Nassau Invitational
Brazill and Gleeson head to New York
CASTLE’S Alex Gleeson and Naas’s Robert Brazill will bid to extend Ireland’s successful record in the Nassau Invitational in New York from October 5-7.
Brazill made his big breakthrough this year when he beat Gleeson in the final of the West of Ireland Championship at County Sligo.
But while he came up just short in his bid to make this year’s team for the Home Internationals, his selection alongside Bridgestone Order of Merit winner Gleeson is a sign that an Ireland call-up could be on the cards in 2019.
A memorable but winless season for Gleeson began at the West of Ireland in April, where he was runner-up to Brazill at Rosses Point and he then backed up that performance the following month at the Flogas Irish Amateur Open, where he was tied second behind Robin Dawson.
That victory put Dawson ahead on the Order of Merit, but Gleeson eventually reeled him in at the final event of the series, reaching the semifinals of the Irish Close at The European Club to take the Bridgestone title.
“To win the Bridgestone Order of Merit is very rewarding for me,” said Gleeson. “My goal at the start of the year was to get into contention in as many events as possible.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get a win but I was able to have three top-three finishes which shows that my game was very close.
“It gives me a lot of satisfaction to have performed well at home in the Irish championships. And it’s been brilliant having Bridgestone involved this year, showing their support for Irish amateur golf.”
The Nassau Invitational has been won by five Irish players in the past with Gleeson reaching the final in 2015.
And Brazill will be encouraged by the performances by Naas players, with Conor O’Rourke crowned champion in 2016.
Last year, Jonathan Yates reached the final, and in 2014 Jack Hume became the fourth Irish player to win, following in the footsteps of Darren Crowe (2004), Niall Kearney (2007) and Paul Cutler (2009).
Following one round of stroke play qualifying on Friday, 5 October, the top 16 players progress to the match play stages, with the two Irish players travelling thanks to the GUI’s High Performance programme, which is supported by Sport Ireland and Sport NI.