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4/27/2016

Hoey Hopes for Galgorm Challenge Succes

European Challenge Tour game’s will again descend on Galgorm Castle, in Ballymena, from July 28-31 to compete in the Northern Ireland Open, which promises to be a week-long festival of golf and fun-filled activities for all the family.

For a fourth consecutive year, one of the Challenge Tour’s most popular events will attract fans from across the country to witness the golfing stars of the future in action.

The event continues to grow in stature and this year promises to be as exciting as ever, with a key date on the schedule and so many other family activities scheduled for the tournament week, not least the food festival at the golf village.

Thanks to the ongoing support of Ulster Bank, who have supported every professional tournament held at Galgorm Castle over the years, organisers are confident they can attract in excess of 40,000 spectators and build on the Challenge Tour’s all-time attendance record of 39,020, set in 2015 when France’s Clément Sordet was crowned the NI Open champion.

Terry Robb, Ulster Bank Regional Manager Private Banking NI, said: “At Ulster Bank, we’re very pleased to once again be centrally involved in the NI Open, a fantastic opportunity to profile great golfing talent and provide exposure for Northern Ireland on a global scale.

“As we’re in the Year of Food & Drink 2016, the food festival is an excellent opportunity to promote some of the producers, restaurants and exporters who form such an important part of the local economy, and something we are keen to support, as will be seen at the upcoming Balmoral Show.”

The economic benefits of staging the Northern Ireland Open are significant as a potential worldwide viewing audience of 500 million will not only showcase the event, but also reinforce Northern Ireland as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations.

Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell said: “The Northern Ireland Open will once again be one of the sporting highlights of 2016. As golf grows in popularity and our local golfers continue to make their mark on the world stage, I am sure this event will once again provide a showcase of sporting excellence.

“The picturesque surroundings of Galgorm Castle are impressive and will assist in highlighting the tourism potential that golf has to offer. I have no doubt that this year’s NI Open will be a resounding success, and will continue to grow from strength to strength.”

Galgorm Castle’s Christopher Brooke gave thanks to the wide range of sponsors, many of whom have partnered the Northern Ireland Open for years. Organisers also welcomed the new sponsors and partners to the event, and over the coming weeks further details will be announced.

“The success of the NI Open is undoubtedly the sum of its parts, a huge collaborative effort goes on behind the scenes,” said Brooke.

Alain de Soultrait, Director of the European Challenge Tour, is also looking forward to returning to Northern Ireland.

“We are delighted to be returning to Northern Ireland and look forward to enjoying Galgorm Castle’s fantastic hospitality once again,” said de Soultrait. “The tournament is already one of the most popular events on our schedule and it continues to grow every year.

“We would like to thank everyone involved in continuing to make this such a successful event and special mention must go to Michael Hoey for his continued and valuable role as tournament ambassador.”

Hoey has been speaking to his peers, many of whom have already confirmed the tournament will be on their playing schedules.

“The NI Open will attract an even stronger field than in previous years, especially with such a good place on the schedule,” said the five-time European Tour winner.

“Players want to compete at Galgorm because they know the atmosphere and set-up make it one of the best stop-offs of the season. The course and greens are always excellent, and it’s a really well run tournament.”

From a home perspective, the tournament offers opportunities to young up and coming professionals looking to make their mark, and some of the ‘Famous Five’ Irish Walker Cup players from 2015 are set to compete at Galgorm.

This, combined with more experienced campaigners such as Hoey, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and Simon Thornton, will give the field real strength in depth.

The NI Open remains free to enter and tickets can be secured by registering online at the new website here

4/20/2016

Profile - Peter Lawrie

Peter Lawrie, Rabat - Getty Images

Peter Lawrie claimed his maiden European Tour victory at the Open de España in 2008, defeating home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a play-off. Enjoyed a fine performance as defending champion in 2009, finishing tied third.Made history at the end of the 2003 season when he became the first Irish golfer to win the prestigious Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award.

Educated at the University College Dublin where he undertook a golf scholarship. Graduated to The European Tour through the European Challenge Tour, finishing fourth in the Rankings at the end of 2002, helped by a superb victory in the Challenge Tour Grand Final.

The Dublin brn golfer graduated to The European Tour through the European Challenge Tour, finishing fourth in the Rankings at the end of 2002, helped by a superb victory in the Challenge Tour Grand Final. His elevation to The European Tour was testament to his determination, having spent one year on the Asian Tour and three seasons on the Challenge Tour before achieving his goal.

Peter was capped at boys, youths and national level for Ireland as an amateur. In his early days as a professional, he played in Asia and Florida, gaining a ‘Mini Tour’ victory in America’s Sunshine State.

