GUI joy as amateurs get shot at Irish Open

SEAMUS SMITH, General Secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland, has welcomed confirmation that members of the country’s clubs will have the chance to play in this year’s 3 Irish Open pro-am at Killarney (Wednesday, July 28).

Shane Lowry, winner of last year’s 3 Irish Open as an amateur, yesterday announced details of the four regional qualifying competitions which will take place across the country in the coming weeks.

Each regional competition will give teams the opportunity to compete with some of the world’s greatest golfers at the 3 Irish Open Pro-Am in Killarney.

Smith said: “Professional golf stems from the grass roots of amateur golf and I’m thrilled that 3 has restored the opportunity for club golfers to participate. This was such an important part of Irish Opens in the past and the decision to involve the clubs again is a great move at a most exciting time in Irish golf.”

Lowry added: “As a young amateur, I always wanted to get the chance to play golf with a pro. A lot of things have changed for me over the last year, but I still get a little star-struck when I get drawn to play in the same group as some of the world’s best players.

“For an amateur to get the opportunity to play in this year’s 3 Irish Open Pro-Am tournament, it is no different and there are just so many aspects to the opportunity that make it such a unique experience.”

HOW TO ENTER

Registration details

Golf clubs and interested individuals must register their golf clubs details online at www.three.ie/pro-am before March 31.

Clubs select a particular singles club competition during the month of March/April extracting the three best scores, one from each class on the day.

Best three scores from each class will form the three-man or three-woman team representing the club in the 3 Irish Open Pro-Am draw.

Each club must register details of their team online at www.three.ie/pro-am by April 30.

Open draw by province

An open draw for each province will take place with 20 men’s and 20 women’s teams selected for the regional finals.

Selected teams will be announced online on May 3.

Winning men’s and women’s teams from each regional heat will go forward to represent their province and play with some of the world’s finest golfers at the 3 Irish Open Pro-Am.

Dates for regional finals

Munster final: Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, May 13.

Leinster final: Mullingar Golf Club, May 20.

Connacht final: Glasson Golf Club, May 27.

Ulster final: Donegal Golf Club, June 2.