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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Sordet Seals NI Open

European Tour

Clément Sordet sealed a sensational maiden professional victory in just his fourth start in the paid ranks at the Northern Ireland Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank after a dramatic finale in front of bumper crowds at Galgorm Castle.

The Frenchman fired four birdies and an eagle to card a five under par final round 67, completing a perfect start to his Challenge Tour career with a one-shot win over American John Hahn.

The 22 year old trailed by two going into round four but hit the front around the turn and never wavered with a flawless back nine to earn a 17 under total and become the second French winner on the Challenge Tour this year after his clubmate at Lyon Salvagny, Sebastien Gros.

“I honestly am living my dream,” he said. “I don’t even realise just yet that I even won, it feels amazing but I think it’s going to take time to sink in – maybe tonight or tomorrow when I wake up.

“With my caddie, we just did such a great job today and over the past three days as well. We kept the same strategy that had worked well for the first three rounds.

“I made some good putts and had three eagle putts, which shows I was playing good approaches, and holed one of them on the second which was a good start to the round.

“I played amazing golf, especially today, it felt like I didn’t make any mistakes out there, and it just feels amazing to win.

“I didn’t look at the leaderboards at all so I didn’t know where I was until I came off 17, where there’s such a big board you can’t ignore it!

“I then just thought I had to keep calm and make sure I hit it in the fairway on the last hole. I’d made a huge putt on 17, I’d rolled it a long way past but holed it for par coming back.

“At that point I was leading by two and I knew someone was going to make a birdie on the last, so I just had to make my par, so I took four iron off the tee, then five iron and wedge and two putts to make it safe.”

Sordet entered the professional ranks on the back of a glittering amateur career, winning six titles on the American collegiate circuit as a student at Texas Tech University and representing Europe in last year’s Palmer Cup.

Still, the Lyon native admitted he never expected to experience such immediate success, and was surprised with how he handled himself in front of the huge Northern Irish crowds.

“It’s only my fourth event as a professional, so to be in the winner’s circle already feels amazing,” he said. “I played really well last year at college in America and I think that helped get me ready for the Challenge Tour.

“In the US we play such hard courses that prepare you for professional golf really well – it’s not easier here, but you’re ready for this.

“I had a really good year out there last year and I won six times in college, so I have won before, but nothing compares to this.

“I’ve never seen that many people around the greens but I tried not to notice them too much. I loved it out there though, the atmosphere was unbelievable.

“If you’re not nervous out there you’re lying, but I was excited too. I was shaking a bit but I just tried to stay patient and do what I’ve been doing for so many years.”

Hahn also shot a fine 66 on a dramatic afternoon, including a birdie-birdie finish, to take second place on his own ahead of Ricardo Gouveia and Daan Huizing.

Road to Oman Rankings leader Gouveia made eight birdies in his final round, but three bogeys prevented the Portuguese taking a second victory of the season.

Dutchman Huizing, the inaugural winner of this event in 2013, also finished with a 66 to share third place, a highlight for him coming when he almost made a hole in one on the par three seventh hole.

Overnight leaders Emilio Cuartero Blanco and Niall Turner struggled with expectation, though the Spaniard’s eagle on the 18th gave him a tie for eighth place after a 72, Irishman Turner one shot further back and 12th on his own.

The Northern Irish faithful were again out in force, with 39,202 attending over the course of the week, and they will have been heartened by one of their own, Chris Selfridge, who finished in a tie for 16th after a final round of 70.

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Turner Shares Galgorm Lead

European Tour

Niall Turner shares the lead heading into the final round of the Northern Ireland Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank after a three under par third round 68 at Galgorm Castle moved him to the summit alongside second round leader Emilio Cuartero Blanco.

Turner birdied the 18th to set the clubhouse target at 14 under par while his Spanish counterpart could only make par to remain on the same score, with Jamie McLeary and Clément Sordet two shots further back in joint third place.

The 32 year old suffered a bad back injury in January that disrupted most of his season thus far but credited the support of the local crowds with spurring him on this week.

“It’s fantastic playing in front of an Irish crowd,” he said. “This event is so well supported, and I had some close friends and family up here today.

“It’s great to hear the roar from the crowds, like on the last hole when I made a long birdie putt, and it’s fantastic to know that you’ve got the home crowd behind you.

“It was actually a bit of an up and down round. I got it going really well in the middle of the round but missed a lot of short putts coming in.

“I was happy with my final two holes though, saving par on 17 and then a lovely birdie on the last. All in all I’m delighted with a 68.

“It’s exciting to be in the final group in the final round. I’ve always enjoyed playing in front of crowds so I’m looking forward to it.

“I’ll treat it like any other round and go through the usual pre-round routine. It’s hard to do but you have to stay true to what you’ve been doing and trust in your game. I’m really excited about it.”

