The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Ballymena

Showing posts with label Ballymena. Show all posts

4/05/2015

Portrush Plans on The Open

Royal Portrush could host the Open Championship as early as 2019 after a planning application for renovations to the course was approved.

The R&A, the sport's governing body, confirmed the County Antrim links as an Open venue last June, subject to infrastructure work being completed.

"I've seen the renovation plans - they look amazing," said Portrush native and 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell.

The Open is due to return to Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951.

The renovation includes the building of two new holes to make way for corporate hospitality marquees and spectator villages.

"I can't wait to see the plans evolve and playing the course in major championship-ready conditions," added McDowell.

"It's exciting that the planning permission has come through. My little brother is on the green staff at Portrush and I know they can't wait to get their teeth into the renovations.

"With visitors coming over it will be a huge boost to the economy and so many great things will come out of this opportunity."

The decision to bring the tournament to Portrush followed the successfulstaging of the Irish Open in 2012.

5/04/2014

Hurley and McElroy in Lytham Mix

Gary Hurley and Dermot McElroy are leading the Irish challenge after the opening round of the Lytham Trophy over the Royal Lytham and St Annes links on the Lancashire coast.

West Waterford's Hurley and Ballymena star McElroy both fired two-over-par 72s to trail leader Hurly Long of Germany by three strokes.

Hurley slipped to three bogeys on the outward half which he covered in 37 but finished with his only birdie in the round– a three on the last.

McElroy started with a birdie two but then had three bogeys in the next six holes before steadying himself to produce nine straight pars on the homeward stretch.

Naas' Jack Hume took 74 with a mixed round. Headfort's Rory McNamara is on 75 along with Stackstown player Richard Bridges and Tiarnan McLarnon of Massereene, while Gary Collins and Reeve Whitson both returned 76s. Already out of the hunt is the Portmarnock man Geoff Lenehan, who had a disastrous 87.

Leader Long goes into the second round this morning one stroke clear.

4/18/2014

McElroy Targets West of Ireland

Getty Images

Dermot McElroy has shelved plans to turn professional mid-season and has set his sights on the West of Ireland Amateur Open which gets under way at Rosses Point on Friday.

The 21-year-old Ballymena star is tipped to become the next big thing in Irish golf, despite narrowly failing to win his tour card at last year's European Tour Qualifying School.

He's already 61st on the planet in the amateur rankings but knows he's going to have to find some form with the putter if he's to avoid another early exit in the West and finally add an amateur 'Major' to his list of achievements.

Second favourite behind defending champion Rory McNamara to win at Co Sligo, McElroy said: "It's all going to depend on how the putter is working. I've a habit of missing four three-footers a round and that's just giving holes away, so that's going to be key, especially if it's very windy.

"Hopefully this year it will be a bit different for me on the greens but to be honest, my putting's been very poor this year.

"After South Africa and the Spanish events, it was really awful. I just couldn't break 33 putts for any round, but I've put in a lot of practice since then and it's coming along.

"I've no idea when I will turn professional, but I don't think it will be this year. I'm going to finish the amateur season. I had thought about going after the British Amateur at Royal Portrush and Portstewart but I think I'd just like to wait."

McElroy's goal is to become a Major winner before joining the paid ranks.

"I just want to win one of the big amateur events, so it'd be nice to win a West or the North of Ireland," he said.

4/17/2014

Four Named in GB&I Squad

Gavin Moynihan - Getty Images

A 21 player Great Britain and Ireland squad has been announced for the St Andrews Trophy match at Barsebäck Golf and Country Club in Sweden on 29 and 30 August, 2014.

The nine-man team that will face the Continent of Europe in the biennial match will be named in mid-August.

Four players will bring valuable Walker Cup experience to the squad including Matthew Fitzpatrick, who recently made his Masters Tournament debut, and Rhys Pugh who played on the GB&I side in both 2011 at Royal Aberdeen and in 2013 at the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, New York.

Greg Eason, who is currently ranked third in the WORLD AMATEUR GOLF RANKING™, and reigning European Amateur champion Ashley Chesters bring depth to the squad, along with talented young players Sam Horsfield and 2013 Scottish Boys champion Bradley Neil.

Nigel Edwards will captain the team for the third time as GB&I look to reclaim the trophy after the Continent of Europe’s narrow 12½ – 11½ victory at Portmarnock in 2012.

“We have announced a strong squad for this year’s match,” said Edwards, a playing member of the victorious St Andrews Trophy teams in 2002, 2004 and 2006. “The final selection of the team for the St Andrews Trophy match will be dependent on performances and, therefore, players who are not named in this squad have every chance of playing their way on to the team. I am confident that the team we select will mount a real challenge for the trophy in Sweden.”

The St Andrews Trophy is the biennial men’s match which will be played alongside the annual boys’ match, the Jacques Leglise Trophy, at Barsebäck on 29 and 30 August. The St Andrews Trophy has been played alternately on British/Irish and mainland European courses since 1956. Great Britain and Ireland have won on 24 occasions and the Continent of Europe has won five times, including the 2010 and 2012 matches.

