The Irish Golf Club Gazette

5/02/2016

Seamus Power Maiden Web.com Win

Seamus Power

Seamus Power took advantage of the other leaders' late problems to win the United Leasing & Finance Championship on Sunday for his first Web.com Tour title.

"It still hasn't really sunk in. Crazy day," the 29-year-old Power, the first Irish winner on the tour. "But, yeah, obviously, over the moon. It's going to take me a couple hours to figure out what it all means, but yeah, right now I'm just very happy and obviously over the moon."

Power shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 at Victoria National to finish at 12-under 276. He birdied the par-4 17th and parred the par-4 18th.

"To be honest I was just trying to post a number and hope for the best," Power said. "I knew the finish was playing very, very difficult, so to pick one up at 17 was a huge bonus. Then got a good up-and-down at the last after a poor second shot. So when I finished I didn't think it was going to win, but I saw some of the guys dropping shots and just hoped for the best, and it obviously worked out."

Third-round leader Adam Schenk, Cody Gribble and Jonathan Randolph finished a stroke back. Schenk, from nearby Vincennes, made a double bogey on par-5 15th in a 70. Gribble bogeyed the final two holes — hitting into the water over 18 — for a 69. Randolph bogeyed the 17th in a 67.

Roger Sloan was fifth at 10 under after a 69. The Canadian drove into the water on the final two en route to double bogeys.

Power earned $108,000 to jump from 47th to seventh on the money list with $131,733, with the top 25 at end of the regular season earning PGA Tour cards.

"That's where you're trying to get," Power said. "If I didn't see myself doing that, there wouldn't be a point in playing. This is a huge win, but at the same time, it's a stepping stone for where I'm trying to be. But it's a huge step, so I'm excited."

McIlrory Invites McKibbin to Irish Open

Tom McKibbin

Northern Irish teenager Tom McKibbin has been invited to play alongside Rory McIlroy in the pro-am ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on 18 May.

McKibbin, 13, took up golf just before his ninth birthday and won the Junior Honda Classic in Florida earlier this year.

In August 2015 he won the World Junior Championships aged 12. McIlroy won the same event at the age of nine.

"Tom McKibbin is a great talent," said McIlroy, whose foundation is hosting the Irish Open for the second year.

"I played a round with Tom in Florida recently and he is the real deal. At only 13 years of age I think he has a remarkable golfing future ahead of him.

"Having seen him play a couple of times now, he impresses me more each time. And I can think of no better place to showcase his talents than at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the K Club."

McKibbin, who is from Co Antrim, said: "I met Rory while I was in Dubai last October and we got chatting while we were both practising. When I won the Honda Classic in Florida in January, Rory sent me a message and invited me to play golf with him.

"I have to thank Rory for inviting me to play in the pro-am at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. Not only do I get a day off school, but I get to play alongside one of the best golfers in the world! It's getting close now and I'm pretty excited. I've been practising as often as possible."

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

4/26/2016

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.

4/25/2016

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.