Trainor hot on heels of Higgins

BARRIE TRAINOR’S good form has closed the gap on Irish PGA Order of Merit leader David Higgins as the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet, in association with Ping, continues.

The gap at the top has been cut from 8,915 to 4,350 points, while European Tour pros Damian McGrane and Simon Thornton have also entered the top 10, along with Ashbourne’s Mark O’Sullivan, now ninth. This weekend’s event is at Donegal’s Ballyliffin, where more than 80 teams will play two courses. It is one of the largest pro-ams in Europe, with a top-class field battling for 50,000 points from Friday.

Irish PGA Order of Merit: 1 David Higgins (22,850.33), 2 Barrie Trainor (18,500.09), 3 Damian Mooney (17,217.84), 4 Michael Collins (15,589.64), 5 David Ryan (15,193.25), 6 Eamonn Brady (13,666.42), 7 Peter Martin (12,270.00), 8 John Kelly (11,583.89), 9 Mark O’Sullivan (11,377.71), T10 Damien McGrane (11,000.00), T10 Simon Thornton (11,000.00), 12 Mark Staunton (10,197.11), 13 Michael McDermott (9,612.42), 14 Daniel Sugrue (9,594.92), 15 Brendan McDermott (9,531.16) 16 Glen Robinson (9,017.37), 17 Wayne O’Callaghan (7,783.75), 18 Graeme Dunlea (7,575.22), 19 Robert Giles (6,086.33), 20 Neil O’Briain (6,052.50)