Revamped 2022 NI Open opts for pro-am format

Northern Ireland Open Ambassador Liam Beckett MBE (right) pictured at Galgorm with professional Dermot McElroy and Jessica Boal, part of the event management team. (Pic: Harry Cook)

The revamped 2022 Northern Ireland Open presented by Modest! Golf will be played over three courses – Cairndhu, Castlerock and Galgorm Castle from July 4-6.
The 13th staging of the event, which forms part of the Clutch Pro Tour will also see amateurs and celebrities competing alongside male and female professionals in an event similar in format to the successful Alfred Dunhill Links Championship played annually in Scotland on the DP World Tour.
The first round will take place on the headland of Cairndhu Golf Club where Kinsale’s John Murphy won on his professional debut in 2021 to deny local favourite Dermot McElroy in second, with England’s Thalia Martin claiming the women’s title.
The championship links at Castlerock Golf Club further along the coast will host day two before a two-round cut takes place and qualifiers compete at Galgorm for the third and final round.

The two-person Pro-Am team event (104 pairs) will run simultaneously. Amateurs will experience the pressure involved in trying to ‘make the cut’ with the top 10 Pro-Am teams progressing to Galgorm for day three, alongside the top-60 professionals.
“We are delighted to continue our involvement in an event we have been associated with since 2016,” said Niall Horan, owner Modest! Golf.
“This year’s event is an exciting new format, and we look forward to working with Castlerock as one of our new venues.
“The NI Open is an excellent pathway for male and female professionals from across Europe to qualify and secure their place in the ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management.”
The NI Open will showcase the very best of golf in Northern Ireland. The action begins at the stunning headland of Cairndhu Golf Club, host to over 30 Irish PGA Region events.

Day two will take in the outstanding links of Castlerock Golf Club, former host of the Irish PGA Championship when Ryder Cup player Des Smyth won there in 2001, and finally Galgorm’s championship parkland, home to the ISPS HANDA World Invitational and venue for the 2020 Irish Open will host the third and final round.
The NI Open will have a prize fund of £15,000 for the professionals and is also a pre-qualifying event where the leading professionals will earn a place at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational and a chance to compete in the global event tri-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and Lades European Tour.
“The NI Open was a great opportunity to kickstart my pro career and get me ready for what was to come,” said Murphy.

“The NI Open was run incredibly well and the initiative to offer tour starts [into the ISPS HANDA World Invitational] is amazing. It benefited me and I’m delighted this opportunity continues for players.”

Tom Hayward from the Clutch Pro Tour added: “We are delighted to return to Northern Ireland for what promises to be another great event with such an exciting new format.
“Cairndhu was an excellent venue last year where John Murphy was a deserving winner and this year we look forward to bringing the Clutch Pro Tour to venues such as Castlerock and Galgorm as amateurs get the chance to compete alongside male and female professionals.”
Spectators will be welcome at each venue and entry is free with more details to follow on the event’s dedicated website www.niopen.golf
Entries for professionals and amateurs should be made via the Clutch Tour at https://clutch registration.golfgenius.com/pages/8055504978501965308

Event Information

Clutch Pro Tour

The Northern Ireland Open presented by Modest! Golf will be delivered by the Clutch Pro Tour, a leading golf event organiser in the UK who delivered the 2021 event. They are the first truly gender equal tour with mixed gender pairings and equal prize funds.

Venues

• Galgorm www.galgormcastle.com
• Cairndhu www.cairndhugolfclub.co.uk
• Castlerock www.castlerockgc.co.uk

Format

• Individual 54-hole professional event for professionals (men and women)
• Simultaneous two-ball team event, one professional & one amateur
• 104 professional players & 104 amateur players
• Play in fourballs, 2 teams in each fourball
• Cut after Round 2, currently top 60 professionals plus top 10 leading teams in team event
• Main prize fund for individual stroke play event plus additional prize fund for professionals in the team event – total professional prize fund £15,000
• Prize for winning amateur in team event

Competitors

• Men and women (professionals and amateurs)
• Amateurs will include local celebrities, members of the three host venues, golfers from the island of Ireland plus overseas visitors.

