Irish Golf Union gives 73,000 Euros in
financial support to top amateurs

Grants totalling 73,000 Euros have been awarded by the Golfing Union of Ireland to leading amateur golfers. The grant allocation, which is funded by the Irish Sports Council, is in respect of national and international competition and training costs in 2008.
The grants are awarded based on specific criteria agreed by the Irish Sports Council and the Golfing Union of Ireland.
Shane Lowry and Paul Cutler (Portstewart) are the top recipients, both receiving a grant of €6,000, while Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) and Dara Lernihan (Castle) both receive €5,000.
Lowry won both the West and North of Ireland Championships, Kearney was the winner of the South of Ireland Championship, and along with Cutler were members of the Ireland team that successfully won the European team championship for the second year in a row, while Lernihan, who finished runner-up in the Irish close championship made his debut for Ireland in the Home Internationals.
Grants are provided to assist players with expenses incurred while competing in championships, where they are not already covered by the GUI as members of selected panels for the various events, and in keeping with the Rules of Amateur Status.
A total of 41 players from the three National Panels – Senior, Youths and Boys - received grants. Below is a breakdown of the €73,000 awarded.
Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) €6,000
Paul Cutler (Portstewart) €6,000
Dara Lernihan (Castle) €5,000
Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) €5,000
Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little) €3,000
Andrew Hogan (Newlands) €3,000
Alan Dunbar (Rathmore) €2,500
Rory McNamara (Headfort) €2,500
Seamus Power (West Waterford) €2,000
Garth Boyd (Donaghadee) €2,000
Paul Dunne (Greystones) €2,000
Michael Durcan (Co. Sligo) €2,000
Connor Doran (Banbridge) €2,000
Simon Ward (Co. Louth) €2,000
Cathal O’Malley (Westport) €2,000
Cian Curley (Newlands) €1,500
Pat Murray (Limerick) €1,500
Fergal Rafferty (Dungannon) €1,500
Garth McGee (Malone) €1,500
Barry Anderson (Co. Sligo) €1,000
Chris Drumm (Rosslare) €1,000
Simon Doherty (Malone) €1,000
James Patterson (Knock) €1,000
Nicky Grant (Knock) €1,000
Kelan McDonagh (Athlone) €1,000
Stephen Healy (Claremorris) €1,000
David Leathem (Lisburn) €1,000
Craig Martin (Kilkenny) €1,000
Brendan Walton (The Island) €1,000
Declan King (Tramore) €1,000
Stephen Brady (Co. Sligo) €1,000
Colin Fairweather (Knock) €1,000
Iarlaith Keane (Malahide) €1,000
Sean Morrison (City of Derry) €1,000
Paul O’Kane (Moyola Park) €1,000
Ciaran O’Connor (Athlone) €1,000
Stephen Crowe (Dunmurry) €1,000
Luke Lennox (Moyola Park) €500
Richard O’Donovan (Lucan) €500
Chris Selfridge (Moyola Park) €500
Reeve Whitson (Mourne) €500