Gary Hurley arrives home to West Waterford for hero’s welcome

There was a hero’s welcome at West Waterford when Gary Hurley returned home to his golf club and brought the Walker Cup with him on Sunday.

Hurley was one of five-strong Irish contingent that helped Great Britain & Ireland win the Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St Annes last September, scoring 2½ points in a resounding 16½ to 9½ victory over the United States.

It marked the end of a glittering amateur career for Hurley, who having completed his Paddy Harrington golf scholarship and graduated from the University of Maynooth, has now embarked on a career as a touring professional.

The 22-year-old from Aglish, near Dungarvan, paraded the hard-earned trophy on a visit to West Waterford when he was greeted by club captain Dermot Drohan, members, family, friends and guests from several other golf clubs. Hurley, who had taken the trophy to his home parish the previous night, did his club proud by posing with the trophy for photographs throughout the afternoon.

“It was great to give everybody something back after all the help I’ve been given over the years since I was really young and in my career so far,” Hurley said.

“The sacrifices they made and the opportunities they gave me make it nice to bring the trophy here and I think everyone had a great day.”

West Waterford was not the only clubhouse to have the Walker Cup in pride of place over the weekend. GB&I selector Michael Burns also brought the trophy to his home club, Tramore GC, last Friday night.

Hurley, meanwhile, is already targeting a successful rookie season on the pro circuit in 2016. Having missed out on a European Tour card at the second stage of Qualifying School, he will be looking to make the most of life on the Challenge Tour but is already displaying the patience required of every pro.

He said: “It’s been a great year so far and hopefully next year I can go even better and keep improving.

“I’ve always been more of a gradual improver, which is fine. I’ll keep trying to improve my game at a better level again. I can get a certain amount of invites on the Challenge Tour in addition to the Irish and Northern Irish Challenges, so hopefully I’ll have nine entries and depending on how I play, there’s a reshuffle halfway through the year so hopefully I’ll be going well and I might get a full Challenge Tour card to play tournaments. I’m looking forward to it.”