The 2014 GB&I squad is:

Tomasz Anderson (Brocket Hall) – Welwyn Garden City, England

Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park) – Wem, England

Greg Eason (Kirby Muxloe) – Leicester, England

Ryan Evans (Wellingborough) – Wellingborough, England

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire) – Sheffield, England

Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) – North Berwick, Scotland

Sam Horsfield (Davenport, USA) – Manchester, England

Paul Howard (Southport & Ainsdale) – Southport, England

Jack Hume (Naas) – Naas, Ireland

Gary Hurley (West Waterford) – Aglish, Ireland

Nick Marsh (Huddersfield) – Elland, England

Jimmy Mullen (Royal North Devon) – Devon, England

Gavin Moynihan (The Island) - Dublin, Ireland

Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) – Troon, Scotland

Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) – Ballymena, Northern Ireland

Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) – Perthshire, Scotland

Rhys Pugh (Pontypridd) – Pontypridd, Wales

James Ross (Royal Burgess) – Edinburgh, Scotland

Ewan Scott (St Andrews) – St Andrews, Scotland

Jordan Smith (Bowood) – Calne, England

Ben Taylor (Walton Heath) – Leatherhead, England

11/12/2013

Higgins Trails Phelan and McGee

Getty Images

David Higgins returns to the Stadium Course a second time on Wednesday in need of some fireworks for his fourth round of Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya, after a round of 72 on the Tour course on Tuesday dropped him back the field.

With just the opening round of three under par as a cushion the Waterville golfer must rely on his experience to ensure safe passage on Wednesday and needs to stay within the top 70 players.

Already a top 25 spot looks a stretch for Friday as he currently shares 66th place with only one stroke the difference between him and another year in golfing exile already.

On Tuesday the 2013 European Tour member birdied twice but then gave the shots back with interest to finish two over par for the day and dropping eleven places.

Ruairdhi McGee uncharacteristically this season lost some momentum in this grueling and lengthy contest - that started in September - signing for a two over par 72 on the Tour Course. The Rosapenna man drops out of the top to 32nd along side Kevin Phelan.

Walker Cup team member Phelan was four under for the back nine but was carrying two bogeys from earlier in the day after dropping shots at holes four and five. A round of 67 though pushed the Waterford man up the field twenty three places and inside the projected cutmark.

Dermot McElroy will have learned much from this campaign as the Ballymena golfer lies in 102nd place after a double and triple bogey added to his third round 76 – on four over par.

A promising start of 68 on day one came undone over the past two days as 108 golfers fight for the 25 automatic places on Friday afternoon.

England’s James Morrison climbed into a share of the lead on the third day at The European Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage thanks to a superb best-of-the-day 63 at PGA Catalunya Resort.

The 28 year old Surrey native defied swirling winds to post eight birdies and just the one bogey to reach ten under par for the week as the leading half of the draw played the Tour Course at the stunning resort just outside of Girona, in north-eastern Spain.

Sweden’s Jens Dantorp fired a two under par 68 to also reach that tally following the third day’s play, while the South American pair of Estanislao Goya and Fabrizio Zanotti both shot 67 to remain one shot further back as the gruelling contest reached its halfway point.

Morrison, who is playing the Final Stage for the first time in five years this week after finishing 139th in The 2013 Race to Dubai, showed some exemplary ball-striking on Tuesday in birdieing four of the five par threes and surged 39 places up the leaderboard into a share of top spot.

“It does feel good to be up the top of the board,” said the 2010 Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal champion. “It is always a funny week at Tour School what with us being through three rounds and still having three to go.

“You’ve just got to keep playing well and keep it ticking along while staying within a decent distance of the leaders.

“I knew today playing the Tour course that it was the last chance for a low one, I felt like I could have a good score today. We were first out too so the greens were good and I’ve been playing well for a few months without it quite clicking but it is finally starting to come around.

“It has helped us with the leading half of the field being on the Tour course today. It was playing like a four-club wind out there this afternoon so I wouldn’t want to play the Stadium Course in the wind. The other guys are going to find it hard playing the other course so today was a chance to really push yourself up the field and luckily enough I did that.”

This week, playing in his fourth Qualifying School Final without yet having gained his playing rights here – he eventually did ascend to The European Tour after finishing 18th on the Challenge Tour in 2009 – Morrison said that after a disappointing campaign he is glad to be getting back on track, and over two courses which he clearly enjoys.

“I played here in the Qualifying School when it was first held here five years ago but haven’t been back since,” he continued. “The courses suit my game. They are just two good golf courses; they say the Tour is easier and I know I have shot a good score but there are still a few smelly holes out there which you need to focus on.

“And the Stadium Course is just a good test of golf. Play well and you can shoot a good score, but don’t and you can shoot a hundred – it’s a great challenge.”

Dantorp, meanwhile, said it was a grinding day but was happy to make a 16 foot birdie putt at the last to jump into a share of the lead with 54 holes remaining in Girona.

