Rosses Point is set for West of Ireland
AS Easter approaches, that signals one thing for golfers, the beginning of the Radisson Blu West of Ireland Championship in the Co Sligo Golf Club.
Pre- qualifiers begin tomorrow and the main competition runs from Friday until Tuesday, where the winner will be announced.
The West of Ireland was first held in August 1923 and since then it has seen some of the top names in the golfing world claim the honours, including a young Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry.
The West is now the first Major competition on the amateur golfing calendar and is the traditional start of the competitive season for leading amateur golfers.
It is a big event for tourism in Rosses Point with spectators flocking to see the best amateurs battle for contention over the course of the championship.
David O’ Donovan, General Manager of the Co Sligo Golf Club said the countdown is on to another successful West of Ireland Championship.
With such notable names winning the competition over the years, the West title is a big honour to achieve.
“All of Ireland’s international amateur golfers and practically all of our present day professionals have played in the West of Ireland Championship.
“Three times Major Champion Padraig Harrington won his first senior title at the West of Ireland in 1994, while Rory McIlroy was the youngest ever winner of the West in 2005 at the tender age of 15, and made it a double by winning again in 2006.
“In 2008 Shane Lowry claimed the coveted title. A year later he became only the third amateur to win a European Tour title when he captured the ‘ 3’ Irish Open at County Louth Golf Club in Baltray, turning pro shortly after,” David explained.
With such big names lifting the trophy makes it such a coveted title for this year’s contenders and David explained there are few names being listed as potential 2017 winners.
“In terms of the 2017 contenders, to name a few, we have Alex Gleeson, the current holder of the Irish Amateur Close Champion,
“Alex is a product of our renowned Junior Boys Golf programme that is now in the capable hands of another great character Robert Fitzpatrick.
“We also have Colin Campbell from Warrenpoint, the current holder of the Irish Amateur Open and Jonathan Yates is back in Yeats County to defend his title from last year.”
Local interest too sees Sean Flanagan, a previous semi- finalist, returning.
“And of course, the holder of the North of Ireland Championship, the King of the North our very own Sean Flanagan is back.
“The victorious Co Sligo GC Senior Cup panel members will be competing this year and eager to prove it at individual level,” David added.
The history that goes with the West of Ireland makes it a gripping competition on the golfing calendar and there has been some immense battles down through the years.
David explained: “The inaugural West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship was held in August 1923.
“The first winner, from a field of 42 competitors was Larry Vernon who was home from South Africa on holidays. J Lindsay Crabbe, affectionately known as Bonzo, a member of Foxrock G. C. was the second winner in 1924, the year he also won the South of Ireland.
“In earlier years, the championship was decided over 36 holes and was dominated by two of the greats of Irish Amateur golf Joe Carr from Sutton and Co. Sligo’s own Cecil Ewing.
“Between them they contested in the final on 24 occasions, with Carr winning 12 titles to Ewing’s 10.” John Burke from Lahinch had the distinction of winning on six occasions, while in more recent times Garth McGimpsey ( Walker Cup player and Captain) won the event on four times.
The event is decided following 36 holes of qualifying strokeplay, with the top 64 players going head to head over six rounds of matchplay with the champion emerging after five days of golf. Tomorrow sees the pre- qualifiers getting underway with the main competition beginning on Friday and continuing until Tuesday as spectators flock to the event.
The golf course too has undergone recent works including the completion of phase 1 of its Revitalisation Project. This has included significant changes such as a new green on the 3rd hole, green extensions to 1,2,5 and 7, new tees on 5, 10 and 11, plus new bunkers on 2, 6,7.8 and 12.