The Irish Golf Club Gazette: DermotMcElroy

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6/04/2014

GUI Name Fota Island Four

Four top amateurs get Irish Open invite with two former Irish Amateur Open champions included in the Golf Union of Ireland's [GUI] four man selection for the Irish Open at Fota Island on June 19th.

Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan) and Gavin Moynihan (The Island) are joined by Gary Hurley (West Waterford) and Dermot McElroy (Ballymena).

The four amateurs are included in a field alongside Major champions and Irish favourites Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke and European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley

The 2009 winner Shane Lowry, who won in enthralling circumstances as an amateur at Baltray, is also included in the field.

Antonia Beggs, Championship Director said “The amateur game in Ireland has always been vibrant, thanks mainly to the commitment and endeavours of the Golfing Union of Ireland.

“We are delighted to welcome Robbie, Gavin, Gary and Dermot to join a world class field of professionals at Fota Island Resort. The experience they get from playing in the Irish Open will be invaluable as they progress in the game of golf.”

Albert Lee, Honorary Secretary of the GUI said: “Playing in the Irish Open is an important step in the development of these players and we acknowledge the support of the European Tour in allowing us nominate four amateurs to compete in what will be a fantastic display of golf at Fota Island.”

4/18/2014

McElroy Targets West of Ireland

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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

11/13/2013

Phelan Carries Irish Hopes

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Kevin Phelan heads into the final 36 holes of European Tour Final Qualifying in share of 41st place after a one under par fourth round on the Stadium Course on Wednesday, signing for a 71.

The Waterford man's two middle rounds of 67 and 68 eased him comfortably past the cut mark of with all those inside 62^nd place just making it through, Which fortunately included Ruadhri McGee and David Higgins both on 2 under for the day. Just one stroke to the good with a total of -2 and little margin of error fro either player.

Phelan remains 11 shots off the leader Carlos del Moral but only a two stroke swing from a much sought after 25th place. So his chances are still somewhat realistic.

McGee though suffered a double bogey in a mixed day and finished 2 over par 74, dropping 30 places. An untimely reverse having been very steady throughout his campaign thus far.

David Higgins also ended 62^nd despite a two under par round on Wednesday with a mix of bogeys reducing any gains from birdies on holes 6, 11 14 and 17. The veteran of Q School requiring now two out of the ordinary rounds to get close to the mix with those 20^th on the leader board on -8

Amateur Dermot McElroy signed off with a round of 68 to finish 96th.

American Daniel Im and Italian Niccolo Quintarelli were two of the big winners as they showed the requisite nerve at crunch time to not only earn their place in the final two rounds but also climb into contention for European Tour promotion.

The fourth day at the gruelling six-day marathon is always an exciting one as the axe falls and the 156-man field is chopped, with the top 70 and ties making it through to the final two days.

The cut sat at two under par for much of the day but at one point it all came down to Denmark’s Jeppe Huldahl in the last group. If the Dane had shot over par for the day then he could have moved the qualifying mark back a shot, but a level par 72 meant the seven players on one under par were eventually left disappointed.

Im was one of those to make big gains in round four as he signed for an impressive six under par 64 to move from outside the cut mark on one over par to inside it on five under.

The Californian is now looking forward to pushing ahead and vying for a European Tour card after the disappointment of missing out on graduation from the Challenge Tour on the final day of the season less than two weeks ago.

“Coming into the day one over I knew I had to give it a good score,” said the 28 year old. “The weather held up and I saw the cut line at one so I knew I had to do something.

“Since Oman on the Challenge Tour I've been really flat but I kept practicing and I never lost hope. I just kept grinding and today everything just fell into place. I made some putts and I birdied the first so I just said to myself, ‘let’s do this’.

“I kept it going and on seven, I chipped in with a great chip for eagle and then you think things are going your way, but you just never know with this game.

“I guess you can take the disappointment of the Challenge Tour Grand Final both ways. I was inside the number going into the final week but I didn’t play well and I had to come to Q-School but at the same time, I get another chance at getting my European Tour card.

“The first few days here I was losing hope a little but I had a good rest in Barcelona after Dubai and had some fun with Agus (Domingo) and my brother and we had some good tapas and ham!

“I have to give it a go now. I'm not here to finish top 50. I'm here to get my card so I can go after it now full throttle. I'm really looking forward to the next few days but hopefully the weather will hold up.”