Practice Rounds

• Saturday 2nd July and Sunday 3rd July, practice rounds available at Cairndhu, Castlerock and Galgorm for Pros and selected amateurs e.g., guests of players travelling from overseas
• Professionals also have the option to play or walk the course the evening before the round

Plate Competition

• All players, both professional and amateur who do not make the final round cut for Galgorm, will be able to take part in a plate competition at Cairndhu on Wednesday 6th July with individual prizes for leading professionals and amateurs

Meadow welcomes return of ISPA Handa World Invitational

ISPS HANDA Founder and Chairman, Dr Haruhisa Handa with Modest! Golf Management owner and ISPS HANDA Ambassador, Niall Horan (Photo: Getty Images)

The ISPS Handa World Invitational will return to Northern Ireland in July ensuring that Stephanie Meadow finally has an opportunity to retain the title she won so impressively in 2019.
The pandemic put paid to Meadow’s hopes of defending in 2020 but the Jordanstown-born golfer now has a chance – schedules permitting – when the significantly enhanced tournament returns to Co. Antrim.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to hear that the ISPS Handa World Invitational will be back this year,” said the 29-year-old.
“It’s going to be even bigger than before and is fantastic news for Galgorm Castle and golf in Northern Ireland.”
For the first time, The European Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour have joined forces to sanction the tournament.
It will attract a field of 288 players, 144 men and 144 women. The women’s field will be split equally between the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour. The $2.35 million purse will also be split evenly, with men and women competing for two equal prize funds.
“We quietly told our players in a player meeting not too long ago what was to come in Northern Ireland and I can tell that they couldn’t be more excited to tee it up with the European Tour and the LET,” said Ricki Lasky, the Chief Tournament Business Officer at the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
A traditional 72-hole stroke play format will be in place with men and women competing at two venues, Galgorm Castle Golf Club and Massereene Golf Club, over the first two days before a halfway cut reduces the field to the top 60 professionals, including ties, in the men’s and women’s draws.
The third round will take place at Galgorm Castle before a further 54-hole cut takes place with the top 35 and ties from the men’s and women’s draws advancing to the final round on Sunday.
Fans can register their interest for tickets and be the first to receive updates by registering online at http://www.worldinvitational.golf or http://www.europeantour.com.
A new pro-only pre-qualifier event for men and women will take place ahead of the tournament in June with further details to follow, while Golf Ireland’s Ulster Stroke Play Championship will provide elite amateurs with the opportunity to qualify and compete in this ground-breaking event.
Amateurs will be able to enter the Ulster Strokeplay Championship through the Golf Ireland website.
The tournament will count towards the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and carry Team Europe Ryder Cup points, while the women’s tournament will count towards the Race to the CME Globe for women on the LPGA Tour, the Race to Costa del Sol on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and Solheim Cup points for both Team Europe and Team USA.

ISPS HANDA Founder and Chairman, Dr Haruhisa Handa, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to continue our support as Title Sponsor of the ISPS HANDA World Invitational, an event which epitomises our belief in the Power of Sport to unite communities and break down barriers. To see the tournament grow to a European Tour and LPGA sanctioned event is a testament to the importance of providing equal playing opportunities for men and women. I am grateful to the dedication to this cause by all tournament partners; Modest! Golf, Galgorm, European Tour, LPGA and LET.” 

Lawlor takes another step forward, included in amateur field at ISPS Handa World Invitational

Brendan Lawlor

Brendan Lawlor is busy blazing a trail for disability golf with eye-catching results around the world and now the Dundalk sensation will tee it up in the ISPS Handa World Invitational Men | Women, presented by Modest! Golf at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort.
The 22-year-old is the latest elite amateur to confirm his place in the first of its kind event in Europe where men and women will compete at the same venues at the same time with the professionals sharing equal prize money.
Lawlor has been in sensational form of late and recently won the inaugural EDGA Scottish Open after carding a final round 71 to win over the same Renaissance course professionals played the week before The Open at Royal Portrush.
“It’s been a great year which has really taken off in recent weeks,” enthused Lawlor, who is currently ranked fourth in the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD)
“Crazy but enjoyable, that’s how I would describe the run we are on at the moment. Winning in Scotland is definitely my biggest achievement to date. There is a big focus on disability golf and it’s great to see we are getting plenty of coverage around the world on Sky Sports and through social media.”
The EDGA Scottish Open was the first of two disability championships alongside Rolex Series events on the European Tour’s 2019 Race to Dubai schedule. Lawlor’s win means he qualifies for the EDGA Dubai Finale as part of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November.
For now, Lawlor is focused on Galgorm and Massereene after receiving an invite through Niall Horan and Modest! Golf. He will also become an Official Ambassador for the tournament.
“I am very grateful to Niall and Mark (McDonnell) at Modest! Golf who invited me to play. It’s a great opportunity and will be a fun week, especially with my dad on the bag,” added the scratch golfer, who is a member of Dundalk Golf Club.

