Galgorm 66 for Gros

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Sebastien Gros credited the friendly atmosphere in his group for inspiring him and his two playing partners, Haydn Porteous and Simon Thornton, to a combined total of 16 under on the opening morning of the Northern Ireland Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank.

The Frenchman, currently second in the Road to Oman Rankings, shot a five under par round of 66, the same as Irishman Thornton, while South African Porteous was one shot better still and tied for the lead, making the three-ball an aggregate 16 under through round one at Galgorm Castle.

The 25 year old from Lyon has been in sensational form this season, notching a win at his home Najeti Open Presented by Neuflize OBC as well as three other top five finishes, and was happy to take advantage of benign conditions in the early stages of the first round to put himself in contention for another strong finish.

“It does make it easier when your playing partners are also playing well,” he said. “There was a really nice spirit in our game, all three of us were very friendly, and I think it’s more the fact that the two others are so friendly that helps you play well.

“Low scoring is always good but it didn’t really feel like we were going low, it was more the attitude of all three of us that was good and probably helped us all feel more comfortable and play as well as we did.

Conditions were perfect today, compared to yesterday especially. I’m very happy with the weather this morning, now I hope it doesn’t stay like that for the rest of the day!

“I’m delighted with the start I’ve made because this course is not easy so it’s always good to get an under par score.

“You have to drive the ball pretty well around here, and the greens are not very well defended, so if you put yourself in good positions off the tee you won’t have too many long shots in.

“There are a few key holes to get through but the wind was kind this morning, but the key is just to hit the fairways and then scoring can come slightly easier.

“I’m very happy with my season so far. I’ve had a few mistakes in my attitude in the last few weeks, where I’ve had good first rounds but not good finishes because I’ve started going a bit crazy in trying to get under par rounds when I’ve made a fast start.

“Hopefully I won’t make the same mistake this week, just try to focus on the easiest things to do.

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Oman Road for McGee

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Ruaidhri McGee, the highest-ranked Irishman in the Road to Oman Rankings, is hoping that home comforts can drive him to a maiden European Challenge Tour title at this week’s Northern Ireland Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank.

The 24 year old has recorded four top ten finishes this season, including a runner-up at the Challenge de Madrid in April and a share of third place at June’s KPMG Trophy, but is yet to register that elusive first victory on the European Challenge Tour.

McGee lives an hour from Galgorm Castle, which is this week hosting the third edition of the best-attended event on the schedule and so will have the rare pleasure of sleeping at home during tournament week.

Having suffered the disappointment of being forced to retire midway through his opening round last year due to illness, the Derryman is relishing the opportunity to return on the back of his good progress this year.

“It will be nice to sleep in my own bed and there is always great support so I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

“It was really unfortunate last year. I was really looking forward to playing this event. It was shaping up to be a good week and then I got sick. I tried to play - I played six holes - but I couldn’t hit the ball at all. It wasn’t great but I didn’t have a choice at the time.

I'm looking forward to getting back to Galgorm - it's definitely the best tournament of the year for crowds

“I’m looking forward to getting back there now, being healthy and giving it a go. Galgorm is a place that I’ve played at a lot of times.

“It’s a great course, really nice, and it’s tight as well so I think it suits my game. The greens are really good too so it’s a good setup there. I’ve had a few good rounds there in the past so I have good memories.

“It’s a great tournament, the crowds make it – I think it’s definitely the best tournament of the year for that. It feels like a European Tour event and it’s great to play in front of so many people in that atmosphere.”

McGee has struggled with a dip in form in the last month or so and he admits that, having got off to a flying start – at one point reaching third place in the Road to Oman Rankings, he did find himself worrying too much about where he stood on the year-long list at the conclusion of each week.

“I think you end up checking the Rankings out after every tournament to see where you’ve moved to but I think it’s easily done,” he said. “It’s just natural, but I’m going to try and do my best now not to look at it and just look at it in November.

“I feel like I’m playing well, I’m just trying to forget about the Rankings now and get back to playing. Hopefully now I can hole a few putts and get a good strong finish to the year.”

McGee is joined by a host of home stars from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, including five-time European Tour winner and this week’s Tournament host Michael Hoey.