Quintarelli, meanwhile, carded one of the rounds of the day as the 24 year old fired an incredible 11 birdies, including five in a row, to move from one under par to nine under at PGA Catalunya Resort.

The Venetian said that it was one of the rounds of his life as he climbed to tied 13th place, with the top 25 and ties earning European Tour status at the conclusion of this week’s gruelling six-round marathon.

“I played awesome,” said Quintarelli, who finished 97th in the Challenge Tour Rankings this year. “I was looking forward to today after shooting one under on the Stadium Course on day three and I played one of my best rounds of golf in the last few years so I’m very happy about that.

“I holed a lot, struck the ball good, so I’m very happy. My irons were very good today, especially the short irons which were unbelievable, and I hit a lot of those inside ten feet or so, and even left tap ins a lot of the time, so my long game was pretty perfect really.

“Also, when I had to hole a long putt, I did so. It really was a perfect round apart from that double bogey at the 15th. But anyway I had a great last three holes, finishing birdie-par-birdie, which was awesome.

“I just want to keep trying to do my best the last two rounds, to try and earn my card, and we’ll just have to see what happens as I am feeling positive and playing well so I think I can do it.”

Some others who made the climb inside the qualifying mark to at least guarantee a Challenge Tour card for the 2013 season as well as a shot at European Tour promotion over the next two days included Tain Lee. The American carded a stunning eight under par 64 on the Stadium Course to climb from level par to eight under overall.

Englishman Ben Evans also ensured another two days’ play at the stunning resort near Girona in Spain after a five under par 65 on the Tour Course moved him to two under and just inside the cut line.

11/12/2013

Higgins Trails Phelan and McGee

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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.

11/11/2013

McGee Leads Irish Hopes

Ruaidhri McGee signed for a four under par second round at the European Tour Final Qualifying on Monday singing for a 66 at the PGA Catalunya Tour Course to move into the to hold a share of eighth place.

The Rosapenna golfer made the turn in 32 strokes and picked up another birdie on the run for home, with a card that also showed three dropped shots.

McGee is four shots off the lead of American John Hahn, who carded a six-under 66 on the Stadium Course to go two shots clear of the field on 10 under.

Kevin Phelan finished his second round three-under-par on the Tour Course which in some ways eased the setback of his opening 73 on Sunday but leaves him Tied 55th

David Higgins is placed the same after his second one over par on the Stadium Course dropped him down the field after the first round 67.

Amateur Dermot McElroy suffered a triple-bogey seven on the 14th, his fifth hole, on the Stadium Course on his way to a two-over 74.

The 20-year-old lies in a tie for 81st position on level par and will need to make a move over the next two days to avoid the cut after the fourth of six rounds.

The field of 156 competitors will play 2 rounds on both the Stadium and Tour Courses at the PGA Catalunya Resort. After 72 holes the field will be cut to the leading 70 players and ties who will play two further rounds over the Stadium Course.

At the conclusion of 108 holes, the leading 25 players (and those players tied on the final qualifying place score) will be ranked according to score.

Players who tie for 25th place or better shall be eligible for Category 15 membership of the European Tour (and Category 5 membership of the Challenge Tour) for the 2014 season and will be subject to the 2014 re-rank policy adopted by the Tournament Committee.

The remainder of those making the cut will be eligible for Category 20 membership of the European Tour (and Category 9 membership of the Challenge Tour) for the 2014 season. Players failing to make the cut will be eligible for Category 15 membership of the Challenge Tour for the 2014 season.

Players who fail to make the cut will also be ranked.

Since 1976, The European Tour Qualifying School has been held at the end of each season to establish which players, not otherwise exempt, will gain their playing privileges on the Tour for the following season through a qualifying competition.

It is a tough school for one of golf’s most coveted prizes, namely Membership of The European Tour and a place among the golfing elite.

Along the way, dreams are made and hopes dashed in equal measure. The Qualifying School is held in three stages - dependent on the individual's status - at a series of venues in the UK and Continental Europe. In the region of 1,000 competitors enter the Qualifying School each year, all aiming for a European Tour card, awarded to the top 25 and ties following the Final Stage. A player progressing through all three stages will have to play 252 holes under the most intense pressure.

The leading 25 players (plus those tied for 25th place) will earn Category 15 Membership of The European Tour for the following season.

11/06/2013

McElroy Earns Final Place

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Dermot McElroy finished his weather delayed final round of the European Tour Qualifying School on Wednesday at Lumine Golf and Beach Club with a level par 71. A result that secured the Irish amateur eighteenth place outright in Tarragona and the last spot for the Final Stage next week.

