The Irish Golf Club Gazette

6/16/2013

Ace Thornton Shares Omer Lead

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Simon Thornton carded the first hole in one of his professional career on the way to a stunning six under par 65 as the Irishman moved into a three-way tie for the lead going into the final day of the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open presented by Neuflize OBC.

In very high winds but clear skies at Aa Saint Omer Golf Club, Thornton holed out with a perfect seven iron tee shot at the 206-yard par three 11th which was greeted with cheers from the spectators and high fives from his playing partners.

That came just two holes after an eagle at the ninth hole as he made an almighty push up the leaderboard, climbing 34 places to the top alongside South African Tjaart Van der Walt and local favourite Baptiste Chapellan on four under par.

Indeed, the former Assistant Pro at Royal County Down Golf Club came agonisingly close to equalling the course record of 64, but his eight foot birdie putt at the last slid just by the left of the hole. Nevertheless, the 36 year old was delighted with how he played.

“That was obviously pretty good stuff,” said Thornton, who was six shots off the lead before Round Three. “I just played really well, hit some good shots and in weather like that you just have to keep straight and that’s what I do well.

“I was making greens and giving myself chances and I managed to take them today. The weather suits me, I like playing in a breeze. There were times when you could have hit any one of five clubs because the wind was unpredictable, but you just have to pick one and trust it.

“I holed about a 30-footer for eagle at the ninth and then the hole in one - I was in between a seven iron and an eight iron and I hit a nice smooth seven and it was all over the flag, one big bounce and it just rolled in. It was really good shot.

“There were a few high fives and shouts, it was my first one in a professional tournament so I was delighted.

“I was happier about the way I played 12 actually, because it’s breezy and the blood can rush to your head a little after the hole in one, but I hit a lovely drive there and hit to a few feet and holed it for birdie so that carried on the momentum.”

Having failed to retain his European Tour card in the 2012 season, Thornton has been left with a Challenge Tour category that does not allow as many playing opportunities as he would like, and he is under no illusions as to how big a week this could be in the context of his season.

But the Bradford-born man is not getting ahead of himself and, while knows there is still plenty to do, he is relishing the opportunity of a first professional victory.

“I was seven over after my first 27 holes so just to make the cut and then play well today was a bonus and it’s anybody’s tournament now,” he said.

“I am looking forward to the final day now, I'm just going to try and go for every shot like I did today and see what happens. It’s been a while since I've been in this position but this has given me a big boost.

“It could be a big week for me but I’ll tell you if it is or not tomorrow after I've finished!”

Van der Walt looked to be heading into a three shot lead entering championship Sunday in northern France but a double-bogey at the 16th followed immediately by a bogey at the 17th meant he had to settle for a level par 71 to remain on four under par for the tournament.

“I actually played better than I did yesterday and I don’t feel too disappointed after that,” said the 39 year old, who has now held a share of the lead after every round. “I gave myself a lot of chances and I'm really hitting some good golf shots.

“My mistakes were so close to being good shots but in that wind anything can happen. Overall I'm feeling comfortable and maybe tomorrow I can move clear of the field and then not drop back. I'm playing well so I just need to keep doing what I'm doing.”

Chapellan, who is playing in just his sixth European Tour event, was boosted by a significant following on home soil as he signed for a two under 69.

“I play well in the wind, I think it’s fun,” said the 25 year old. “It was similar conditions to when I won my first professional tournament on the Alps Tour. My putting wasn’t great today but I only made one bogey so that is positive.

“I will do my best to keep my energy up in this weather and I have had a good strategy around this course so far this week so hopefully I can keep that going.”

Englishman Seve Benson was a shot back in fourth place after carding a one under par 70 to move to three under for the tournament.

No Merion Move for McIlroy

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Rory McIlroy's hopes of reclaiming the US Open title are almost certainly over after he failed to build on an encouraging start to his third round at Merion.

Playing alongside Tiger Woods for the third straight day, the pair began the round just four off the lead and both holed good putts for opening birdie threes.

But McIlroy then carved his drive out of bounds at the second which prompted a run of four bogeys in five holes, although he stopped the rot with a welcome birdie at the seventh.

However, he could not get his game back together and dropped further shots at nine, 11 and 15 as he returned a 75 to slip to eight over - nine shots behind leader Phil Mickelson.

"If you're not on your game a hundred percent, you get on the wrong side of the greens and it's just frightening because I didn't feel like I played too badly," McIlroy said.

"I missed a few shots here and there and I was trying on every shot out there and I was trying to get myself back into it, but it's tough.

"If you're just not a hundred percent on top of your game, it's going to expose some of your flaws or weaknesses.

"I've been working on the swing quite hard over the last few months, and it looks really good on camera. I just get on the course and I hit a couple of bad shots and I guess that it sort of makes you lose confidence a little bit during the round.

"It's just a bit of a struggle and it seems like I've had a few too many tournaments this year where I've struggled in one round or a couple of rounds and not been able to put it all together.

"I don't feel like it's too far away at all. It's just a matter of believing and staying patient and working hard and knowing that if you work on the right thing, you're going to turn it around."

6/14/2013

McIlroy in Holywood Remake

Photo: Courtesy Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy decided to do the Rocky thing before teeing off in the U.S. Open.

The world's No. 2-ranked player said earlier this week that he was "half-thinking" of heading into the City of Brotherly Love to the spot where the fictional Rocky Balboa jumped up and down triumphantly after running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

On Wednesday, the 24-year-old from Northern Ireland tweeted: "Can't come to Philadelphia and not see the `Rocky' steps!!" along with a photo, shot from behind, that shows a jubilant figure with arms raised Rocky-style and wearing a Phillies baseball cap backward.

