The Irish Golf Club Gazette: April 2016

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.

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.

4/23/2016

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.

4/22/2016

Dunne in Mix as Hoey is Cut

Paul Dunner - Getty Images

Paul Dunne signed for a second round 69 at the Shenzen International on Friday for a third place ahead of the weekend but some six shots adrift of the leader Soomin Lee.

Lee has yet to drop a shot at Genzon Golf Club after adding a bogey-free 65 to his opening 66 to finish 13 under par, three shots clear of the in-form Joost Luiten, who recorded a 66.

Dunne, sits three shots back alongside South Africa’s Brandon Stone after he carded rounds a 70.

More than five hours of play had been lost due to two separate thunderstorms, meaning the second round would not be completed on schedule, with 12 groups not even getting their rounds under way.

Lee had shared the overnight lead on six under with France’s Alexander Levy and carried on where he left off on Friday, starting on the back nine and carding five birdies to race to the turn in 31.

The 22-year-old also birdied the first and although he was briefly joined in the lead by Luiten, the Dutchman dropped two shots in the last five holes and a birdie on the ninth extended Lee’s advantage.

Luiten, whose second place in the Spanish Open last week was his fifth top-10 finish in eight events this season, had also started on the back nine and eagled the short par-four 11th before adding four birdies in a row from the 15th.

The world number 64 also birdied the second and fourth to join Lee on 12 under par, but dropped his first shot of the day on the difficult fifth and also bogeyed the eighth after failing to get up and down from an awkward lie on the edge of a greenside bunker.

Former Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson had found an unusual way to celebrate his 26th birthday, the Frenchman withdrawing from the event during the second suspension of play citing a hand injury.

Dubuisson was two under for his round and three under for the tournament after 10 holes, but had hit his tee shot deep into the trees on the par-five second before the players were called off the course.

Michael Hoey missed the cut despite a seconf rounf 71 after having carded a 76 on Thursday.

4/21/2016

Paul Dunne Fires 68 in Shenzen

Getty Images

Paul Dunne signed for an opening 68 at the Shenzhen International and carding five birdies with just one loss on Thursday in China.

Dunne joins Spain’s Eduardo de la Riva, Holland’s Joost Luiten and French duo Raphael Jacquelin and Gary Stal in joint fourth after his 68.

Michael Hoey started off at the tenth and reached the turn with two double bogeys on his card leaving him four over par 76 for the day and a fight on his hands on Friday to stay in touch for the weekend.

Dropped shots either side of the turn completed is round with a birdie 4 on his 11th (the 2nd) and another at the last - hole nine - limited nay further damage.

Alexander Levy and South Korea’s Soomin Lee share the clubhouse lead after a weather-affected opening day on Thursday.

Levy, who also led the Spanish Open with a first-round 66 last week before going on to finish 14th at Valderrama, carded six birdies and no bogeys at Genzon Golf Club to set the clubhouse target on six under par.

Lee then completed his own flawless 66 just before play was suspended for the day due to darkness, a knock-on effect of an earlier 45-minute delay caused by the threat of lightning.

The first round is scheduled to resume at 0650 local time in Friday, with South Africa’s Brandon Stone just a shot off the lead with one hole to play.

Levy, who carded a 62 at the same venue en route to his first European Tour title in the Volvo China Open in 2014, started on the back nine and raced to the turn in 31 with three birdies and an eagle on the par-five 17th.

Another birdie on the first took the 25-year-old to six under par and in sight of equalling his own course record, but the world number 110 had to settle for eight pars and an error-free scorecard.

“It’s always nice to shoot under par,” Levy told European Tour Radio.

“I have some very good memories here and it’s nice to play this course where you had your first win. I played good last week, a few bad rounds with the wind but I feel my game is in good shape and I played solid today like the last round in Valderrama.

“I gained some confidence the last few weeks and it’s nice to play a golf course you like. I know the way you need to play well here and it was a perfect day for me.

“Valderrama was really tough and I used a lot of energy on that. This week I don’t practice a lot, I just walk the course, play the pro-am and to shoot six under today was really good.”

England’s Tommy Fleetwood who feels he has some “unfinished business” in the event after missing out on the play-off by a single shot 12 months ago, carded four birdies and one bogey in his fourth consecutive round of 69.

Scotland’s Richie Ramsay was challenging for the lead at five under par after 13 holes before a hat-trick of bogeys from the 14th, but stopped the rot with a birdie on the 17th to also finish three under.

Stephen Gallacher recovered from a double bogey on the 15th with birdies on the next two holes to record a two-under-par 70 in his first tournament since February after undergoing hand surgery.

Defending champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat and two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson could only manage matching rounds of 71

Captain Clarke Hails European Masters

Darren Clarke at Portrush Golf Club

Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke has hailed the “wonderful” performance of Europe’s top players at the US Masters.

With champion Danny Willett one of seven Europeans in the top 15 at Augusta, Clarke said the final leaderboard had delivered a real positive ahead of the much-anticipated showdown with the United States in the autumn.

Clarke also spent time with golf fan Alex Ferguson at Augusta and said he intended to visit him again in England to pick the former Manchester United manager’s brain.

The former Open champion, who missed the cut in Georgia, was at his home club at Royal Portrush on Tuesday to launch the start of a Ryder Cup trophy tour.

“It was a wonderful week from a European perspective,” Clarke said of the Masters.

“With the winner Danny Willett and indeed Lee Westwood playing a lot better and Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick, there were so many Europeans up there in the top 10.

“So it was a very positive week for the Europeans.”

Willett’s victory was the first major of the Yorkshireman’s career, but Clarke said it came as no surprise to him.

“He’s been playing really well now for a couple of years, I am a good friend of his, I’ve spent a lot of time with him and his game has just been getting better and better,” said Europe’s Ryder Cup captain.

“It’s certainly no surprise whatsoever. He’s performed really well, especially of late again, and from a personal point of view I was delighted to see him win.”

Clarke, 47, said it was also great to see his close friend Westwood — who finished joint second at Augusta — contending in a major again.

“To see him playing in the manner and fashion that I know he can is certainly very, very heartening,” he said.

With so many up and coming stars emerging, Europe’s team is predicted to have quite a few fresh faces as they look to win the Ryder Cup for a fourth successive time.

Clarke insisted there was a long way to go in qualifying, though.

“It’s a long way off before the team is finalised, a lot of big tournaments, a lot of Ryder Cup points to be played for,” he said.

“While the make-up of the team at the moment may look slightly different to what we are used to, come the end of August I think it might be a little bit different.”

Clarke said Ferguson had given him “lots of advice” at Augusta.

“There would be very few people who have had as successful a career as he has had,” he said.

“He was very, very helpful. I will go over and spend a bit more time with him shortly over in Manchester — he was more than willing to help me.

“As a Liverpool fan it was quite difficult, but you know the man is a legend.”

The trophy tour will see the iconic prize travelling around Europe and the US ahead of September’s encounter. Its next stop will be Belfast City Hall on Wednesday.

“To have the Ryder Cup trophy tour start off here in Northern Ireland is very, very special,” said Clarke.

“To have it here at Royal Portrush, I only live up on the hill up there, so it’s wonderful to start off here.”

The 2016 Ryder Cup is being held at Hazeltine in the United States and takes place from September 30th to October 2nd.

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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