He is joined by fellow former European Tour winners Damien McGrane and Simon Thornton, as well as Rhys Davies and Phillip Price of Wales, Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik, Dane Jeppe Pape Huldahl and Englishmen Nick Dougherty, Kenneth Ferrie and Ross McGowan.

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Club History - Galgorm Castle

The site comprising of 220 acres includes remnants of the ancient Irish fort of the McQuillan

clan.

Building of the Castle was started in 1618 by Sir Faithful Fortescue and is recognised as one of the finest examples of early Jacobean architecture in Ireland.

The Chapel close to the Castle also dating from the time was used by the family until it was burnt down by the United Irishmen in 1798. After this services including baptisms were held in the Castle kitchen.

As well as the architecturally important Castle and Courtyard, the estate includes two further listed buildings: a small roundhouse, formerly the home to a labourer and his four children and a beautiful cottage on the Sourhill Road.

The Estate bustled with life, employing over 30 people in the house, garden stables and farm.

The Young’s who bought the Estate in the 1843, also owned the Braidwater Mill. They were forward thinking pioneers who ensured the prosperity of the estate by adopting innovative new farming methods such as building flax dams, a water wheel and tank. At the time Galgorm was one of the premier agricultural estates in the north.

Coinciding with the industrial revolution and mechanisation of the farming circa 1900 the estate’s fortunes began to decline. The existing layout was perfectly suited to traditional methods, but totally inappropriate for the new mechanised approach.

The Courtyard, part of which dates back to the early 17th century, suffered the indignity of an attempted conversion/update using the Victorian approach which involved unsympathetic demolition of walls.

www.galgormcastle.com

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Lagergren Wins at Galgorm

European Tour

Joakim Lagergren claimed his maiden European Challenge Tour title at the Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses after the Swede produced a grandstand finish, holing an eight foot clutch putt at the last for a birdie and a one-stroke victory.

While the 22 year old held a six shot lead heading into the final round at the packed Galgorm Castle, where crowds of over 34,000 flocked through the gates all week, it was certainly not plain sailing as he bogeyed two of the first three holes to open the door for the chasing pack.

Frenchman Adrian Bernadet duly obliged and launched a relentless early challenge for the title with five birdies on the front nine taking him into a share of the lead as Lagergren reached the turn. 

A birdie for the Stockholm player at the tenth edged him one clear again but he suffered a rocky finish, with bogeys either side of a birdie at the 16th meaning he stepped onto the 18th tee tied for the lead and needing to make a gain to avoid a play-off and claim the win.

When his second shot found the second cut of rough at the right edge of the green, he had to do it the hard way but he did so with nerveless efficiency, chipping to eight feet before sinking the putt under the most intense pressure to roars of jubilation from the crowds that packed the grandstand and surrounded the green.

“This means a lot to me,” said Lagergen, who signed for a one over par final round 72 for a 13 under total. “I’m so proud and I’m so happy. I got a little bit stressed, I have to say. After nine holes I was tied for the lead with Adrian and then I knew I had to really get going and play some good golf.

“I played a little bit better on the back nine, not as good as I wanted to but obviously it was enough so I'm happy with that.

“I got the information on the 18th fairway that I needed birdie but I was going for it in two anyway. I hit a three wood off the tee and then I had a three wood in and it was a great chip and a great putt.

“That chip was probably my best shot of the week because it was a tough lie and I don’t think I could have done any better with it.

“When the putt dropped it was a big relief. It almost felt like I couldn’t go out and win the tournament on the final day, I could only lose it. I had a six shot lead and being tied going into the last, I was nervous, I really was.

“I had to make birdie at the last so I’m really proud of myself, I did a great job over the last three holes with two birdies.”

Lagergren, who moved from 117th to 35th in the Challenge Tour Rankings, mentioned prior to his final round that he felt a special affinity with the knowledgeable and supportive Northern Irish crowds, many of whom followed him all week as he played his opening two rounds with local amateur prospect Dermot McElroy.

With 13,180 coming out in the perfect conditions on the final day, Lagergren believes the support of the crowds helped lift him to victory.

“The crowds have been great this week,” he said. “The last couple of holes it was like a European Tour tournament, for sure. 

“When I came off the tee at the 18th there were just people everywhere, from where I was standing, 500 metres in front of me to up around the green and in the grandstand. It was an incredible image and one I’m going to keep in my mind for a long time.

