Ballybunion ideal Seniors Open home

BALLYBUNION, one of the world’s finest links courses, will be the ideal home to the 13th AIB Irish Seniors Open which begins on Friday.

The 6,598 yards, par 71 lay-out is in pristine conditions and provided the weather continues on its best behaviour, the event should provide tremendous entertainment with the field liberally sprinkled with great names.

Former Ryder Cup players Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth hope to follow the example of Shane Lowry and provide a popular home winner, something that has happened once since the institution of the championship in 1997.

Clare man Joe McDermott included a hole in one in a final nine of 30 shots to get into a play-off at Woodbrook the following year before overcoming Australians Noel Ratcliffe and Terry Gale.

Champions so far have include Tommy Horton (England), at St Margarets, 1997; McDermott, at Woodbrook, 1998; John Morgan (England), at Mount Juliet in 1999; American Bruce Fleisher at Tulfarris in 2000; the Japanese Seiji Ebihara at Powerscourt and Adare, 2001 and ‘02; Noel Ratcliffe, Adare, ‘03; England’s Carl Mason, Adare, ‘04; Ratcliffe again at The Heritage, ‘05; Scotland’s Sam Torrance, Fota Island, ‘06; the Italian Costantino Rocca, PGA National, ‘07 and Juan Quiros of Spain at Ballyliffin, 2008.

Smyth came close to landing the title last year when he finished runner up to Quiros, who produced a superb approach shot to birdie the last hole and capture the trophy by one stroke. It meant Smyth missed out on his third European Senior Tour title but he is all out now to lay his hands on the trophy.

“If my game is on I have every chance of winning. I’ve not been happy with my game lately but Ballybunion would be a great place for it to all come together. You always want to win your national Open most of all.”

Meanwhile Darcy heads to Ballybunion buoyed by his fine performance in the Majorca Senior Open where he lost in a play-off to former Ryder Cup captain Mark James on the third extra hole. It was the eighth time the 56-year-old Wicklow man has finished runner up on the Tour.

“I’d love to get a good run at it,” he admitted. “It’s a good links course. I’m going to go a play some links golf there before it starts. I’ve played Ballybunion very little – the last time was the Irish Open 10 years ago.

Former amateur star Jimmy Heggarty has been performing consistently and will also be hoping to capture his maiden Senior title after a promising start to the season. He who won the Senior Tour Qualifying School in November and recorded his career best finish when second behind Mike Cunning in the season opening Brunei Masters. There will also be high hopes for Cork’s Denis O’Sullivan who knows the course better than most and the remaining Irish in the field are Eddie Polland; invitees Peter O’Hagan, Eoin Feely, Arthur Spring and Liam Higgins; along with amateurs Enda McManamim, Dermot Morris, Michael Coote and Liam MacNamara.

Season tickets cost as little as €15 and there is free parking at the club.