Irish Walker Cup star turning professional
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
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Two
of Ireland’s brightest golfing talents, Walker Cup stars Gary Hurley
and Jack Hume, will be teeing up in the Volopa Irish Challenge next
month.
Hurley
has enjoyed a superb final season as an amateur, finishing runner-up in
both the Spanish Amateur Championship and the European Amateur
Championship, culminating in Walker Cup selection.
Hume
has had a similarly eye-catching year, with four top ten finishes on
the European amateur circuit earning him a spot in the Great Britain and
Ireland Walker Cup team along with Hurley and three other compatriots.
After
a memorable weekend on the links of Royal Lytham and St Annes, Hurley
is excited to be leaving the amateur ranks behind on a high as he
ventures into the professional game.
“I
cannot wait to play on home soil so soon after turning professional,”
said the 22 year old. “I know we’re going to have a great week at Mount
Wolseley.
“It’s
been a great year for us Irish players, with five of us getting
selected for the Walker Cup, so it feels fitting to be coming to the
Volopa Irish Challenge so soon after that.
“The
Irish public are always so passionate in their support of Irish golf
and Irish events so it is great that the Challenge Tour is returning to
Ireland. Hopefully I can have a memorable week.”
Hurley
and Hume played in all four sessions of the Walker Cup, and Hume, also
22 years old, is eagerly anticipating competing on home soil from
October 8-11.
He
said: “I thought the most exciting week of my year would be the Walker
Cup but now I have the Volopa Irish Challenge to look forward to I’m not
so sure – there’s equal excitement.
“The
support systems for young players in Ireland are fantastic and this is
hopefully an opportunity to show what all the years of hard work has
been for and to inspire more youngsters to get involved in our sport.“Irish golf fans must be the most passionate in the world so hopefully I and some of the other Irish lads can put on a bit of a show and give them something to cheer about.”
Along
with a healthy sprinkling of native talent, headed by Ruaidrhi McGee,
currently just outside the top 15 in the Road to Oman Rankings who earn
graduation to The European Tour for next season, a strong field is
expected at Mount Wolseley, with just two events on the Challenge Tour
calendar after the Volopa Irish Challenge.
All
eyes inevitably fall on the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Muscat,
Oman at the start of November, so the Volopa Irish Challenge is one of
the last chances for valuable Rankings points and as such none of the
leading players will want to miss it.
It
also marks the return of the Challenge Tour to the Republic of Ireland
after a six year absence and will be the only men’s professional golf
tournament taking place in Ireland this year.
The
Challenge Tour will be visiting Mount Wolseley Hotel, Golf and Spa for
the first time and it promises to be a venue offering both world class
hospitality and a genuine top class challenge for all the players.
The
course, designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr, who is also a tournament
ambassador, will provide a stern but enjoyable test for both the
Challenge Tour’s finest and the fine array of Irish golfers hoping to
join them in the near future.
- Ends - |
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