Colm Campbell, Jack Hume and John-Ross Galbraith to play Irish Open at the K Club

Newly crowned Flogas Irish Amateur Open champion Colm Campbell is one of three amateurs chosen to compete at this month’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the K Club.

Campbell, from Warrenpoint, Naas GC’s Jack Hume, and Whitehead’s John-Ross Galbraith were the three picks by the Golfing Union of Ireland to represent its elite amateurs at the European Tour event, which gets under way in nine days near Straffan, Co Kildare.

The GUI receives three playing invitations each year from the Tour for its leading amateurs to compete with the professionals with Campbell, 29, hoping to carry the sparkling form he showed at Royal Dublin over the weekend into the K Club.

Campbell edged out Walker Cup star Hume, Ireland’s highest ranked amateur, by one shot to win the Irish Amateur while Galbraith will go in as reigning North of Ireland champion, each of the trio getting the chance to emulate Shane Lowry’s remarkable Irish Open victory as an amateur at Baltray in 2009.

“Not many amateurs get this chance. We’re very thankful to the European Tour for these invitations. I’m delighted for the players that they are getting this opportunity to put themselves up against the best in the world,” said Ireland senior captain Tony Goode.

“These three players are all aspiring to play in the professional game and they are deserving of the opportunity to play in the Irish Open.”

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, which is being hosted by The Rory Foundation, kicks off a week tomorrow with Rory McIlroy leading a field including fellow Irish stars Lowry, Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, and Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke. Masters champion Danny Willett, double major winner Martin Kaymer and defending champ Soren Kjeldsen will also be competing.