McElhinney leads Ireland World Cup team

Reigning Irish champion Brian McElhinney (North West) will lead the three-man team to

represent Ireland in the World Amateur Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy at the

Westin Rio Mar Country Club in Puerto Rico from October 28-31.

The other members of the team are Sean McTernan (Co Sligo) and Darren Crowe (Dunmurry).

The non-travelling reserve is Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge).

Gareth Maybin (Ballyclare) was unavailable for selection because of his College

commitments for his degree in the United States.

McElhinney, who won both the North of Ireland and European Individual Championships in

2003, also topped this year’s Order of Merit table and won the Willie Gill Award.

McTernan, who completed his College studies at Toledo University, finished runner-up to

Welshman Craig Smith in the Irish Amateur Open Championship at Carton House last May. He

made his second appearance for Ireland in the Home Internationals at Prestwick Golf Club

last week.

Crowe, who was also a member of Ireland’s Home Internationals team, won the World

Universities Championship in Thailand earlier this year, following in the footsteps of

former Irish winners, Justin Kehoe (2002) and Graeme McDowell (2000).

In preparation for the World Cup, the three players, plus Kilpatrick, will travel to New

York on September 28 for a week-long training camp with the Irish team captain Mark

Gannon and coach Howard Bennett.

During their stay they will also participate in the Nassau Invitational Open Championship in Long Island.

McElhinney and Crowe will also represent Ireland in the Juan Carlos Trophy and Tailhade

Cup 72 holes stroke play championship at the Los Lagartos County Club, near Buenos Aires,

Argentina from December 2-5.

Paul O’Hanlon (Curragh), Connor Doran (Banbridge) and Harry Diamond (Holywood) have been

selected to compete in the Turkish Open 72 holes stroke play championship at the Kemer

Golf and Country Club in Istanbul.