“I believe this will the first time a disability golfer will compete on the same stage over the same course as the professionals in a Challenge Tour event. That should generate a good bit of interest.

“It will be interesting to see how I play against the professionals. It will be a fun week for me. No pressure, just go out and enjoy it and it’s a great opportunity to showcase disability golf and how good it is.”
McDonnell, Modest! Golf Director, said: “We are delighted to have Brendan playing in this great event. Brendan has been shooting great scores for a long time, not least for his most recent win in Scotland. He has earned his place at Galgorm by continuing to compete at an elite amateur level.”
“Like ISPS Handa, we believe in the ‘Power of Sport’ and what Brendan is doing for disability golf epitomises that ethos. He is an inspirational character.”
Lawlor was born with Ellis van-Creveld Syndrome, a rare bone growth disorder that leads to shorter limbs. For years he competed at the top level of able-bodied golf. He has played alongside Irish international Caolan Rafferty for Dundalk in the Senior Cup and Barton Shield and this year was part of the club’s Barton Shield team that won the Leinster title and qualified for the GUI All-Ireland Cup & Shields finals.
Lawlor believes there is massive momentum for disability golf just now and is happy to play his part. “I know the tour and Keith Pelley are talking about a World Tour by 2021. There are lots of great things starting to happen. Inclusion is everything and it’s fantastic to be accepted.
“For so many professional golfers to see what we’re doing and accept that we can play with them, it’s fantastic. They can see our talent and that’s helping too,” said Lawlor after his Scottish win. He met Open Champion Shane Lowry, Paul Dunne, Ian Poulter and others when competing at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne last year.
“I also met Dr Handa (ISPS Handa) in Melbourne. He was so interested in what we were doing. So many people took a genuine interest.”
Lawlor will be one of 22 elite amateurs set to compete in the ISPS Handa World Invitational Men | Women, presented by Modest! Golf. The event takes place from August 15-18 at Galgorm Castle and Massereene Golf Club.

NI Open looks to the future unveiling 2019 plans for joint men’s and ladies’ event

Modest! Golf Director Mark McDonnell (l) with Gary Henry, Managing Director at Galgorm Castle, and NI Open Tournament Ambassador Michael Hoey

They’ve never been afraid of innovation at Galgorm Castle.
On Tuesday, organisers of the NI Open unveiled plans for an ambitious new departure, one that will bring a Challenge Tour event and a Ladies European Tour event together under one banner from 2019 onwards.
Last year, the tournament introduced a match-play element as a one-off concept and from next year there will be two NI Open champions.
Plans at this stage will see Massereene Golf Club in Antrim used as the second host course alongside the NI Open’s perennial home at Galgorm Castle in Ballymena. There will be two 72-hole strokeplay events with both venues used before play concludes for both events at Galgorm Castle.
These are full-field events, 156 men and 140+ women and crucially the winners will walk away with the same prize money.
“You can just picture the scene on the final day, watching the last groups of the ladies coming through battling it out for their title and then the men battling out for their title,” said Gary Henry, NI Open Event Director.
“We all are aware that you have to excite sponsors and it is reasonable to say that some of the potential sponsors we have been talking to are a lot more excited about this concept than a normal men-only event.

“The NI Open is currently one Northern Ireland’s core international tourism events. This next stage takes the event onto a global level and that is a fundamental change. That is going to be achieved by having the likes of Leona Maguire who is performing on the world stage coming here to compete along with the exciting talent and established stars on the Challenge Tour.”

Modest! Golf Director Niall Horan and their management company have been involved with the NI Open for several years and their continued support has unquestionably raised the profile and also helped their vision of trying to “develop the next generation of players”.
Modest! Golf is a boutique golf management company with a select number of players on the books, including Lisa and Leona Maguire, who joined the Modest! stable in 2018.
“From our point of view, we have always challenged Gary and the team here. Asking them how they can make the NI Open bigger and better,” said Modest! Golf director, Mark McDonnell.
“Last year’s Shoot-out Sunday was always going to be a one-off, it was a way to shake things up. We can’t think of a better time to launch this new vision for the NI Open. It is an opportunity to shine a light on some highly talented young golfers, like the Maguire girls and give them a stage to showcase what they can do.”

