Sweet 16 set for Wales and France
SIXTEEN of Ireland’s leading boys head for France and Wales later this month to kick off the race for the Bridgestone Boys International Order of Merit.
Run parallel to the Bridgestone Order of Merit for the eight senior championships, the new Boys International Order of Merit comprises nine major international events for Under 18s, including July’s European Boys Amateur Team Championship in the Czech Republic and August’s British Boys at Royal Portrush and Portstewart.
The first two events take place later this month with the GUI’s High Performance programme sending the teams abroad.
Athenry’s David Kitt, last year’s AIG Irish Amateur Close runner-up, is among the players making the trip to play France alongside Rosslare’s John Brady, who was the leading under-17 player in the Irish Boys Championship last year.
Holywood’s Tom McKibbin, Lisburn’s Aaron Marshall and Connemara’s Luke O’Neill are also included in the squad for the two-day match at Terre Blanche, having been promoted from the under-16 panel.
Ireland face Wales for the annual Cardigan Cup at Cardigan Golf Club near Newport with Irish Boys Under 16 champion Adam Smith from Mullingar and last season’s Under 16 Order of Merit runner-up, Clandeboye’s Scott Miller, leading members of the team.
Ireland Boys v France at Terre Blanche 22-23 March:
John Brady (Rosslare), Charlie Denvir (Elm Park), Jack Doherty (Carton House), Allan Hill (Athenry), David Kitt (Athenry), Tom McKibbin (Holywood), Aaron Marshall (Lisburn), Luke O’Neill (Connemara).
Ireland Boys v Wales at Cardigan, 24-25 March:
Patrick Callaghan (Castle Dargan), Josh Mackin (Dundalk), Alex Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown), Odhran Maguire (Slieve Russell), Scott Miller (Clandeboye), Eoin Murphy (Dundalk), Adam Smith (Mullingar), Edward Walsh (Mallow).