Stars of the future set for Fota shoot

Golf fans unable to get to Royal Portrush this week for the sold-out 2012 Irish Open will be able to see some of the game’s stars of the future in action next week when the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour returns to Fota Island Resort.

The Audi Cork Irish Masters will be staged for the second year at Fota Island following its impressive debut on the EuroPro circuit in 2011 when Paul Reed won the 54-hole, three-day tournament.

The EuroPro Tour is European golf’s third tier of professional golf and has been a proving ground for the likes of 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen. It staged its inaugural Audi Cork Irish Masters on Fota Island’s Belvelly layout but will this year switch to The Deerpark course, the 6927-yard par 71 which hosted the 2001 and 2002 Irish Opens.