Written 1 year ago by Will O'Callaghan

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Athlone’s Kelan McDonagh is celebrating his first win as a professional.

The former Mullingar Scratch Cup champion was the winner at the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship Irish qualifier at Meath Golf Club this week.

Kelan had a three-under par round of 70 to finish two shots ahead of the chasing pack in just his second tournament as a pro.

The assistant PGA professional at Tullamore Golf Club now joins 11 other qualifiers for the £32,000 grand final to be held at Little Aston Golf Club near Birmingham in August.

McDonagh has told PGA Ireland that the victory justifies his decision to quit a career in finance to concentrate on golf.

“I’d had a decent career as an amateur and won a few events,” he said.

“But for the last two years I’ve been working in banking and finance for a Dublin company.

“First it was retail banking, then corporate. Then I decided it was way over my head and not for me! But I was still playing as an amateur with the Royal Dublin club so I actively looked for an assistants’ role and one came up at Tullamore.

“And to win here in only my second game as a professional was fantastic. My first priority was to qualify but the win was a bonus.”

McDonagh admitted playing was not the main reason he turned pro however.

“I was 100 per cent looking at a coaching career, that’s why I took the PGA route to be honest,” he said.

“But if it helps me improve my game then I’ll take that as well.”

Image –  Patrick Bolger/Getty Images Europe

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