In 2012 Lawrie teed off in his first US Open last year, played at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, having secured a spot through UK qualification.

The next year Lawrie managed a strong finish at the ISPS HANDA Perth International to earn just enough to retain his card.

In 2014 an indifferent season ended with €56,040 in prize money earning him 174th place in the Race to Dubai - and loss of automatic playing rights for 2015.

At The European Tour Final Qualifying Peter Lawrie finished in a share of 29th place at PGA Catalunya and outside the first 25 places required to regain status.

In 2015 the Dubliner, who had finished 124th in the Race to Dubai on the back of 17 invitations, missed again.

Despite that result Lawrie felt his chances of regaining his full playing rights from a lesser category were better in 2016.

“I won’t give up,” said Lawrie afterwards, and expected to get around 22 starts next season.

“I have never been a giver-upper, so I will carry on and I will play next year though apart from the Irish Open, I won’t be seeking invites. I have had my fair share and it’s time for somebody else to get them.”

“It’s like anything,” Lawrie said. “Do you enjoy a job that is not giving you something back? The big problem is the potential golden egg. But sometimes you have to look at the expense account and weigh one up against the other.

“So I’ll play whatever I can get into next year. That’s the plan. From there, we will wait and see.”

In 2016 at the Open de España Lawrie finished in a share of 53rd place at the Real Golf club Valderrama, Hosted by Sergio Garcia Foundation. At the Tshwane Open in South Africa the Dubliner missed the cut and it was his first full event since September.

Factfile

Residence Dublin

Date of Birth: 22/03/1974

Place of Birth Dublin, Ireland

Family Wife: Philippa (m. 2003), Children: Jessica (2005), Amelia Jane (2007), Elizabeth (2009), Christopher (2011)

Interests Snooker, football, cinema

Turned Pro 1997 (plus 2)

Qualifying School 1998, 99, (00), (01) (14) (15)

Peter Lawrie - 2016

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4/16/2016

Irish Duo Tested Again at Valderrama

Peter Lawrie - Getty Images

On another day of tough scoring conditions at the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation, only Joost Luiten and Alex Noren recorded under par rounds.

Valderrama now threatening to produce the first over par winner of a European Tour event since Justin Rose won the US Open Championship in 2013.

Paul Dunne and Peter Lawrie in the windy conditions also signed for over par rounds on Saturday.

The Greystones rookie came home in three over par after dropping three shots before the turn and just a single birdie - at the par five fourth – to complete nine holes in two over. With one more birdie on the par four 14th Dunne carded two more bogeys ending his day with a round of 74.

Lawrie was amongst the first group on Saturday morning and battled through the early stretch carding four bogeys by the halfway stage. Then five straight pars maintained some momentum from the tenth before the Dubliner dropped a shot on the par three 16th. Unable to do better than par on 16 and 17.

On the eighteenth a good drive went unrewarded when it clipped a tree to leave him unsighted and unable to better a bogey five on the last hole - for a round of 77 and share of 59th place.

“Conditions were far from easy again today, “said caddie Brendan McDaid walking off the final green “The leaderboard showed all day how tough the scoring was for the field today.”

“We left a few putts out there today which might have fallen our way,” continued McDaid, “But Valderrama was not in that kind of forgiving mood once more and gave up nothing.”

“It’s an exacting course in these type of conditions,” McDaid concluded, “But Peter is striking the ball well and with some luck we might have been a couple of strokes better on the day.”

Leader Mike Lorenzo-Vera will take a take a one-shot advantage into the final day as he goes in search of a first European Tour title. The Frenchman’s level par round of 71 saw him stay at one over par and lead ahead of Luiten, two-time Major Championship winner Martin Kaymer and England's Andrew Johnston.

The highlight of Lorenzo-Vera’s day was his approach to the par five 17th for an eagle to spark a wild celebration and move him two ahead, before a bogey on the last cut the gap.

"I'm very excited," he said. "I'm going to have a big nap tonight because it takes so much energy to stay patient here. I'm just going to try to relax and enjoy it as much as I can tomorrow.

"I'm just trying to look at the pace of the leader board and accept that you're going to have a lot of bogeys here. A bogey on the hole is never really a bad score so you just try to accept it. Take the bogey and get out of there."

The 31-year-old was number one on The Challenge Tour in 2007 and enjoyed his best ever European Tour season last term, finishing 78th on The Race to Dubai, but he will face a tough challenge on Sunday.

Dutchman Luiten is the only player in the field with two under par rounds this week and already has four top tens to his name this season, while Kaymer is an 11-time winner on The European Tour.

Johnston has held the lead on several occasions this week and will be brimming with confidence as he goes in search of a first European Tour win.