The idea of bringing ladies and men’s tournaments together is not a unique concept. The joint format was introduced at the Vic Open in Australia and has evolved into one of the country’s most high profile professional events while last week, tournament ambassador Michael Hoey, played in the European Team Golf Championships at Gleneagles.
It will, however, signal the long-overdue return of a Ladies Pro event to Ireland for the first time since 2012 when Scotland’s Catriona Matthew won the Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle in County Meath, venue for the 2011 Solheim Cup.
Lisa Maguire, who played in Wednesday’s NI Open Pro-Am, believes the announcement could not come at a better time.
“Irish Ladies golf is very strong just now. There’s a good group with Olivia (Mehaffey), Paula (Grant), Steph (Meadow) is over in the States too and Leona and myself,” said the 23-year-old.

“A new Irish Ladies event will play an important role in helping players progress. It’s a long time back to 2012 when the last Ladies Irish Open was played at Killeen Castle, and last time in Northern Ireland was Hilton Templepatrick in 2007. That was Leona’s and my first LET event.

“I think the more events we can get on the LET the better and players always love to come and play great venues, which Galgorm is. There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of buzz already about the plans for 2019.”

It’s a brave new professional world for Leona and Lisa Maguire

The Maguire twins launched themselves into the pro ranks in some style yesterday ahead of Friday’s debut at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
“It’s been a long time coming. I’ve waited to turn pro since we were little kids. This first week at ShopRite, couldn’t really ask for a better start,” said Leona, the former leading amateur player in the world who was No.1 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking for a record 131 consecutive weeks.
Lisa and Leona have agreed a management deal with Modest! Golf and will be sponsored by KPMG with other brand associations including Allianz, PUMA Golf clothing and PING golf equipment.
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for the 23-year-old sisters from Co Cavan who have only recently finished their four-year stint at Duke University.
“It’s been a quick transition. Went from Stillwater [venue for the NCAA finals] a few weeks ago, obviously wrapped up our careers with Duke there. We had an incredible four years. It’s been exciting trying to get all the pieces put together and ready to go this week,” added Leona.
The duo have grown up in the public eye, especially at home in Ireland, so it was no surprise to see them handling Wednesday’s press conference with relative ease.
The challenge ahead is to make the adjustment to playing for a living and that may not be plain sailing, particularly as the pair will be playing different schedules over the coming months.

Watch the Maguire Twins in their first press conference as professional golfers at @ShopRiteLPGA!

>> https://t.co/QXYe7HxbKT pic.twitter.com/LOUvyPnxuh

— LPGA (@LPGA) June 6, 2018

“I have a full Symetra Tour card, so the next few months and weeks I will be predominately focused on that to try to get my LPGA card for next season. Probably a few LPGA invites along the way, but predominantly focusing on the Symetra Tour for the near future,” added Leona.
Lisa said; “Obviously this week is great to get the invite from ShopRite, the two of us here together. I know Modest! have been working really hard especially on my behalf especially to secure more invites. Obviously, I don’t have the same sort of status as Leona does right now.
“We’ve secured some Symetra Tour invites for the coming weeks, so I’m looking forward to playing in those, doing well in those, and securing more status kind of going forward.”
Lisa tees off on Friday from the 10th tee alongside Natalie Gulbis and Taylor Totland at 12.48pm (GMT).
Leona also tees off from the 10th at 5.48pm (GMT) paired with Maddie McCrary and Lauren Coughlin.

Before their first #LPGA event as pro golfers, Lisa and Leona Maguire have joined @NiallOfficial's @modestgolf: https://t.co/J0TCxTPOwn pic.twitter.com/KvarpHenIK

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 6, 2018

“I’m thrilled and very proud that Leona and Lisa have become the first Irish players to sign with the Modest! Golf management stable,” said singer/songwriter and Modest! Golf director Niall Horan.
“They’ve both represented Ireland at junior and senior amateur level with distinction and we’re confident that they’ll take the professional LPGA circuit in their stride and raise the profile of Irish golf even further.”

Horan and Modest! Golf return to back NI Open at Galgorm Castle

Robin Sciot-Siegrist winner of the 2017 NI Open along with Mark McDonnell and Niall Horan.

