The European Challenge Tour Golf event descends on Co.Carlow this weekend with Mount Wolseley playing host to the event for the third year in a row.
On Wednesday the Pro/Am competition took place with KCLR’s Stephen Byrne, Shane Farrelly and Eddie Hughes join up with Swedish player Oscar Lengden (Below) to check out the course.
Oscar has just come off the back of winning the Bridgestone Challenge last week, his first ever win on the European Challenge Tour.
This event itself is the undercard to the European Tour and has been the launch platform for many of the stars including Henrik Stenson and Brooks Koepka.
The event is free so anyone can go along and watch the pro’s in action and runs from Thursday to Sunday.
Tee Times and more can be found here
There’s a big field of Irish players including Kilkenny’s Mark Power and Gavin Moynahan and Mount Wolseley Pro Mark Murphy, see below….
Meanwhile Irish golfing Legend Paul McGinley has been highlighting the tours importance.
The former Ryder Cup captain was speaking as he launched his golf academy in Mount Juliet Golf Course last week.
When no less a golfing authority than Paul McGinley says this, you begin to appreciate the important role the Challenge Tour.
“Events like this week’s on the Challenge Tour are very important,” he says. “They give players confidence so that they are well equipped and able to establish themselves on the European Tour.”
“There is a big gap in Ireland between being a top-level amateur to being established on the European Tour,” he says. “It is not easy to make that transition.
“There are a lot of real quality players in that gap and that’s why the Challenge Tour is so key. If you are good enough to come off this tour, which is a really good quality tour in terms of standards, then you are good enough to keep your card on the European Tour.
“I think in Ireland we like to support a lot of different levels of golf. Our amateur game is really strong and we have a great schedule for our top amateur players.
The European Challenge Tour runs from Thursday 14th of September to Sunday the 17th.