The museum is about 10 miles from the Merion Golf Club, where McIlroy ended Thursday by dropping from even to a 3 - over 73.

The Holywood golfer showed glimpses of some struggle on Thursday evening with a three-putt bogey on No. 11, and his troubles continued on Friday, coming up short of the green on No. 15 that led to bogey, needing two chips to get to the green on the par-3 17th that led to another bogey and then found a bunker with his approach at the long par-4 18th, sending his bunker shot 20 feet past after nearly flying it in and two-putting for bogey.

Yet, with scores continue to slip further and further over par, all three are currently inside the top 60, which will be the cut line, likely determined late Saturday morning after the second round concludes.

Ambassador Hoey Visits Galgorm

Galgorm Castle

Northern Ireland Open Challenge presented by Clannah and XJET ‘ambassador’ Michael Hoey made a surprise visit to Galgorm Castle Golf Course, to chalk up some practice ahead of upcoming competitions – the International Final Qualifier for the Open at Sunningdale and the Irish Open.

Hoey also helped launch Ulster Bank’s partnership with the NI Open event which takes place at Galgorm Castle from August 29 – September 1 as part of the 2013 European Challenge Tour schedule.

Multiple European Tour and Challenge Tour Winner Michael Hoey will headline the field for the prestigious tournament held in Northern Ireland for the first time in over ten years.

Hoey will tee up alongside an impressive line-up including 2005 Smurfit European Open champion and former USPGA Tour player Kenneth Ferrie, former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson and three-time European Tour winner Nick Dougherty.

Ulster Bank has continued to support Galgorm Castle’s professional golf tournaments; backing the PGS EuroPro tournaments in 2011 and 2012 at Galgorm Castle and it was the success of these competitions which enabled the eminent Ballymena based golf club to move up a notch and secure a European Challenge Tour event.

Paying tribute to Ulster Bank’s sponsorship support for the third successive year, Gary Henry, General Manager of Galgorm Castle said: “We are delighted that Ulster Bank has again become a partner in hosting major international golf events at Galgorm Castle. These events continue to showcase Northern Ireland as a top golfing destination.

“Ulster Bank has shared our vision of hosting international golf events on an annual basis providing opportunities for up and coming stars as well as the more well-known players to re-establish themselves.

“The event will also create the opportunity for the Northern Ireland public to enjoy world class golf on their doorstep. We appreciate Ulster Bank’s continued support in helping to make this all possible.”

More than 30,000 spectators are expected at Galgorm Castle to witness a battle royal around the picturesque 220-acre parkland venue. The event forms part of the Challenge Tour’s international schedule offering up a prize fund of €170,000.

Michael Hoey said: “I am delighted to be able to help Galgorm Castle Golf Club promote this year’s NI Challenge Open. Challenge Tour was an important part of my earlier career and helped me develop my golfing skills in an internationally competitive environment.

"I was fortunate to play in the last Challenge Tour event held in Northern Ireland about 10 years ago and am very much looking forward to this year’s event. I am delighted that local companies such as Ulster Bank have supported the club and made the whole event possible. Hopefully we get some more of the lovely weather the Provence enjoyed over the last few weeks for the event and that everyone comes out to support the players.”

Neil Cooke, Regional Manager, Ulster Bank Private Banking said, “At Ulster Bank we’re very pleased to have played our part in helping Galgorm Castle grow its professional tournament stature to the next level and host a PGA European Tour managed ‘Challenge Tour’ event.

Following in the footsteps of last year’s highly successful Irish Open at Royal Portrush, the NI Open Challenge will attract high calibre players and in turn encourage more spectators from many parts of the world to visit Northern Ireland, further boosting the local economy. The competition also offers a tremendous opportunity for emerging talent to play alongside more established players.

“In addition to its sponsorship of professional golf tournaments at Galgorm since 2011, Ulster Bank’s Private Banking division has also given support to many local golfers who have gone on to achieve huge success on a global platform.”

A range of pre-qualifying competitions were recently announced including a Strokeplay event at Galgorm Castle on 12th August and the winner of the annual North of Ireland Amateur Open Strokeplay (15-16th July) also at Galgorm will be invited to tee off at the Challenge Tour event alongside the professionals.

6/13/2013

Irish Open Returns to Portrush

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The Irish Open is set to make a return to Royal Portrush as early as 2015, accordng to BBC Sport.

European Tour organisers are keen to bring the tournament back to Northern Ireland after the record-breaking event on the north coast last year.

Royal County Down has also been sounded out as a possible venue for the tournament, but Royal Portrush is the favourite at this stage.

It's seen as another move in the right direction to help land The Open Championship.

Royal Portrush hosted the Open in 1951 and there have been calls for the major to make a long awaited return to the County Antrim course.

The campaign to bring the Open back to Portrush has been led by Northern Ireland major winners Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke.

Arguments against a return to Portrush include insufficient infrastructure, but the NI trio will play at the US Open this week on a site three times smaller.

Merion in Pennsylvannia is half the size of a normal US Open site.

"This is way more of a logistical nightmare putting the US Open here than putting the Open Championship at Portrush," said world number two McIlroy.

"Anyone who says that it (Portrush) doesn't have the infrastructure, that is it is not logistically accessible needs to come here and see that it can be done."

Meanwhile, Former US Open winner McDowell is delighted that the Irish Open is on course for a return to his home town.

"I'm very excited - it was such a great success in 2012," he said.

"It's a case of Portrush learning from any mistakes last year, in terms of making the operation slicker and more efficient.

"The crowds were massive and if we get it back in 2015, it is stating the case that we can run one of the biggest events in the world."