Top Irish amateurs share €65k grant aid

GRANTS totalling €65,000 were awarded by the Irish Sports Council to leading Irish golfers.

The allocation is in respect of national and international competition and training costs in 2005, and is being paid from the allocation to sport from the National Lottery. They are awarded based on specific criteria agreed by the Irish Sports Council and the Golfing Union of Ireland.

Brian McElhinney (North West) and Rory McIlroy (Holywood) are the top recipients with grants of €5,000 each. McElhinney captured the British Amateur Championship, was a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team and of the Irish team in the Home Internationals. McIlroy, who celebrated his 16th birthday in early May, became the youngest winner of the Irish Close at Westport Golf Club in June. At Easter he won the West of Ireland Championship and capped a wonderful season by being selected to represent Ireland in the Home Internationals and also winning the Willie Gill Award for topping the order of merit table.