McKibbin set for Junior Open bid at St Andrews
HOLYWOOD teenager Tom McKibbin (15) will be trying to become the third Irish winner of the Junior Open in July.
Set to make his European Tour debut in the Shot Clock Masters in Austria from June 7-10, the Under 16 Boys international will tee up on the Eden Course at St Andrews from July 16-18.
Founded in 1994, the Junior Open is closely linked to The Open and played on a nearby course every second year.
All nations affiliated to The R&A can enter their leading boy and girl under the age of 16 for this biennial event, which is played over three rounds of stroke play.
There is both a scratch and handicap element with all competitors playing 36 holes and the leading 80 gross scores and ties qualifying for the final round.
Limerick’s Cian McNamara won at Royal Musselburgh in 2002 while The Island’s Kevin LeBlanc, now a professional, won the Junior Open at West Lancashire in 2014.