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

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McGrane Returns to Volvo China Open

McGrane - Getty Images

Damien McGrane returns to the Volvo China Open this week and plays in an event where he emerged as the outright winner in 2008 when it was hosted in Beijing. As a former winner McGrane enjoys an exemption and so returns to a European Tour event following his loss of playing rights at W School in PGA de Catalunya last year.

Michael Hoey joins him this week as the only other Irish player and will be keen to recover from the missed cut last week at the Shenzen International. Next week Hoey is due to play the Trophee Hassan in Morocco an event he won in 2012.

A strong international field, including a number of those in action at last week’s Masters such as Bernd Wiesberger, Victor Dubuisson and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, will battle it out overlooking one of the most impressive wonders of the world - the Great Wall of China - when the 22nd staging of the Volvo China Open tees off at Topwin Golf and Country Club next week.

As the entry list closed for the 2016 edition of China’s national open championship, it revealed that a truly international field containing golfers from no fewer than 28 countries will line up in Beijing, as the tournament returns to the capital for the first time since 2009. 

It is also Ryder Cup and Olympics year, and players from all over the world will be keen to make a mark and put themselves in contention for an appearance at two of sport's biggest occasions. The line-up includes 13 of the Top 100 golfers in the world, and no fewer than ten former holders of the Volvo China Open.

Wiesberger, Austria’s most successful golfer of all time with three wins on the European Tour, said: “I am really looking forward to playing the Volvo China Open – I have not played the event in seven years so it will be great to see how it has grown as a tournament since 2009.

"I have had a pretty good record in China in recent years and it is a place I always enjoy visiting. Beijing is such a vibrant city, it’s always an exciting place to be and I have heard Topwin Golf and Country Club is very close to the Great Wall of China so it will be a really cool experience to see that.  

"My form this year has been steady but I am really keen to push for more titles heading into the summer and hopefully I can do that in Beijing by claiming my first victory on Chinese soil."

Frenchman Dubuisson has a strong track record of top five finishes in Volvo events such as the Volvo Golf Champions, the Volvo World Match Play Championship and the Volvo China Open, and he will have his eyes on the trophy in Beijing. He said: “It has been three years since I competed in the Volvo China Open, so I am looking forward to returning this year - especially at a new venue.

"I have always enjoyed playing this tournament and am determined to get my first win in China at Topwin Golf and Country Club. Chinese events are always great fun and always very well organised, so I’m sure it will be a great week.”

Defending Champion Ashun is keen on keeping the crown and he said: “I’m looking forward to playing in Beijing and I am totally committed to defending my title. There hasn’t been a top international professional golf tournament in Beijing for a long time. I truly believe that with the championship coming back to Beijing, it will have another profound impact on the development of golf in China.”

With the venue so close to the Chinese capital, large crowds are expected to enjoy all that is on offer; world-class golf, the unique environment by the Great Wall, and the chance to experience the Spectator Village where golf and all manner of Volvo activities are on offer. 

The 22nd staging of the Volvo China Open will take place from April 28 to May 1. Volvo was the first western brand to engage with golf in China in 1995, and this will be Volvo’s 85th tournament on the European Tour. The tournament is organised by the China Golf Association with Volvo as co-organiser and promoter, and is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and OneAsia.

Bon Jour as McIlroy Commits to France

McIlroy - Getty Images

Rory McIlroy will miss the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in America this summer to play at the 100th Open de France.

The clash between the two tournaments has occurred following a re-working of the PGA Tour's 2016 calendar to accommodate the Rio Olympics in August, where golf will return again to the programme.

Moving the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational forward a month has caused friction between the European and PGA Tours.

Four-time Major winner McIlroy won the prestigious Bridgestone event in Akron two years ago, but he feels playing at Le Golf National near Paris - the host venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup - from June 30-July 3 will help his Open chances at Royal Troon.

"I feel that playing in the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National will be the best way to get ready for The Open, which is just two weeks after the French Open," McIlroy said.

"Le Golf National might not be a pure links course, but it is traditionally firm and fast and can throw up some tricky conditions during the French Open.

"It's a great test of golf and I think playing there, as well as staying in Europe, will offer the best conditions to prepare for The Open at Troon."

Northern Ireland star McIlroy has previously played twice in the French Open, in 2008 and 2010.

The world number three failed to defend the Bridgestone Invitational title he won in 2014 last August after rupturing ankle ligaments caused during a football game with friends.

McIlroy's decision will come as a huge boost for the European Tour which was annoyed by the PGA Tour moving the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational into the same week as the French Open, continental Europe's oldest national championship.

Last summer the European Tour withdrew its sanction for the WGC event.

That means the Bridgestone Invitational is not part of the 2016 European Tour international schedule, and money won in it will not count towards The Race to Dubai or for Ryder Cup points.

This year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation takes place at The K Club on May 19 - 22, 2016.

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Harrington In Hunt at Valero Texas

Harrington San Antonio - Getty Images

Padraig Harrington finished with third four-under par at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio and a share of sixth place on Saturday carding a 68.

The Dubliner had a mixed day reaching the with a two-under 34 that included birdies on the both the par-fives and another gain on the sixth.

