Ulster’s rising stars have new prize to aim for on road to pro success
BRIDGESTONE have introduced a new award for local golfers at this week’s Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle.
The tyre company, who are official sponsors of the event, will give a trophy and a £250 cheque to the highest placed Irish player who is under 30 years old at the end of the week.
“We’ve been involved with the NI Open for a number of years and we felt there was an opportunity to put up a special award to recognise the best Irish player under 30,” explained Bridgestone Ireland’s marketing manager Colm Conyngham.
“It’s recognition of emerging talent and the young Irish players looking to make their way in the professional game.”
Meanwhile, Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell says he has coach Gareth Maybin to thank for his recent form that sees him in contention going into the weekend at the Northern Ireland Open.
Caldwell followed up Thursday’s three-under 68 with a five-under 66 yesterday to leave him eight-under for the tournament, three behind leader Minkyu Kim at Galgorm Castle.
The 34-year-old had six birdies and one bogey, and admitted working with former European Tour player Maybin had turned his game around.
“I started working with Gareth here about a month back and things took some time to bed in but they’re starting to pay off now,” Caldwell said. “Everything’s going well. I’m driving it well, my irons are good and I’m making some putts, which you have to do to make birdies, so everything’s pretty good at the minute.”
Also in contention is Dermot McElroy at four-under par after a bogey-free 67 yesterday.
“I’m starting to play a lot better and hopefully I can keep doing it,” said McElroy, who hails from Ballymena.
Meanwhile, Moyola Park player Chris Selfridge started the day outside the cut mark, which fell at level par, but then shot a two-under 69 to make the week- end’s action by a stroke.
However, it was a poor day for tournament ambassador Michael Hoey, who had a horror run of three holes to miss the cut.
Sitting four-under and on the fairway off the tee at the sixth, Hoey triple bogeyed the par-four after finding a hazard, double bogeyed the par-three seventh after finding water and bogeyed the eighth, hitting the water again.
The 39-year old said: “It’s a cruel game, that’s what happens.”
Whitehead’s John Ross Galbraith (+2), Banbridge’s Richard Kilpatrick (+4) and Galgorm’s Michael Dallat (+12) also missed the cut.