“There were a lot of people and it was so fun to play for them. They’ve been cheering me on and it’s been great.

“I needed this win because I haven’t been playing great this season and it’s great for the confidence. It feels like I can almost touch my goals for the season now, whereas before I almost couldn’t see them.”

Bernadet, meanwhile, collected his second runner-up finish of the season – his first coming at the season-opening Barclays Kenya Open in March – after a five under 66 left him on 12 under par and the 29 year old moved to 16th in the Rankings.

His compatriot Jerome Lando Casanova shared third place on 11 under par with Germany's Bernd Ritthammer while Englishmen Steven Brown, Kenneth Ferrie and Charlie Ford were joined in fifth place by South Africa’s Brandon Stone, on ten under.

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Galbraith Earns Galgorm Weekend

European Tour

John Ross Galbraith recently etched his name alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell when he won the Irish Amateur Close Championship and he made an instant impression on the professional scene, making the cut at the Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses.

The 20 year old Northern Irishman beat amateur veteran Pat Murray in the final of one of Ireland’s most prestigious amateur events at Seapoint Golf Club in June to join several of Irish golf’s Major winners, as well as players such as Paul McGinley, Shane Lowry and Ronan Rafferty, on the star-studded list of winners.

Galbraith is playing in his first professional event at Galgorm Castle, having been nominated by the Golfing Union of Ireland Ulster Branch as one of four of the region’s most promising amateurs, and he did not disappoint.

The Whitehead Golf Club player carded five birdies to sign for a one over par second round of 72 and finish the second day on level par overall, making the grade for the weekend in the process, and the promising young player was thrilled.

“I’m delighted,” said Galbraith. “My target was just to make the cut. I've been hitting the ball well, pretty straight, but I haven’t been putting great, just one now and again. But my game is in good shape so hopefully I can get the flat stick going and shoot a few low ones.

“It’s my first time playing a professional event so it’s always going to be different to an amateur event but the experience has been good so far, I've enjoyed every minute of it. I had a big crowd from Whitehead cheering me on so that always helps. 

“The wind is horrendous out there, the trickiest is the cross wind, because you need to start the ball 20 or 30 yards left or right to get it into the middle of the fairway. Even in the downwind holes it’s hard to get the distance right so it’s tricky all around.

“I can just relax now and whatever happens happens, whether I shoot millions over or millions under, it’ll happen.

“I was delighted to get picked by the Ulster Branch for this event, to be classed as the top four in Ulster is good for and I thank them for picking me because it’s great experience for me.

“The standard is unbelievable out here but it’s nothing I didn’t expect to be honest. I feel I could compete pretty well out here.”

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Lagergren Retains NI Open Lead

European Tour

Joakim Lagergren showed he possesses substance and style in equal measure at the Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim sunglasses as the Swede followed up his spectacular opening 62 with a battling level par 71 in difficult conditions to maintain his lead.

As the wind howled around the picturesque Galgorm Castle on Day Two, low scores were much tougher to come by but those who could hang in and card anything around the level par mark would make gains on the leaderboard. 

While several players did make a push towards the summit courtesy of under-par rounds, Lagergren held firm at the top, birdieing the final hole to enter the weekend one shot clear of the pack on nine under par.

The 22 year old got off to a strong start with a birdie at the first but suffered a bogey at the driveable par four second, all the more disappointing given it was playing downwind.

Back to back bogeys at the seventh and eighth were followed by a birdie at the par five ninth to reach the turn in one over and, while he began the back nine with a bogey six, two birdies on the way home were enough to copper-fasten his second round lead and he was delighted with how he showed the requisite mettle on a difficult day.

“It was really tough today,” said Lagergren, who has already played two seasons on The European Tour since turning professional in 2010. “In my opinion it wasn’t even the same game today.

“Yesterday, you could go for birdies, you could go for pins, but today par was a good score and that’s all I kept in mind all day. It’s all about the state of mind. When you’re on the first tee you need to know that you can’t be too aggressive in these conditions.

“You still have to hit good shots to shoot level par, but I kept it in mind to just be calm and don’t get upset with bogeys. You need to be patient out there.

“I'm really pleased to be still top of the leaderboard. Going out in the lead with two days left, I can’t ask for much more.”

