RECORD OVERSEAS ENTRY IN TOP CLASS INTERNATIONAL FIELD FOR AIB IRISH AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP - 13th Apr 2005

Fifteen years old West of Ireland champion, Rory McIlroy (Holywood) and Welsh Walker Cup star Nigel Edwards head a star-studded field that will compete in the AIB Irish Amateur Open Championship over the magnificent O’Meara designed course at Carton House Golf Club on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 6th, 7th and 8th May.

The Championship has attracted 61 overseas players, including the defending champion Craig Smith (Wales), from 14 countries and also includes eleven of the Walker Cup squad who are bidding for a place on the Britain and Ireland team to face the USA at the Chicago Golf Club next August.

The cut-off for the field of 120 came at plus 0.5, and the high quality of the field is indicated by their handicaps which includes four players off plus four, 16 off plus three, 44 off plus two and 47 off plus one. Nigel Edwards, at 36 years of age, is the lowest handicap at plus 4.1 while young Rory McIlroy, who will celebrate his 16th birthday on 4th May currently plays off plus 3.1.

The record overseas entry includes players from Austria, France, Finland, Germany, Portugal, South Africa, Czech Republic, England, Scotland, Wales, Jersey, Isle of Man and seven members of the Metropolitan Golf Association of New York team (MGA) who will play an international match against the GUI selection on Wednesday and Thursday, 11th and 12th May at Carton House.

Included in the field are nine players who qualify under a condition of the event which provides that any Irish entrant under the age of 25 on 1st January who, having entered and reached the matchplay stages of the West of Ireland Championship, gains a place in the field. They are Simon Ward (Co Louth), Greg Massey (Hermitage), Stephen Crowe (Dunmurry), Alan Glynn (Porters Park), Keith O’Neill (Strandhill), Paul McDonald (UCD/ Woodbrook), Mark Ryan (Grange), Seamus Power (West Waterford) and Ray Williams (Baltinglass).

Billy Andrews, General Manager AIB said: “We are delighted that the Championship has attracted such a top class international and home entry which promises an exciting three days golf over the wonderful O’Meara course at Carton House.”

The Irish Amateur Open Championship was first played in 1892 and was held every year, with the exception of the War Years, up to 1960. Former champions in that era included Joe Carr (three times), Jimmy Bruen, Tom Craddock, Cecil Ewing, Jack Burke and Norman Drew. The event was revived in 1995 when Padraig Harrington triumphed at Fota Island. Keith Nolan was the winner at the same venue in 1996 and ’97. The event moved to Royal Dublin in 1998 where Michael Hoey was victorious. Gary Cullen won in 1999, Louis Oosthuizen in 2002 and Noel Fox in 2000 and 2003. Last year Craig Smith (Wales) took the title on the Montgomerie course at Carton House.

GUI and MGA teams for Carey Cup matches at Carton House

The biennial match between the Metropolitan Golf Association of New York (MGA) and the Golfing Union of Ireland Selection for the Governor Hugh Carey Cup will be played over the O’Meara Course at Carton House Golf Club on Wednesday and Thursday,

11th and 12th May.

The match, in which the GUI will be defending the title, will involve four fourballs and four foursomes on day one and eight singles matches on day two.

The teams are:

GUI: Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Stephen Crowe (Dunmurry), Harry Diamond (Holywood), Nicky Grant (Clandeboye), Brendan McCarroll (Ballyliffin), Brian McElhinney (North West), Michael McGeady (North West) and Sean McTernan (Co. Sligo).

MGA: Sean Hartman (Indian Wells), Peter Meurer (Silver Lake), Patrick Pierson (Minisceongo), Mike Reardon (Tuxedo), Timothy Schmitt (Meadow Brook), Allan Small (Fairmount), Craig Smith (Fairmount), Tom Yellin (Stanwich).

Players selected for British Amateur Championship

The Golfing Union of Ireland has selected the following players to compete in the British Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club on 30th May to 4th June:

Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge), Brian McElhinney (North West), Michael McGeady (North West) , Sean McTernan (Co. Sligo) and Rory McIlroy (Holywood).

IRISH AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2005

at Carton House Golf Club (O’Meara Course)

SPONSORED BY AIB

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 6th, 7th & 8th May 2005

Related Links

• http://www.gui.ie

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