BRITISH AMATEUR CHAMPION TO MAKE PRO DEBUT
LONDON, April 22, 2013 (AFP) -Reigning British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar will make his professional debut this week in the Spanish capital of Madrid, his new management company said on Monday.
The 22-year-old has signed with the Manchester-based International Sports Management outfit, who also look after the business affairs of former British Open Champions Louis Oosthuizen and Darren Clarke, past US Masters winner Charl Schwartzel and the former world number one Lee Westwood.
Northern Irishman Dunbar has received an invitation tee-up in Europe's secondary Challenge Tour's Challenge de Madrid being staged at the El Encin Golf Hotel course at Alaca de Henares.
Clarke has been instrumental in helping nurture his fellow Por-
Reigning British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar will make his professional debut this week in the Spanish capital of Madrid, his new management company said on Monday.
trush golfer in recent years and Dunbar responded by joining the same management company.
Dunbar captured last year's British Amateur title at Royal Troon in Scotland to qualify for the recent US Masters at Augusta National and his decision to join the play-for-pay ranks means missing out on contesting June's US Open at Merion in Pennsylvania Dunbar went into the season's first Major in good form having defeated reigning US Amateur champion Stephen Fox a week earlier in the Georgia Cup in Atlanta.
But Dunbar's maiden Masters showing was disappointing when he signed for scores of 83 and 77.
Dunbar arrived back to Portrush tweeting: “Thanks everyone for the support! Augusta 1, dunbar 0!”Joining Dunbar in Madrid will be amateur Javier Ballesteros, the 26-year old son of the late Spanish great Seve Ballesteros.
The younger Ballesteros qualified for the event in capturing the recent Madrid Amateur title and intends remaining an amateur for a few more years.
Dunbar has also accepted invitations to contest the following week's Challenge Tour Montecchia Golf Open in Padova, Italy. He will also compete in the Madeira Islands Open starting on May 16.