With tens of thousands of spectators expected at the weekend, the Stockholm player is relishing the opportunity to exhibit his skills in front of some of the most knowledgeable golf fans in the world.

“Hopefully we’ll see big crowds tomorrow, it would be really fun,” he said. “They have been great so far, the crowds are really good. They know the game of golf, they behave like a crowd should and they are very knowledgeable.”

Englishman Steven Brown was one of those to close the gap at the top from two to one as he signed for a two under par 69 to move to eight under par, in outright second place.

The former Walker Cup star has been on imperious form of late, his sixth place finish at last week’s lucrative Rolex Trophy the latest of three top ten finishes in his last five appearances, and he was delighted with how he dealt with the testing conditions.

“It was very windy this morning,” said the 27 year old, who fired three birdies in his opening four holes having teed off at the tenth. “I knew it wasn’t going to be nice after looking at the forecast but it was cold early on as well as windy.

“I drove it really well and that was the key, if you get it in play then you can still give yourself a chance. The greens are so good that if you get a few chances, you can make some putts and I converted my chances early on.

“I was clinging on a bit at the end. I was still having chances but if you get outside 20 feet, it’s not easy to get it dead and you’re left with three- or four-footers with massive winds coming across you. So I missed a couple of par-savers which halted my momentum a bit.

“I got to ten under at one point but missed a couple of six-footers. But it’s tough out there so I'm really happy with how I played.

“It will be fun with all the people out watching at the weekend. Everyone knows that this tournament is a fun one because of all the people watching and they really appreciate good golf. It’s a great atmosphere so I can’t wait until the weekend.” 

Frenchman Thomas Linard, a winner already on the Challenge Tour this year at the D+D REAL Czech Challenge, carded a three under par 68 to move to seven under par and join American Dodge Kemmer (69) in a share of third place.

Three-time European Tour winner Kenneth Ferrie was one shot further back alongside promising South African Brandon Stone while two more former European Tour winners, Ferrie’s English compatriot Ross McGowan and Welshman Rhys Davies were both within five shots of the lead heading into moving day.

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Lagergren Sets Galgorm Record

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Joakim Lagergren got the second edition of the Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses off to an explosive start, soaring to a course-record nine under par 62 to take a two-shot lead after Day One.

The 22 year old, who has already played two full seasons on The European Tour in his short professional career, threatened the magic number of 59 when he negotiated his opening 15 holes in eight under par with a par five to play on the par 71 lay-out. 

He did birdie the ninth, his last hole having teed off at the tenth, and while he could not create history as the second player to shoot sub-60 on the Challenge Tour, his bogey-free opening round was enough to set a new record low round at the wonderfully-presented Galgorm Castle.

On a day when 4,429 people filed through the gates at what has become the best-attended event in Challenge Tour history, the crowds were treated to a mixed bag weather-wise, the course bathing in sunshine for the vast majority of the day but a heavy shower causing a 47-minute delay in play mid-way through the afternoon.

Lagergren was lucky enough to avoid that inconvenience and he was delighted to get off to such a strong start in perfect conditions, playing alongside local crowd favourite, promising amateur Dermot McElroy.

“You can’t start any better than this,” said the Stockholm player, whose stepfather Ola Eliasson is a former European Tour player. “I’ve been playing really well the last couple of weeks but the putting hasn’t really been going good and I holed a few putts today which gave me momentum.

“I wasn’t even thinking about the birdies I was making, I was just playing today. I wasn’t even sure how many under par I was but when you get on a roll like that you just don’t want to stop. You just don’t think about the scoring, you just keep hitting those good shots.

“I holed a few 15 to 20-foot putts today so that’s a real bonus. Hopefully it will be a good week. It really feels like a proper European Tour tournament, we had a small crowd with us all day today because I played with Dermot and it was really good fun.

“The crowds definitely boost me, it’s really nice that they come out to watch the local guys and I was lucky to have played with him.

“I didn’t really think about the 59. I actually missed a short birdie putt on my second last hole, the eighth, from around five feet. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway.

“Usually you get that buzz and adrenalin of a 59 when you’re six or seven under but I didn’t think about it at all today. Anything can happen over the next three days. I was hitting good shots today, and every course is easy when you do that, but if you’re not hitting good shots out there the course is not easy.