Cuartero Blanco admitted nerves got the better of him as he made a double bogey on the first hole, but he made five birdies and an eagle to fire a 69 and remain in a share for the lead.

“I started very badly, just some bad swings,” said the 24 year old. “I was a bit nervous today because I haven’t held the lead in a tournament since I was an amateur, but now I’m so excited.

“My round was a bit messy but the eagle on the ninth helped. I putted well and made a lot of birdies, and I was happy to be able to come back after a bad start and to be able to hold a lead.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how I perform under final round pressure. The people just want to see good shots, so I think they enjoyed me today because I made a lot of birdies, as well as quite a few bogeys, but it was good fun.

“I couldn’t be happier with the crowd that followed me. There was a family from San Sebastián and they were cheering ‘vamos, vamos’ which was nice to hear. But everyone claps and cheers everything, it’s great to have this support out here and I’m excited for even more people.”

Frenchman Sordet, in just his fourth event since turning professional, almost made a hole in one on the par three fifth as he shot a 68 to move to 12 under par.

McLeary started with a sublime approach to the first and three other birdies on the front nine moved him into contention before a bogey coming home meant he remains two shots back.

His fellow Scot Peter Whiteford fired the best round of the day, a six under par 65, and sits on 11 under par alongside Denmark’s Jeff Winther and American John Hahn.

A clutch of players remain well within striking range at 10 under par, including Road to Oman Rankings leader Ricardo Gouveia and 2013 Northern Ireland Open champion Daan Huizing.

The home hopeful Chris Selfridge, having this week made his eighth successive cut since turning professional, fired a level par round of 71 to remain on eight under par.

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Five Share Lead at Galgorm

Daan Huizing, the 2013 winner of the Northern Ireland Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank, was in familiar territory after a six under par round of 65 earned him a share the first round lead with four other players at Galgorm Castle.

Morning starters John Hahn, Haydn Porteous and Niall Turner had already set the clubhouse target before Huizing and Emilio Cuartero Blanco matched them in the afternoon, with conditions perfect for scoring all day.

Dutchman Huizing did not drop a shot during the whole round as he returned to the scene of his maiden European Challenge Tour win, closing with three birdies in his final four holes to move to the summit.

“I’m very pleased,” said the 24 year old. “My game felt nice straight out of the blocks, I was just hitting really great shots. I made a birdie at three which is such a tough hole so that was a bonus, then made another at four.

“There were a couple of missed opportunities but then a really nice finish with a birdie on 15, a long putt on 16 and then just a good hole on 18 for a birdie.

“To switch up a gear and finish with three birdies in four holes is good and gives me a bit of momentum tomorrow, and I’m in the lead, which is a familiar position here for me, but there’s a lot of golf left.

“This is a very pleasant atmosphere, all the people are very kind, and it’s a really good course. Off the tee it’s very demanding, the greens are really good, and it makes me focus a bit better to really hit good shots. I’ve got a good feel on the greens here as well, which helps.”

South African co-leader Porteous was part of a remarkable group with Sebastien Gros and Simon Thornton, who both shot rounds of 66 to leave the group with an aggregate score of 16 under par on the opening day.

The 21 year old is currently 12th in the Road to Oman Rankings, aided by his victory in the season-opening Barclays Kenya Open, and showed signs of a return to form with a top five finish at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge last month.

“I’m delighted with a 65, it’s always a great number to shoot,” he said. “I played very well from tee to green and made a few putts – I’ve been working hard on the mental side of my putting, I’ve been through a nervy spell, so I’m working hard and reading books and just trying to stay positive about it.

“Today was the first sign of progress so let’s hope this weekend it can stay like that and my ball striking stays the same.

“The win in Kenya sort of came out of the blue. I’d been struggling with my game from the end of last year to the beginning of this year and then Kenya was a surprise win.

“I feel like I’m in a better place with my game, physically and mentally, and I’ve got to stay with what I’m doing and hopefully I can get better in the mental aspect and challenge again this week.”

American Hahn’s best finish on the European Challenge Tour this season was a tie for fourth at the D+D REAL Czech Challenge in May, while highest-placed Irishman Turner has found remarkable form given he has just returned from a lengthy injury lay-off.

Cuartero Blanco, meanwhile, is seeking to follow in the footsteps of Nacho Elvira and Borja Virto Astudillo and become the third Spaniard to win on the Challenge Tour this season, and he got off to the perfect start, carding the best round of his career on Europe’s top developmental tour. 

Irish former European Tour winner Simon Thornton was one of 11 players a shot off the pace in tied sixth place, as was Frenchman Gros, who currently lies in second place on the Road to Oman.

Michael Hoey, the Tournament Ambassador, opened with a one under par 70 as the five-time European Tour winner attempts to make the weekend's play at home event for the first time in three years.

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