“It was a bit gusty today but I’m lucky because it’s the conditions I’m used to playing in at home – for me it’s a normal thing,” said Dantorp, who finished 21st in the Challenge Tour rankings this year. “Today was so-so with the putting but I was pleased with that finish. It’s a great place to be in and I’m happy with where I am at the moment.”

American John Hahn failed to build on his two-shot overnight lead as he struggled to a three over par 73, while his compatriot Brinson Paolini shot a best-of-the-day 68 on the challenging Stadium Course to move into a share of 26th place on five under par.

The top 70 players and ties at the conclusion of the fourth round will go on to play two more times over the Stadium Course while those sharing 25th place and better come close of play on Friday will claim a coveted European Tour card for the 2014 season.

8/31/2013

Dutch Daan Takes Route 66

Dutchman Daan Huizing will take a six-shot lead into the final round of the Northern Ireland Open after producing a flawless 66 on Saturday.

Huizing kept a bogey off his card to be six ahead of Sweden's Jens Dantorp, England's James Heath and Germany's Bernd Ritthammer going into Sunday.

2008 Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson is in fifth spot seven off the pace.

Jonathan Caldwell is the leading Irish player in share of 12th place on five under after firing a 71 on Saturday.

Ballymena amateur Dermot McElroy lost ground as a disappointing opening 12 holes led to him carding a three-over 74 which dropped him back to a share of 36th on two under.

Derry man Michael McGeady, who was only one off the pace after his 65 on Thursday, also slipped back to two under after a 74 which included five bogeys in marked contrast to his nine birdies on day one.

Mourne amateur Reeve Whitson performed creditably as a one-over 72 left him on one under but the big talking point at the Ballymena course was Huizing's dominant performance in front of over 6,000 spectators.

The 22-year-old Dutchman has now gone 35 holes without a bogey at Galgorm Castle as his rounds of 65, 66 and 66 put in control of the tournament.

Huizing started his round with six pars on Saturday but four birdies in six holes from the seventh saw him pull away from the field.

Even a run of five straight pars from the 13th didn't see his advantage trimmed and for good measure, he birdied the last to put further daylight between him and the trio on 10 under.

"It took me a few holes to relax into the round today but once I did that I managed to play really well and take a few chances," said Huizing, who has produced four top five Challenge Tour finishes in just six appearances this season.

"To be six ahead is really good because I can probably be a little bit more conservative tomorrow."

Englishman Heath's six-birdie 65 moved him into a share of second place with Swede Dantorp (69) and first-round joint-leader Ritthammer (68).

European Ryder Cup star from 2008 Wilson showed that he is edging back to some kind of form as his 68 left him alone in fifth place on nine under.

"At the start of the year, I was playing absolutely terribly. I didn't know where the ball was going but it has been getting better over the last month or so," Wilson told BBC Sport.

Wilson's compatriot Sam Walker charged up the leaderboard after squeezing into the weekend action on the cut mark of one under as he equalled the best round of the week with his 64, which included an eagle at the ninth.

Clandeboye man Caldwell battled back well with two late birdies which helped undo some of the damage of three straight bogeys from the ninth as he signed for a 71.

Amateur McElroy opened with five pars on Saturday but a dropped shot at the sixth was then followed by three straight bogeys after the turn.

McElroy's lone birdie came at the last which left him on two under alongside McGeady.

Former Madrid Masters champion Ross McGowan, who shared second place overnight, tumbled down the leaderboard as a 76 dropped him to three under while three-time European Tour winner Nick Dougherty is on one under after a disappointing 73.

8/30/2013

Hoey Cut at Galgorm Castle

Michael Hoey missed the cut at the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle after a four-over-par 76 left him well down the field on four over par.

Hoey called a two-shot penalty on himself as he carded a triple-bogey seven at the 11th, his second hole.

Portrush's Alan Dunbar (74) also missed the cut by one shot on level par.

Dutchman Dean Huizing leads on 11 under while Dermot McElroy (70) and Jonathan Caldwell (69) are the best placed NI players on five under.

Jen Dantop and Ross McGowan are three behind Huizing in tied second with four players a further shot back.

Former Walker Cup player Caldwell, from Clandeboye, moved into the running thanks to a 69.

Ballymena golfer Dermot McElroy (70) and Michael McGeady (72) are also five under.

Gareth Shaw (72) and Northern Ireland amateur Reeve Whitson (69) made the cut on two under.

Former British amateur champion Dunbar failed to make the cut following a disappointing 74.

Richard Kilpatrick and Paul Cutler both registered rounds of 72 to finish four over.

Hoey, a five-time European Tour winner, told reporters that he was "massively disappointed" not to be involved in the weekend's action after a round in which "everything that could go wrong did go wrong".

4/05/2015

Related articles

5/04/2014

Related articles

4/18/2014

Related articles

4/17/2014

Related articles

11/12/2013

Related articles

8/31/2013

Related articles

8/30/2013

Related articles