Niall Horan and Modest! Golf are back on board for this year’s Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle.
Modest! Golf and Horan return for a third consecutive year and record crowds are expected once more when the European Challenge Tour event takes place at the Ballymena venue from August 16-19.
Horan and fellow Modest! Golf Director Mark McDonnell are currently at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai supporting their Modest! Golf players, Scotland’s Connor Syme and England’s Jack Singh Brar.
“We are delighted to announce Modest! Golf’s return to the Northern Ireland Open for the third year. The event has grown every year and we look forward to linking up with Galgorm Castle and the Challenge Tour once again,” said Horan who played alongside Rory McIlroy in the Pro-Am at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Over 43,000 spectators came through the gates at Galgorm Castle in 2017 to witness the drama unfold before Robin Sciot-Siegrist from France was crowned champion in the Shootout Sunday format.
This year, organisers have returned to the traditional 72-hole strokeplay format, which ties in with the long-term vision for future stagings of the NI Open.
“Last year Keith Pelley, European Tour Chief Executive, challenged all the major stakeholders in golf to do their bit to introduce golf to new audiences,” explained McDonnell.
“We played our part in that by attracting the biggest ever crowd to a Challenge Tour event with the introduction of Shootout Sunday.

“Interest in the NI Open has never been higher and we are excited to return to the traditional four days strokeplay and look forward to welcoming new audiences to experience the best Challenge Tour event in the world.”

The NI Open continues to be a family-friendly event and 2018 will be no different with plenty of activities and attractions to take place away from the fairways. The GolfNow Junior NI Open proved a big hit last year and will showcase the junior talent for a second time when played over the six-hole course at the Galgorm Castle’s Fun Golf Area.
The 2018 NI Open holds another key summer date on the international schedule. It is also a hugely important event for the development of Ireland’s professionals starting out in their career and looking to make their mark in the game.
“For years the NI Open has provided Irish players much-needed playing opportunities,” explains Gary Henry, Managing Director Galgorm Castle.
“Irish professionals have the chance to compete on home soil against some of the best players in the world in one of the best events on the schedule. Just as important, this event alone opens so many doors to other events across Europe and beyond by way of reciprocal invites, which helps players put together a playing schedule for the season.”
The NI Open is an integral part of the work carried out by the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) and the Team Ireland Golf scheme that provides grants and funding to players in the early stages of their professional career.
“This Challenge Tour event is so important to us as a business,” added Horan.

“Year on year, this tour develops the next generation of European Tour winners and Major champions and we can’t wait for the NI Open to play its part, both this year and in future years.

WATCH: #ShootoutSunday lived up to the hype – catch up on all the action as @RobinSciot won the #NIOpen pic.twitter.com/BJPQvHxetT

— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) August 13, 2017

“We have lots of plans with Galgorm Castle to develop this event even further over the coming years.”
Tourism Ireland also plays a key role in the success of the NI Open, especially when promoting golf on the island of Ireland to an international audience.
Aubrey Irwin, Tourism Ireland, said: “The Northern Ireland Open is a wonderful event, giving us an opportunity to showcase our world-class golf courses to a huge number of golfing enthusiasts across the world.
“There is tremendous interest in this event, as part of the European Challenge Tour series, and Tourism Ireland estimates that highlights of the event will be broadcast to approximately 540 million homes, via Sky Sports and their 26 international broadcast partners, and through digital media.
“The 2018 Northern Ireland Open will once again shine a spotlight on golf here, helping us to highlight our superb parkland courses, which complement the world-class links for which Northern Ireland is known around the world.”

(The NI Open continues to be free to enter for all the family. To get your tickets for the 2018 event, simply register online at niopen.golf).

New format never far from players’ minds at NI Open

Gary King (ENG) on the 11th tee during Round 1 of the NI Open
Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey

There’s a long held maxim in golf that you can’t win a tournament on the opening day but you can shoot yourself out of contention.
That dictum may never be more relevant than this week at the Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open presented by Modest! Golf.
The tournament has embraced a new format and it is forcing players to assess their position less in terms of leading and more in terms of remaining inside the top 24.
At the end of round one three players – Nick McCarthy, Ricardo Santos and Gary King led the way on five under par but the important score was three under par. It marked that all important potential cut-off point to reach Shootout Sunday.
“I’m very happy to start with a five under round on a golf course like that, which is playing really tough – certainly this year it’s tougher than I’ve ever seen it in the past few years,” said leader King.
“I’m trying to approach the tournament the same as any week. I’ll treat it as a three round stroke play event and then take it from there on Sunday, but the aim is to win the three days and then go again on Sunday.”
This year’s tournament will see a 36-hole cut following the close of play today to the top 60 players and ties. That will be followed on Saturday by another cut with the top 24 players making it through to Shootout Sunday, where five rounds of six-hole stroke play matches will decide the winner.

