Irish chase further success in €150,000 Challenge

OPTIMISM is high a successful season for professional golf in this country will be maintained, in the €150,000 Challenge of Ireland tournament, starting over the picturesque Christy O’Connor Junior-designed Glasson course near Athlone this morning.

Those with only a passing interest in the game are aware Padraig Harrington has retained the Open Championship, Graeme McDowell has twice (the Ballantines Championship in Korea and the Scottish Open) been successful on the European Tour and that Damien McGrane (China Open), Darren Clarke (Asian Open) and Peter Lawrie (Spanish Open) have also won on the number one circuit. However, there’s more to the story than that.

Michael Hoey (Moroccan Classic) and Michael McGeady (last week in Wales) have also claimed prestigious titles on the European Challenge Tour, and bringing the total to 12 Irish victories overall this season were Noel Fox, Alan Murray, Brian McElhinney and Simon Thornton in the third-ranked Euro Pro Tour.