Top entry for Blind Golf Open

An international field will tee off at Roganstown this week when the Irish Blind Golf Open returns to the sporting calendar for the first time since 2000.

Backed by the Golfing Union of Ireland with sponsorship assistance from Vision Sports Ireland and Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisha Handa, the revived event has attracted many of the world’s leading blind golfers. Played over 36 holes on Thursday and Friday, competitors from Australia, Japan, South Africa, Italy, Israel, Netherlands, Canada, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will vie for the Irish Open championship with a Saturday scramble to follow. They include 2014 Australian Blind Golf Open champion Kris Adams, the 2013 British Blind Golf Open champion, Chris Evans, the 2012 Italian Blind Golf Open champion Mirco Ghiggeri and 2012 IBGA World Blind Golf champion Pieta le Roux.

Leading members of the Irish Blind Golf Society Wally Roode, Jimmy Murray, Adrian Downey and Joe Lonergan will also take part, as will its honorary secretary Paul O’Rahilly.