Defending champion James Morrison signed for a 74 to sit at three over alongside fellow Englishman Ross Fisher, with Spanish duo Pablo Larrazábal and Pep Angles a further shot back.

Lorenzo-Vera reached the turn in 35 before a birdie on the 12th thanks to a stunning flop-shot got him to level par and, when Johnston bogeyed the same hole, he found himself in a share of the lead for the first time.

All those at the top of the leader board were falling back and Lorenzo-Vera did the same with bogeys on the 15th and 16th, but his spectacular hole-out on the 17th catapulted him ahead before his disappointing finish.

Johnston had been battling for top spot with overnight leader Larrazábal in the early stages and held the lead on his own after birdies on the fifth and 11th but three bogeys in a row from the 12th saw him fall back.

Kaymer twice got to level par with back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth, and tenth and 11th, but both times gave the advantage back, while Luiten registered five birdies and four bogeys.

Fisher overcame a double-bogey on the 12th in his 72, while Morrison also fought back well after turning in 38.

Larrazábal endured a frustrating afternoon as he carded a 78, with Angles' 74 enough to get him a shot ahead of Thomas Bjørn, Richard Bland, Alejandro Cañizares and Noren.

Peter Lawrie tees off on Sunday at 10:10hrs with Seve Benson and Alvaro Quiros.

Paul Dunne is off the first tee at 08:35hrs with Thomas Linard and Graeme Storm.

4/15/2016

Dunne and Lawrie Survive Spanish Inquisition

Paul Dunne makes Valderrama cut

Paul Dunne and Peter Lawrie battled the strong winds at Real Club Valderrama Open de España to survive the cut on Friday

Dunne, who went out in the morning, reached the clubhouse with 76 on the card after two double bogeys, four bogeys and three birdies for +7 - which looked like a missed cut when the leaders were -7.

But as the testing conditions took their toll the projected cut moved four strokes in the afternoon and reduced the field to 61 players and included Dunne.

Peter Lawrie teed off late in the afternoon and reached the turn one over par after two bogeys wiped out the birdie on the the par 3 third hole.

On the run for home Lawrie was focused on the cut line and four pars, a birdie on the eleventh helped him on his way. Even consecutive dropped shots on the 13th and 14th saw the Dubliner looking safe.

However on the last a bogey five almost ended some good work in the tricky conditions with the round 2 74 proving enough to ensure weekend play.

Leader Pablo Larrazábal recorded a level par round of 71 to open up a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the event Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.

After 15 players broke par in perfect, benign conditions on day one, the wind played its part in the second round, with only Peter Hanson and Mike Lorenzo-Vera able to get round in 70 as Valderrama showed just why it is regarded as one of the ultimate tests in world golf.

That made the round of home favourite Larrazábal all the more impressive as he stayed at three under and held off the challenge of England's Andrew Johnston.

Defending champion James Morrison, Alejandro Cañizares and first round leader Alexander Levy were then at level par, with Pep Angles, Richard Bland, Craig Lee and Lorenzo-Vera a further shot back.

Larrazábal came into Friday two shots behind Levy but got to seven under after ten holes to open up a two-shot lead.

A bogey on the second and bunker trouble on the third dropped him back to his starting position, but that was enough to give the four-time European Tour winner the advantage heading into the weekend.

"To shoot level in these conditions is a great feeling and to have a chance on the last to go into the red figures is something really special," he said.

"I said to my playing partners that I only missed one shot today really bad, and I made triple-bogey. I made so many great saves – like the 17th, the putt I made from the back of there was great.

"I didn't play my best golf, but on another golf course I would have gone six, seven under par because of the way I fought, so I'm very pleased.

If the wind blows like this a level par or more total will win this. If I shoot level par over the weekend I will be in the fight - Pablo Larrazábal

As the vast bulk of the field struggled, Larrazábal looked like he was playing a different course in the early stages, making birdies on the 11th, 12th, 17th and first.

An errant tee-shot on the second led to a bogey and, after taking two attempts to get out of a bunker and three putts on the par three next, an impressive recovery saw the Spaniard par his way home.

Johnston had held the lead following birdies on the tenth and second but eventually signed for a 74 with three birdies, three bogeys and a double on the third.

Englishman Morrison and Spaniard Cañizares both signed for rounds of 75 in the morning, which became increasingly valuable as the day went on, while Frenchman Levy recovered well from five bogeys in his first eight holes to record a 76.

Young Spaniard Angles was one of just four players to get round in level par 71, with Englishman Bland and Scot Lee both recording rounds of 72.

Two-time Major Championship winner Martin Kaymer was then at two over alongside France's Grégory Bourdy, England's Ross Fisher and another home favourite in Jordi Garcia Pinto.

