AIB IRISH SENIORS OPEN AT GREAT
NEW VENUE - PALMERSTOWN HOUSE
A record prize fund and a visit to one of Ireland’s newest golfing gems await a five-star field for the AIB Irish Seniors Open, in association with Greenstar and Fáilte Ireland, which will be played over the Bank Holiday weekend from June 1-3.
The €450,000 tournament, which will carry a first prize of €67,500, will be staged for the first time on the PGA National Ireland course at Palmerstown House, Johnstown, Co. Kildare with former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance as the defending champion.
Among his leading challengers in a truly international field will be European Seniors Tour Order of Merit leader Gordon J Brand of England, who has won three of the last four events, Eamonn Darcy of Ireland, Ross Drummond of Scotland, Stewart Ginn of Australia, Carl Mason of England, two-time AIB Irish Seniors Open winner Noel Ratcliffe of Australia, the Spanish duo of Juan Quiros and José Rivero and Italy’s most decorated golfer, Costantino Rocca.
Located in mature countryside formerly home to a world famous stud farm in Johnstown, Co. Kildare, the Palmerstown House estate has been the subject of a multi-million euro redevelopment by Citywest Group owner Jim Mansfield.
The lion’s share of the investment went on creating the PGA National Ireland golf course designed by Irish Ryder Cup legend Christy O’Connor junior - €3 million alone was spent on mature trees to line the fairways while further evidence of the impressive attention to detail is shown in the choice of an antique bridge to link the putting green.
Billy Andrews, General Manager of AIB Bank, which has sponsored the event since it was inaugurated in 1997, said: “We pride ourselves in hosting the Seniors Open at prestigious venues around the country and the PGA National maintains that tradition. We look forward to meeting up with our golfing friends on the Seniors Tour again and also to working with our co-sponsors and Jim Mansfield’s team.”
Jim Mansfield, pictured above, owner of Citywest Group, stated: “We are delighted to welcome the AIB Irish Seniors Open to Co Kildare and proud to host the first, of which we hope to be many major golf events at the PGA National Ireland. I’m confident the players, sponsors and spectators alike will enjoy a weekend of great atmosphere and a warm welcome to our unique facility, along with the chance to see the golfing greats do battle on a course which has already been classed as one of Europe’s finest.”
NEW VENUE - PALMERSTOWN HOUSE
A record prize fund and a visit to one of Ireland’s newest golfing gems await a five-star field for the AIB Irish Seniors Open, in association with Greenstar and Fáilte Ireland, which will be played over the Bank Holiday weekend from June 1-3.
The €450,000 tournament, which will carry a first prize of €67,500, will be staged for the first time on the PGA National Ireland course at Palmerstown House, Johnstown, Co. Kildare with former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance as the defending champion.
Among his leading challengers in a truly international field will be European Seniors Tour Order of Merit leader Gordon J Brand of England, who has won three of the last four events, Eamonn Darcy of Ireland, Ross Drummond of Scotland, Stewart Ginn of Australia, Carl Mason of England, two-time AIB Irish Seniors Open winner Noel Ratcliffe of Australia, the Spanish duo of Juan Quiros and José Rivero and Italy’s most decorated golfer, Costantino Rocca.
Located in mature countryside formerly home to a world famous stud farm in Johnstown, Co. Kildare, the Palmerstown House estate has been the subject of a multi-million euro redevelopment by Citywest Group owner Jim Mansfield.
The lion’s share of the investment went on creating the PGA National Ireland golf course designed by Irish Ryder Cup legend Christy O’Connor junior - €3 million alone was spent on mature trees to line the fairways while further evidence of the impressive attention to detail is shown in the choice of an antique bridge to link the putting green.
Billy Andrews, General Manager of AIB Bank, which has sponsored the event since it was inaugurated in 1997, said: “We pride ourselves in hosting the Seniors Open at prestigious venues around the country and the PGA National maintains that tradition. We look forward to meeting up with our golfing friends on the Seniors Tour again and also to working with our co-sponsors and Jim Mansfield’s team.”
Jim Mansfield, pictured above, owner of Citywest Group, stated: “We are delighted to welcome the AIB Irish Seniors Open to Co Kildare and proud to host the first, of which we hope to be many major golf events at the PGA National Ireland. I’m confident the players, sponsors and spectators alike will enjoy a weekend of great atmosphere and a warm welcome to our unique facility, along with the chance to see the golfing greats do battle on a course which has already been classed as one of Europe’s finest.”
Mansfield, a self-made millionaire who left school at 13, made his fortune on the back of the Falklands War, buying all the scrap metal left on the islands and selling it on.
Labels: Senior men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, April 17, 2007
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