Irish eight seek nine-hole glory at Carnoustie
EIGHT Irish club golfers are among the 42 lucky finalists who will get to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play Carnoustie on the eve of The 147th Open.
Four Irish pairs have qualified for the R&A’s 9 Hole Championship Final this Saturday when they will play the first four and last five holes of the Championship Course that will host the best golfers in the world next week.
Over 15,000 golfers entered nine hole qualifying events held at clubs throughout Great Britain and Ireland, more than double the number who played in 2017.
The Irish qualifiers were held at four venues with Slade Valley’s Harry MacSweeney and Marie O’Reilly winning at Killiney, Dunmurry’s Stephen Cairnduff and Julia Trinder at Rockmount, Tipperary’s Sean Bohan and Anne O’Donoghue at Tipperary and Ballinasloe’s Johnny Farrell and Catherine Owens at Tubbercurry.
Nine-hole golf is seen by the R&A as a way of keeping casual golfers engaged with the game at a time when many people find they don’t have time to play 18 holes.
Paul Lawrie, the 1999 Open champion at Carnoustie will join Bruce Mitchell, Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, in presenting the prizes.
Lawrie said: “I have special memories of winning The Open at Carnoustie and know that the finalists will enjoy playing the course in its very best condition. I wish the very best of luck to the golfers playing in the Final.”