Unique GUI Irish Open Offer

Members of the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI), the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU) and the general public attending the Irish Open at Carton House next week will have a unique opportunity to play the showpiece par three 17th hole on the Montgomerie Course as part of the ‘Open House@17’Challenge.

Anyone visiting the Tented Village at Carton House can register to compete in the challenge at the GUI National Academy stand. Spectators can then use the shuttle service provided by The European Tour to access the challenge which takes place at the GUI National Golf Academy adjacent to the championship course itself.

The challenge involves a 170-yard tee shot to a green in the short game area of the Academy - replicating the testing challenge that the world’s top professionals will face during the Irish Open from next Thursday to Sunday in Co. Kildare.

Each day, the six players closest to the flag will be invited to play the actual 17th hole in front of packed grandstands and galleries with prizes on offer for the winners including vouchers for the National Golf Academy and discounts on insurance from the GUI’s main sponsor AIG.

Albert Lee, Hon. Secretary of the GUI said: “The 17th at Carton House is a magnificent hole and to have the chance to play it in front of the grandstands is one not to be missed. The GUI is delighted to support the Tour in promoting the ‘Open House@17’ initiative and I hope that the stands are full each day to see some great golf”.

Antonia Beggs, Championship Director for the Irish Open, commented: “We are excited to be working closely with the GUI on this unique opportunity for the average golf fan to play such an iconic hole as the 17th on the Montgomerie Course.

“It will be a big thrill for the lucky winners and also for the spectators in the grandstand to cheer and encourage the prize winners as they stand on that tee with the 1500-seater grandstand surrounding the hole itself. It promises to be great fun for all concerned.”

Meanwhile, fans can reserve their seat in the 17th hole grandstand for just €10 per day, ensuring that in the year of The Irish Gathering they are part of this exhilarating crowd experience. Big screens will also be erected at the 17th hole allowing spectators to watch all of the action from elsewhere on the course.

Anyone who has already purchased reserved seating for the 18th green grandstand will also receive automatic entrance to the 17th stand. All reserved grandstand seating for the 18th on Saturday and Sunday is now sold out.

Information about the 17th hole grandstand at the 2013 Irish Open can be found onwww.europeantour.com/tickets, where special advanced tickets offers for the tournament can also be located.

An advance season ticket for all four days of The Irish Open can be bought for €70, a saving and €10 on admission at the gate. Adult day tickets are priced at €30 pre-event, and €35 on the gate. Concessions are available at €50 for a season (€60 on the gate) and €20 for any one day (€25 on the gate).

Under-16s accompanied by an adult are admitted free of charge and all car parking is also free.

Additionally, as part of the Irish Open ticket campaign, fans of golf and horse racing can enjoy both sports on the same day – Saturday, June 29 – by purchasing a specially priced ‘Irish Double’ ticket to enjoy the third round of the Irish Open and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day for a combined price of €50.

Corporate Hospitality packages are also available with prices ranging from €245 to €295 (plus VAT). For all enquiries please contact Joanne in CSL Hospitality on 01 676 6650 orjoanne@cslhospitality.ie For further information please visit www.cslhospitality.ie

Full ticket information can be found at: www.europeantour.com/tickets or telephone Ticket Hotline: +440800 023 2557. Irish callers can phone: 1890 252 698. Postal enquiries should be sent to: European Tour Tickets, Mirren Court Three, 123 Renfrew Court Three, Paisley, PA3 4EA.

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Dunbar Shows Hydro Power

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Alan Dunbar put on a world-class display at the Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts and joined Byeong-hun An of Korea, after they both carded stunning nine under par rounds of 62 to share the lead after day one.

The European Challenge Tour is regarded as the best school for fledgling golfers to develop from promising amateurs to polished professionals and this was certainly a case of gifted young stars coming of age.

Korean An, the 2009 US Amateur Champion who holds the record as the youngest winner of the prestigious event, and 2012 Amateur Champion Dunbar have both shown in the non-paid ranks that they have the talent to reach the headiest heights of the game.

And in an incredible morning at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club in Northern Scotland, they both proved that they can also cut it in the professional ranks with breath-taking performances.

Dunbar got off to a poor start after teeing off at the 11th, bogeying his opening two holes, but that did not deter the 23 year old as he fired 11 birdies to smash the course record almost exactly a year after his biggest win as an amateur.

“I was in just the zone,” said Dunbar, whose Amateur Championship win came at Royal Troon in Scotland. “I’ve been playing well all year now, shooting good scores but missing the cut by a couple of shots. It’s good to put it all together and have a strong round.

“It’s a tough start, starting on 11. It a tough opening hole and 12 is tough too. I missed the first two greens and made two bogeys so it was a really good 62.

“I panicked a wee bit after the bogeys to be honest because the longer it goes on the harder it is to get it back. That has been my problem really, shooting level par is not really good enough on the Challenge Tour, so it’s nice to get something going.

“I felt like a round like this was coming. I have been saying to my coach that I am playing well, and most of my rounds could easily have been four or five better. Even after the start I was confident of hitting good shots.”

Barely 30 minutes after Dunbar came in with that record-breaking score, the 2009 US Amateur Open Champion – who beat Danny Lee’s record to become the youngest winner of the famous event – also signed for a 62.

In contrast to Dunbar, An did not card a single bogey as he shot nine birdies on the way to his lowest round as a professional.

“I really like this course but it’s actually fairly hard,” said the 21 year old. “There are some hard holes. It is pretty long and gets pretty tough if you don’t drive it very well. I missed the cut last year but this year I guess it suits me better.

“The weather definitely helps, it’s a lot better than last year. It was raining this morning, but it’s nice now. There was no wind, it was calm and just a little rain but a lot better than last year, I think that helps.

“I was never thinking about 59 to be honest. I fired well on the front nine but the back nine is definitely harder. I just wanted to make par on the harder holes – 11 and 12 are the hardest - just get through those holes and see what happens.”

Sebi Garcia was a shot back after carding an eight under par 63 while there were seven players three shots further back on six under par, including former Challenge Tour Grand Final winner Andrea Pavan.

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