Daan Huizing
“In the end, it’s only about making the top 24
“If you are down the field, it doesn’t change anything because you have to get up
“A lot more guys are going to be charging on Saturday to make sure they are in the space for Sunday
“It is definitely different if you are leading big after three days because you are pretty much starting all over again.”

Gary Hurley
“I haven’t read too much into it.
“I didn’t play in the Spanish event that had something similar.
“I don’t really know what the format is to be honest. I’m just focused on making sure I’m in the mix for top 24 on Saturday – It’s anyone’s game then.

Horan and Modest!Golf determined to make positive impact on golfing landscape

Niall Horan at Galgorm Castle last year

Niall Horan might sing about “Slow Hands” but there will be nothing pedestrian when the action gets underway at this week’s Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open, presented by Modest!Golf at Galgorm Castle.
The team at Modest! have shaken things up for this year’s showpiece tournament on the international schedule with the eagerly anticipated Shootout Sunday element introduced for the first time.
It’s a brand-new format for the final day where the last remaining players will come down the stretch competing in a knockout format in front of large crowds rather than the traditional four rounds of strokeplay.
“We wanted to put a little twist on it, maybe modernise the format a bit. Golf can be perceived as a little slow and we wanted to speed things up, add more excitement,” said Horan, at this week’s announcement of their fourth player signing, Ivan Cantero Gutierrez from Spain, to the boutique management company.

“The format forces games to play six holes and make it down the 18th and build the atmosphere with a stadium finish. It also helps speed up play and gets people interested that perhaps don’t play golf.”

Introducing new people to the game and nurturing new talent is everything the Modest! team stand for. It’s one of the reasons they elevated their commitment to the NI Open this year to become the presenting sponsor alongside main title sponsor, Galgorm Resort & Spa, who have supported tournament golf at Galgorm Castle from the outset.
“This is the closest thing to a European Tour event these boys will play in. The reaction from the players has been great. You could see the smiles on their faces when we explained the new format,” added Horan.

https://audioboom.com/posts/6183426-new-audio-niallofficial-markmac14-talk-modestgolf-the-niopen-galgormcastle-cormacsharvin92-caolan-rafferty-raff_1992

Before the action begins in earnest on Thursday, the small matter of the Ambassadors Shootout (Tuesday) and the NI Open Pro-am (Wednesday) is the focus with stars from the sporting and entertainment world taking to the course alongside Tournament Ambassador Michael Hoey.
“Each year we have grown this great event to become even bigger and better than before. In 2017, we now have legends such as Pat Jennings and Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill plus star names like Stephen Ferris and David Healy joining us to have some fun and promote the best attended event on the European Challenge Tour schedule,” said Hoey, a five-time European Tour winner.
“I welcome the many great names who have thrown their name in the hat and will support this year’s NI Open. GAA is represented by Oisin McConville, snooker’s Mark Allen, motorsport’s William Dunlop and athletics star Michael McKillop are among the new NI Open ambassadors.”

Copy provided by Paul Gallagher courtesy of Galgorm Castle

Northern Ireland manager, Michael O’Neill, to play in NI Open Pro-Am

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill is the latest high profile signing who will tee it up in next week’s Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open Pro-am, presented by Modest! Golf.
O’Neill joins a host of star names from Northern Ireland’s sport and entertainment world for a day of fun next Wednesday at Galgorm Castle that serves as the curtain-raiser to the four-day tournament to get under way from August 10-13.
This year the NI Open Pro-am has attracted a stellar line-up of household names who all joined the Ambassador Club to help promote the event alongside long-time Tournament Ambassador Michael Hoey.
O’Neill is a keen golfer when not on Northern Ireland duty and this is the first time the manager will play in the NI Open Pro-am. Most of the celebrities will tee off just after midday so make sure to get to Galgorm in plenty of time. O’Neill will be joined by the likes of Michael McKillop, who recently won another middle-distance double at the World Para-athletic Championships in London.
McKillop (27) won the T37 1500m final to add to his T38 800m title to retain the two titles he won at the 2015 championships in Doha. The Glengormley athlete has totally dominated is discipline for over a decade. Next week he will face up to a new challenge on the fairways at Galgorm Castle.
Other star names to look out for include former Northern Ireland heroes David Healy and legendary goalkeeper Pat Jennings and snooker’s Mark Allen. Former Ulster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions forward Stephen Ferris and Gaelic’s former Armagh and All-Ireland Oisin McConville will also be in action at Galgorm.