A pair of birdies and bogeys either side of the turn were the result of his work on the final day and a five under par aggregate score. Enough to separate the Ballymena golfer by a stroke from the larger chasing groups.

McElroy has shown promise from an early age and a couple of years ago - then aged 17 - he was one step away from winning the North of Ireland, losing out in the final at Royal Portrush to Alan Dunbar. Who ironically failed to get through Stage Two this week.

Five years ago McElroy won the Connacht under-15, the Leinster under-15s, the Ulster under-15s and the Irish under-15 titles in the same season. Last year he was named in a 12-man preliminary Great Britain and Ireland squad for the St Andrews Trophy match against Continental Europe to be played at Portmarnock in August.

This season at the Northern Ireland Challenge presented by Clannah and XJet McElroy finished T9.

England’s Chris Hanson finished the protracted Qualifying School Second Stage at Lumine after closing with a round of 68 in Tarragona.

Hanson led 18 qualifiers from the northern Spain venue on 15 under par, five strokes clear of his nearest challengers, Scotland’s Raymond Russell and English amateur Callum Shinkwin, who signed off with respective rounds of 69 and 70.

The 18 qualifiers from Lumine Golf will join the 35 players who progressed from Las Colinas Golf and Country Club and Campo de Golf El Saler at next week’s Final Stage, which will again be held at PGA Catalunya Resort, in Girona.

Gareth Shaw will not be part of that group next week however, having finished his similalry weather delayed final round at Valle Romano in a 2 over par 73.

Two double bogeys on his front nine pushed the Upper Ballinderry man in the wrong direction on the leaderboard from the outset, needing a minimum four under par to have a chance, and reaching the halfway in 40 strokes left him struggling.

A fightback of sorts on the home stretch gave some hope, but there was too much ground to recover, and unable to repeat the one sub 70 round which he carded on day two.

A former Amateur 2006 Eisenhower Trophy 2007, 08 winner), a Palmer Cup 2002 winner, 2003 winner of the Jacques Leglise Trophy - as well as a representative record from 2002-07 of Boys, Youths, Seniors honours.

This is Shaw's sixth visit to Q School and it will be a disappointing result for the Team Ireland golfer who had started this season very determined to make the breakthrough onto the main Tour.

Despite enduring a difficult final day at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, James Heath still led 17 qualifiers home as the European Tour Qualifying School Second Stage came to a close at the Alicante venue.

The Englishman, who held a substantial lead overnight, signed off with a round of 75, but that closing effort was still good enough to finish top of the pile on 15 under par.

Heath was followed home by rising South African star Brandon Stone, who closed with a 69 for a 14 under par aggregate total.

Welshman Liam Bond (13 under), England’s James Robinson (12 under) and American John Hahn (11 under) rounded out the top five.

The qualifying mark fell on two under par, with six players contesting a play-off for the last four places in the Final Stage.

The Swedish duo of Oscar Floren and Joakim Rask emerged triumphant alongside German amateur Christopher Dammert and Spaniard Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, with France’s Michael Lorenzo-Vera and Germany’s Max Glauert the men to miss out – although they could still make the Final Stage as Alternates, in the event of injuries or withdrawals.

At Campo de Golf El Saler, home favourite Carlos del Moral romped to victory by five shots after signing off with a round of 71 for an eight under par aggregate total.

England’s Jason Barnes finished second on three under par, one shot ahead of Frenchman Thomas Linard and Italian Niccolo Quintarelli.

With 18 players progressing from El Saler, there was a five-way play-off for the final two spots after Jerome Casanova, Christophe Brazillier, Matthias Grönberg, Chris Lloyd and Andrey Pavlov all finished on three over par.

The two who prevailed were Casanova, courtesy of birdie at the first extra hole, and Grönberg, who eventually saw off Lloyd on the sixth extra hole.

Meanwhile, over at Valle Romano Golf in Estepona, the third round was finally completed with Frenchman Edouard Espana leading the way on 12 under par.

High winds had forced officials to suspend play on Monday, but Espana made the most of the calmer conditions on Tuesday to lead by two strokes from Australian Scott Arnold and Sweden’s Alexander Björk, who posted respective rounds of 69 and 68.

The fourth round was completed on Wednesday, as it was at Lumine Golf & Beach Club, where high winds forced a suspension at 12.55pm on Tuesday. Play resumed at 4.15pm but was again halted 25 minutes later.

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