CHALLENGE TOUR RETURNS TO NORTHERN IRELAND IN AUGUST
NEWS RELEASE
The
European Challenge Tour will return to Northern Irish shores for the
first time in ten years when Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Ballymena, hosts
the Northern Ireland Open Challenge from August
29 - September 1.
Michael
Hoey, a four-time winner on The European Tour, will headline the field
at the Country Antrim venue, hoping to add to his trophy haul, having
also won three times on the Challenge Tour.
Hoey
has since played a part in Northern Ireland’s incredible story in world
golf alongside current World Number One Rory McIlroy, 2011 Open
Champion Darren Clarke and 2010 US Open Champion
Graeme McDowell, while the staging of the Irish Open at Royal Portrush
Golf Club in 2012 proved an unprecedented success.
The
€170,000 Northern Ireland Open Challenge presents an opportunity for
the next generation to follow in the footsteps of those superstars and
begin their path to The European Tour.
It
is the first time Galgorm Castle, one of the country’s premier parkland
courses set in the spectacular surrounds of an historical estate, will
host a Challenge Tour event.
Gary
Henry, General Manager of Galgorm Castle, said: “We are expecting big
crowds at Galgorm Castle to see some of Europe’s top young players and
some of the more established names as well as
some top quality home grown talent.
“The
excitement is already building ahead of the tournament and, with the
support of the people of Northern Ireland, we plan to make this one of
the most exhilarating events on the Challenge
Tour’s international schedule.”
Alain
de Soultrait, Director of the Challenge Tour, said: “We are delighted
to bring the Challenge Tour back to Northern Ireland, a country which
has experienced such great success on the world
golfing stage recently and which produced record crowds at last year’s
Irish Open.
“Galgorm
Castle provides a superb venue which is fitting of a tournament of this
stature and we are sure that in the coming years this will grow to
become one of the premier events on the Challenge
Tour schedule, creating more and more opportunities for talented young
golfers throughout Ireland.
“We must thank everyone at Galgorm Castle for their commitment, enthusiasm and determination in making this tournament happen.”
Hoey,
whose biggest win came at the 2011 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship,
said: “I am deeply honoured to be the ambassador for the new Challenge
Tour event at Galgorm Castle.
“The
Challenge Tour was a hugely important part of my early career and has
helped me develop into the player I am today. By hosting an event in
Northern Ireland, Galgorm Castle Golf Club is
contributing to the development of the next generation of Irish golfers
and I am delighted to be able to play a part in the tournament.”
Hoey
claimed a top 15 finish the last time Northern Ireland hosted a
Challenge Tour event in 2003, when Clarke emerged victorious three weeks
after his famous victory at the WGC - Bridgestone
Invitational, while another Open Champion – the winner at St Andrews in
2010, Louis Oosthuizen - finished tied 12th.
ENDS
Labels: CHALLENGE TOUR
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