Michael McKillop

Modest! Golf will be at Galgorm during tournament week with directors Niall Horan and Mark McDonnell ready to present the trophy to the NI Open winner and the lucky winners of the Junior NI Open on the 18th green in front of the grandstands after the final day Shootout Sunday.
“We say it every time but the NI Open gets better and better each year and 2017 promises to be the best yet, especially with so much to see and do for all the family,” said Hoey, a five-time European Tour winner, who finished eighth in last year’s event behind winner Ryan Fox from New Zealand.

“One of the big talking points for this year’s event is the new Shootout Sunday format where the top 24 players will battle it out in a series of high drama, six-hole matches on the final day. This will give spectators a great opportunity to see the players up close and from the grandstands around the 18th green.”

The NI Open Pro-am is another excellent day for watching some of the best players in Europe compete alongside their celebrities and team of amateurs.
The NI Open is a week-long festival of golf for all the family and entry is FREE, simply register for your tickets online at http://www.niopen.golf

Modest! Golf invite secures spot in NI Open for leading U18 player at NI Amateur Open

Cormac Sharvin

Two places in the NI Open are up for grabs at this year’s Northern Ireland Amateur Open at Galgorm Castle.
The winner plus the leading under-18 player will qualify for the NI Open, presented by Modest! Golf, as the golf management company extend their support of the NI Open.
The Northern Ireland Amateur Open, sponsored by Specsavers Ballymena, has become one of the province’s standout amateur championships since its inception in 2009 and this year promises to attract another quality field, especially with the added incentive of competing against Europe’s leading professionals from August 10-13.
“Last year we enjoyed a dramatic sudden death playoff before Warrenpoint’s Jamie Fletcher overcame local favourite Michael Reid from Galgorm Castle to add his name to the illustrious list of champions,” explained Galgorm Castle’s Ross Oliver.
“Walker Cup player Cormac Sharvin won in 2012, Ireland internationals Reeve Whitson (2010) and Tiarnon McLarnon (2015) also feature on the roll of honour, while Ballymena’s current shining light, Dermot McElroy, won in 2013 and went on to finish tied ninth at the NI Open and finish as leading amateur.”
Former winners such as Sharvin and McElroy will return to Galgorm to compete as touring professionals, illustrating the role tournament golf at Galgorm plays in the development of Ireland’s young amateurs and professionals.
This year’s Northern Ireland Amateur Open will also guarantee a place in the NI Open for the leading under-18 player, courtesy of an invite from Modest! Golf, as they continue to provide playing opportunities for young amateurs just like they did by inviting Tom McKibbin to play in the 2016 NI Open.

Niall Horan, Director of Modest! Golf, said: “We are excited to be involved in the Northern Ireland Amateur Open and are delighted to extend an invitation to the leading under-18 competitor. These guys are the future stars of the game and we want to support this next generation of talent.”

Tom McKibbin

Fellow Modest! Golf Director Mark McDonnell commented: “We hope this invitation to the leading under-18 player will encourage more applicants from this age group than ever before.
“It’s a great platform to test and improve their game and we must thank Galgorm Castle and the European Challenge Tour as always for supporting our values and vision.”
The prestigious 36-hole strokeplay event holds a key date in a busy summer schedule for the game’s elite amateurs.
The Northern Ireland Amateur Open doesn’t clash with other championships and is expected to attract a strong field, not only for the chance to win but for the opportunity to compete in one of the best professional events on the European schedule.
Amateurs competing in the NI Open will also have the opportunity to earn ranking points in the Challenge Tour’s Road to Oman, but before that, all focus will be on becoming the 2017 Northern Ireland Amateur Open champion.
Entry forms can be downloaded at niopen.golf or galgormcastle.com.
The closing date for entries is Monday July 3rd, 2017, entry is £35/€45 and includes lunch. For further information contact the Galgorm Castle Professional Shop on +44 (0) 28 2564 6161.

Info courtesy of Paul Gallagher