“It would be really good to have more crowds tomorrow. The crowds could get really big here this week. I played two years on The European Tour and especially when I played in Sweden, the crowds were fantastic, so hopefully I will have a similar atmosphere over the weekend.”

Anthony Snobeck of France was two shots back on seven under par after signing for a 64 which included two eagles, one of which came at the driveable par four second to get his round going early on.

“I drove to about seven feet at the second and made the putt,” said the two-time Challenge Tour winner. “Then I hit a lovely two-iron into the tenth to about the same distance so they were just two really great shots and the rest was all good too so it was a nice day for me.

“I had a lot of chances for birdie elsewhere too. The course was really good for scoring because there was rain overnight so hopefully it will stay that way for the rest of the week. 

“It’s a very good tournament, close to a European Tour event. It’s really well organised and the greens are fast, the fairways are perfect. I think it’s one of the best tournaments on the Challenge Tour schedule.”

Meanwhile, the strongest local challenge came from Jonathan Caldwell of Northern Ireland, who had a stellar amateur career which culminated in his partnering Rory McIlroy at the 2007 Walker Cup.

While he has thus far struggled to emulate that success in the professional ranks, an impressive six under par 65 moved the 30 year old to within three shots of the lead in a share of third place alongside another former Walker Cup player, England's Steven Brown.

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Hoey Targets Galgorm Castle

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Michael Hoey is targeting a top three finish at least as he returns to the Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses following the disappointment of missing the cut at last year’s inaugural event.

The five-time European Tour winner, a former graduate of the European Challenge Tour, is the official Tournament Ambassador for the event taking place on the pristine greens of Galgorm Castle this week.

The event made a huge impression last year, attracting over 20,000 people from the golf-mad nation - which has produced such golf superstars as Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke - while this year over 32,000 have registered for tickets, which are free of charge for the first time.

As one of the most successful Northern Irish players in recent history, Hoey was a main attraction for the home crowds last year but he unfortunately missed the halfway cut as Dutchman Daan Huizing went on to win the tournament, courtesy of a play-off victory over former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson.

The 35 year old is hoping that he can make amends this time around though, and he feels like his game is in good shape as he takes on some of Europe’s most promising young players as well as many experienced European Tour professionals.

“It’s great to be back,” said Hoey. “It was a great event last year and I was just disappointed not to make the cut but hopefully I can put that right this year. I feel like my game is good at the moment, I played the course last Friday and on Monday and it’s in good shape. 

“I think there was a lot of attention on me last year and I put myself under a bit too much pressure. I think I’ll just try and relax a little more this year.

“It would be great to finish maybe top three. This event doesn’t affect my own rank on The European Tour so I may as well just relax and play well.

“Expectation in golf is never a great thing, to think you’re going to do great. It’s that type of game, you just have to relax a bit more and not expect too much, so that’s what I’ll and try do this time.

“I could do with a bit of swing work because I haven’t played too much in the last six weeks so it’s just frustrating. I've done some work with my coaches in the last few days and it feels a bit more solid now so hopefully I can hole a few putts and see what happens.

”It’s a great tournament to be associated with and the business model is very good, they’re putting a lot into it here.”

Of course, Hoey hit the headlines on his last appearance on The European Tour when he got on a flight home in the belief that he missed the cut at Made in Denmark, before receiving a call that he had made the weekend and he was forced to withdraw.

“It didn’t end up being a good decision but sometimes these things happen,” said the Templepatrick player, who has won three times on the Challenge Tour. “I couldn’t see myself making the cut at all, but it wasn’t easy getting to and from that place so once you leave it’s hard to get back.

“You just have to learn from it, I got a bit of a ribbing for it understandably! I could have won the tournament over the weekend but it was fairly unlikely to get two 62s.”

Hoey heads a star-studded field at the Ballymena venue, with Englishman Wilson returning in the hope that he can go one better than last year and win a maiden Challenge Tour title.

He is joined by another former Ryder Cup player, Phillip Price of Wales, and a host of former European Tour winners, including Welshman Rhys Davies, Maarten Lafaber of the Netherlands and Swede Johan Edfors.

Jake Roos, meanwhile, is still chasing a third Challenge Tour victory which would earn him automatic promotion to The European Tour.

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