After his chip-in on 10, he dropped a shot at the 11th but a great approach at 12 led to another birdie. More trouble though came on the final hole with a bogey 6.

Ricky Barnes carded a five-under 67 to move to 11 under, one shot clear of fellow American Brendan Steele, while England’s Luke Donald and American Charley Hoffman on nine under.

Patrick Reed, who was born in San Antonio, is alone on eight under before a six-strong group that includes Harrington on seven under.

His front nine of two-under 34 included birdies on the both the par-fives and another gain on the sixth.

After his chip-in on 10, he dropped a shot at the 11th but a great approach at 12 led to another birdie.

Three straight pars slowed his charge before his his seven-iron tee-shot to the par-three 16th went close to the hole before he sank the birdie from under five feet.

His tee-shot on the 347-yard short par-four 17th finished just short of the green thanks to a friendly bounce and another delicious chip left him a tap-in birdie.

Barnes was also left to rue a dropped shot on the 18th which prevented him holding an even greater advantage.

Barnes, seeking a first PGA Tour win, also made bogey at the ninth along with seven birdies – including the par-four 12th where he sank a 29-foot putt.

His bogey on the 18th, the result of a poor drive from near a cactus, might have been worse but Barnes was happy with his day’s work

“I took advantage of my good shots, converted my birdies and then obviously had a bad finish, a bad swing, to end it, but actually hit a good putt there,” he said on the PGA Tour website.

“If you’d told me five under today I’d have taken it.”

Barnes’s late bogey kept Steele, leader after each of the first two rounds, firmly in touch even though the 2011 champion had to settle for a round of 72, dropping shots on the second and 12th holes before rescuing par with birdies on the 14th and 18th.

Donald dropped a shot on the fifth but immediately got it back on the sixth, the first of five birdies in his round of 68 as he moved up 10 spots on the leaderboard to keep himself in the frame.

“It was a little bit of a slow start, but coming in with five birdies and no dropped shots, I felt pretty much in control. A pretty solid round,” Donald said.

“It sure feels good to be back in contention again and having chances to win. That’s why we work hard to get in these positions . . .

“I’ve been looking for that one good tournament to get under my belt and get some confidence. I feel like my game has been good this year but I’ve not been getting much out of it. It’s nice to see things turning around a little bit.”

Hoffman went round in 70, making the turn at two-under before a topsy-turvy back nine that featured bogeys on the 12th and 17th, bookending birdies on the 14th and 16th.

Scott Langley, who had been in the mix after the first two rounds, endured a poor day as he piled up four bogeys in a round of 73 which sent him down into a tie for 12th.

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Weather in Shenzen Allows for Dunne Deal

Paul Dunne in Shenzen - Getty Images

Paul Dunne was two under par after twelve holes in the third round of the Shenzen International in China when bad light stopped play.

The Greystones golfer reached the ninth tee without loss and then birdied the next two consecutive holes to reach the twelfth green -2 as darkness fell. He was among a number of players in the chase as Soomin Lee saw his lead cut to two shots by Englishman Callum Shinkwin.

The delayed third round saw a brilliant 62 from Shinkwin to put some pressure on the overnight leader.

Over six and a half hours had been lost on days one and two, meaning 35 players did not start their second rounds until Saturday morning, and Lee will have seven holes to complete in his third on Sunday.

The South Korean was one of the players who managed to complete his second round on Friday and none of those who returned on Saturday morning could reduce his three-shot overnight lead.

Lee had extended that to five after three holes of his third round with a birdie on the second but Shinkwin was stealing the show as he turned in 29 to surge through the field.

The 22 year old had played his entire second round in the morning and was in the final group to finish as he recorded a second consecutive 71 to sit just two shots above the cut-line.

He showed no signs of fatigue, though, and birdied the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th with an eagle on the 17th to get into a five-way tie for second at nine under.

Lee Slattery birdied the fourth to get to ten under but Shinkwin joined him on the second and when the M2M Russian Open champion bogeyed the seventh, Shinkwin held second all on his own.

A long curling putt on the difficult fifth cut the gap to three shots and the Englishman also birdied the ninth for what would have been a course record at this event but for the presence of preferred lies.

"Tournament-wise it's my lowest round by three shots, so it's nice to be able to do that," he said.

"To tell the truth, I missed a couple of putts as well but it was a great round.

"I drove the ball great and on the par fives, I took advantage of the good tee shots."

Lee made nine pars in a row after that birdie on the second to get to 14 under and has yet to drop a shot this week as he hunts a first European Tour title after finishing second at the Maybank Championship Malaysia.

"I was a little bit nervous today but it turned out okay because I was chipping it well and I was making short putts so that kept me feeling confident," he said.

"I will just try and hit the fairways and hit the greens and just focus on keeping bogeys off the card.

“This week is really helping my game and my confidence. When I played in Malaysia, I felt very nervous but if I have a chance towards the end tomorrow, I think I will be better this time.”

Joost Luiten had started the third round at ten under but was one over for his round through 11 holes, alongside Paul Dunne who had played 12 and Alexander Levy who had completed 13.

Thorbjørn Olesen was then at eight under after a 67 in his third round, with Bradley Dredge, Sébastien Gros and Eduardo de la Riva all also in that group with holes to complete.

Play will resume at 6.30am on Sunday morning in China.

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