Hurley and Dawson take on best in US

Waterford pair Gary Hurley, and Robin Dawson take on an 84-man field alongside some of the top college golfers in America.

Two of Irish golf’s brightest talents will be flying the flag for their country and NUI Maynooth in Arizona this week when they go head to head with the cream of the US collegiate system at the annual Patriot All America tournament.

NUIM’s Paddy Harrington Golf Scholars Gary Hurley and Robin Dawson, both from Waterford, will tee off at the Wigwam Golf Club in Phoenix today in an 84-man field alongside some of the top college golfers in America.

Dawson, 19, and Hurley, 21, received special invitations for the 54-hole strokeplay event, given an A Rating from the World Amateur Golf Rankings, and Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship manager Barry Fennelly is hoping a strong performance from the two Munster golfers can highlight the strength of the NUIM programme to Irish golfers who may otherwise be tempted to the United States.

“We are delighted to have received invites for Gary and Robin under the criteria ‘special invitations’ geared at attracting top international college players outside of the US,” Fennelly said. “Both Gary and Robin are now established as Munster’s leading amateurs going on World Amateur Golf Rankings.

“It would be great to showcase the opportunities both players are getting within college golf in Ireland.”

Hurley made a splash at the 2013 tournament last Christmas, finishing in the top 15 on his debut.

Currently ranked 67th by the WAGR, the West Waterford golfer enjoyed a progressive 2014, finishing tied for second at the European Individual Amateur championship and fourth in the Lytham Trophy and fifth at the Brabazon Trophy, while he also shot a 66 in the second round of the Irish Open at Fota Island.

Dawson, meanwhile, is in his first year at NUIM, studying equine business, after a summer which saw him gain Senior International honours and help Tramore to the Senior Cup at Carton House.

Both Irish golfers will uphold the Patriot All-America tournament tradition of honouring a fallen member of the military with a golf bag bearing his or her name and rank.

Dawson will pay tribute over the three rounds to County Down-born US Army Lieutenant Colonel Joseph H. Thompson, a US Medal of Honour recipient who served in World War I and became a renowned American football coach at the University of Pittsburgh before dying from ailments aggravated by war wounds.

Hurley will salute fallen Irish-American Navy Seal Michael P. Murphy, a New Yorker from Long Island who lost his life in 2005 and also received the Medal of Honour, the American military’s highest accolade.

The tournament concludes on New Year’s Eve.