Positive starts for Hurley and Sugrue in Italy

15th anniversary of the death of the great Seve Ballesteros marked at Catalunya Championship on DP World Tour

Thu, 07 May, 2026 - 20:53

Sean Greene

There were positive starts for Gary Hurley and James Sugrue as the HotelPlanner Tour resumed following an enforced break due to the war in the Gulf.

West Waterford's Hurley carded a four-under-par 68 at the Italian Challenge Open to sit in a tie for 18th alongside a number of players including John-Ross Galbraith. They are six shots behind Jhared Hack, who fired an opening 10 under par round of 62 to hold a four-stroke lead at Golf Nazionale.

Mallow's Sugrue shot a one-under 71, which included five birdies, on his season debut on the tour.

Meanwhile, Shaun Norris produced a spectacular eagle on his final hole to leapfrog into the lead on an emotional first day of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship.

The day marked the 15th anniversary of the death of the great Seve Ballesteros and across Real Club de Golf El Prat, tributes were paid to the trailblazing Spaniard, who passed away on May 7, 2011.

With many of the players decked out in his signature navy blue and white, his picture on the first tee and some of the flags dedicated to him, it was true celebration of the man whose record of 50 DP World Tour wins is 29 clear of the nearest active member in Rory McIlroy.

And he would surely have enjoyed the action inside the ropes as South African Norris took out his three wood on the ninth fairway and with his penultimate shot of the day put an approach from 244 yards to four feet.

The resulting eagle saw him sign for a 64 and sit atop the leaderboard at eight under, one shot clear of Scottish duo Ewen Ferguson and David Law and Frenchman Alexander Levy.

Javier Ballesteros poses for a photo in front of an image of his father, Seve, on the anniversary of his death, on day one of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship at Real Club de Golf el Prat in Barcelona. Pic: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Seve's son Javier said: “Today is a special day, for better or for worse, because it’s been many years since he passed away. However, the fact that he is still being remembered on a golf course and at a tournament in Spain is very special. We are very proud and very grateful.

“His biggest wins came many years ago, but I think his influence in the game is still here. Obviously with the Ryder Cup and the way he played and how he walked the courses, it is nice to see some of the young players dress in his colours to remember him in a little way, and as I said before we are super grateful as it is a special day for us.

“I’m very happy to have experienced what we’ve experienced today and to see the players dressed like my father. The idea came from me and was very well received by Miguel Vidaor, the Tournament Director for the Tour. We also knew that the tribute had to be on the golf course, just as he would have liked. The truth is, I’m very happy.

“Ayora was wearing my father’s logo on his chest today, and as he himself said when making a difficult shot, he didn’t know if it was him or Seve who had done it…even if it’s just because he thinks about it sometimes, I’m sure it helps him mentally; it certainly doesn’t hurt.”