Finn Roope Kakko recorded the 18th hole-in-one in Open de España history when he holed a seven iron from 200 yards on the 12th.

4/11/2016

Lawrie and McDaid Off to Sunny Spain

Peter Lawrie and Brendan McDaid - Getty Images

Peter Lawrie returns to Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio García Foundation to play the 90th edition of one of the oldest national opens in Europe. Its origin linked to the appearance of those first Spanish professionals and a reflection on the development of golf in Spain during that time. Appropriately one of those prodigies, Sergio Garcia now Host of the event.

It was 2008 when Lawrie won Open de España – after a playoff with Ignacio Garrido - at Real Club Golf de Sevilla. A victory that formed an important part of the Dubliners success on the European Tour during the past decade. With Lawrie almost repeating the feat the following year at PGA Catalunya when he finished in a share of third place of the Open de España with Thomas Bjorn - both behind Fabrizio Zanotti and winner Thomas Levet

That win also consolidated a partnership with swing coach Brendan McDaid which saw the former UCD Sports Scholarship qualify for the 2012 US Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Doing so through a crowded and competitive qualifier at Walton Health to earn the right. Although a frequent visitor to Andalucía Lawrie returns to Valderrama for the first time since the Andalucía Masters in 2011 where he finished in 15th place

For this year’s Open de España Lawrie will join forces with McDaid once again with the role of caddy added to the weekend’s chores for the experienced golf coach. Both men keen to rediscover some tournament form in the south of Spain, following a number of months working together off the course.

“Most of our work has been focussed on impact improvement” explained McDaid, “and getting Peter to compress the ball more at point of impact.”

“Being on the bag will allow me see the progress through the rounds and help keep building on the good work done through the winter,” concluded McDaid

In availing of his winner’s exemption the Open de España is very timely in what will be a challenging season for Lawrie given his reliance on invites and favours this season. All a result of having dropped out of the automatic places in the Race to Dubai two seasons ago. In 2015 Peter missed the cut 17 times, including the Open de España at El Prat in Barcelona. Although he finished 37th at the Challenge de Madrid some weeks later.

The previous year the former event winner missed the weekend play at NH Collection Open de España at La Reserva. However, in 2013 at El Saler in Valencia Lawrie finished 13th and on his return to the Real Golf Club de Sevilla he signed for a 16th place finish. A share of 15th place on his last outing at Valderrama might stir the memory bank for his trip this year.

Such history will prove a bonus for the Lawrie McDaid combination as they battle the 1997 Ryder Cup course, which has seen significant work done recently. Both on the bunkers and tees in order to bring them up to the same high standard as the fairways and greens.

Many of the cork trees lining the course have also been pruned, allowing more aggressive play from the rough, and a brand new high-tech pumping system has improved the playing conditions.

In terms of the Open de España the first event hosted in Andalucía was in 1966 at the neighbouring - and newly opened at the time RCG Sotogrande - where Argentina’s Roberto de Vicenzo stole the show. Four years later it was RCG Las Brisas in Marbella, another Robert Trent Jones layout, which saw a home winner, Angel Gallardo, the current Vice-Chairman of the European Tour.

That year Gallardo won by two shots over England’s Neil Coles and Christy O’Connor Sr. “I had always dreamt of winning my national Open; that was the most thrilling moment of my career” recalls Gallardo.

Nine years passed before the event returned in 1979 to southern Spain at Torrequebrada in Benalmádena, near Málaga, where South African Dale Hayes triumphed. In an event that for the first time had a title sponsor – Benson&Hedges.

In 1983 Eamonn Darcy prevailed over home favourites Manuel Piñero, José María Cañizares and Manuel Montes on a thrilling final day. Sir Nick Faldo’s 1987 carded a two-shot victory over Seve Ballesteros and South Africa’s Hugh Baiocchi.

Faldo later saying the win was a “major turning point”, which restored his confidence as two months later he claimed the first of his six Major titles at The Open Championship.

The event was held consecutively in 2005 and 2006 at The San Roque Club where Sweden’s Peter Hanson and Niclas Fasth, earned playoff victories over Peter Gustafsson and John Bickerton respectively. Then Seville hosted the 2008, 2010 and 2012 editions at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla. A José María Olazábal layout that proved so favourable for Peter Lawrie.

At Valderrama Lawrie goes in search of his own turning point following his failure to regain a playing card at Q School in PGA Catalunya last year. But with renewed confidence, and a friend on the bag there are reasons to be cheerful for this 90th Edition of the Open de Espana.

Lawrie will be joined at the San Roque course by fellow Irish players Paul McGinley and Paul Dunne.

The Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio García Foundation runs from April 14-17th 2016