yorkshireman Bertie Snowball won their semi-finals and met in the final. The match was all square after 9 holes but Edmundson won the next three and eventually won 2&1.
The Championship was preceded by the first professional match between Ireland and Scotland on 18 May. Teams of 12 played singles and foursomes. Ireland beat a weak Scotland team by 14 matches to 3 with 1 match halved. The players had played a 36-hole stroke-play event the previous day, won by Michael Moran with a score of 154, 4 ahead of Bertie Snowball.
The 1908 Championship was extended to a third day, being played from 13–15 May at Portmarnock Golf Club. The first day was a 36-hole event with 8 qualifying for the matchplay stage. As in 1907 James Edmundson and Harry Hamill led, with scores of 160. Edmundson and Bertie Snowball again met in the final. In the 36-hole final Edmundson won comfortably 5&3 after being 4 up after 18 holes. Edmundson won a gold medal and the £10 first prize.
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