Golf stars of the future heading to Donabate

Main Group photo

The next generation of international golf stars will be on view at Donabate Golf Club from August 20 to 23 when the Irish Boys U16 Amateur Open Championship takes place on the peninsula.

Since the competition began in 2006, many players who have gone on to be top class amateur and professional golfers have played in it, including current European Tour professionals Paul Dunne and Gavin Moynihan and Challenge Tour player Robin Dawson.

This year the Irish challenge in Donabate will be led by 15-year-old Joshua Hill from Galgorm Castle in Co Antrim, who plays off a plus three handicap. Hill has already won several tournaments this year and played for Ireland in the recent Boys U18 Home Internationals in Wales.

In addition to Hill, players from all over Ireland will be in the 144 strong field which has also attracted entries from France, Germany, England, Wales and Scotland. The field will also include up and coming Donabate golfers Brian and Ben Hanratty while another, Josh Higgins, is currently on the waiting list hoping for a late call-up.

Mayor and Donabate Players

Tuesday, August 20 will be the official practice day with the 54 hole strokeplay tournament teeing off on Wednesday, August 21 and finishing on Friday, August 23 when the new champion will be crowned.

Members and staff at Donabate Golf Club have spent the last few weeks preparing for the tournament and local residents are advised of possible traffic delays along New Road, leading to the golf club, during the four days of the event.

At a recent event in Donabate Golf Club to announce details of the Championship, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, said: “I am delighted that Fingal has been selected to host another major golf championship so soon after Portmarnock and The Island staged a very successful Open Amateur Championship in conjunction with the R&A. There are 26 golf clubs in Fingal so it is a very popular sport in the county with high participation numbers. I am sure that golfers of all levels will want to avail of the opportunity to see what’s coming through when the Boys Championship comes to Donabate later this month.”

The Captain of Donabate Golf Club, Joe Rice, said: “This year marks the 80th anniversary of our move to our current home and we are extremely grateful to the Golfing Union of Ireland for giving us the opportunity to host one of their Championships. It has attracted an exciting international field and we are looking forward to presenting our championship standard course in the best possible condition for what we expect will be a challenging but fair test of these young golfers’ abilities.”

Donabate Golf Club is one of the top golf clubs in Fingal and in the 94 years since its founding in 1925, it has evolved from a nine hole course into a 27 hole parkland course with state of the art practice and coaching facilities. The championship course offers a challenging golf experience on beautiful well-manicured greens and fairways and the club is firmly rooted in the local community as it is also the home of Donabate-Portrane Tennis Club.



ENDS

Mayor and Donabate officials.

 

For further information contact:

Donabate Golf Club (Robert Diggin): [email protected]

Fingal County Council (Gerry McDermott): [email protected]

 

PHOTO 1 CAPTION: Pictured at the announcement of details of the Irish Boys U16 Amateur Championship at Donabate Golf Club from August 20 to 23 were, Back Row (from left):  Fintan Lacey, Professional, Donabate Golf Club; Gráinne Synnott, Lady Captain, Donabate Golf Club; Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, Mayor of Fingal; Pauline Byrne, President, Donabate Golf Club; Joe Rice, Captain, Donabate Golf Club; Cllr Adrian Henchy. Front Row (from left): Ben Hanratty, Josh Higgins and Brian Hanratty, Donabate Golf Club.  



PHOTO 2 CAPTION:  Pictured with Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, at the announcement of details of the Irish Boys U16 Amateur Championship at Donabate Golf Club from August 20 to 23 were Donabate golfers Josh Higgins (left), Ben Hanratty (centre) and Brian Hanratty (right).



PHOTO 3 CAPTION:  Pictured with Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, at the announcement of details of the Irish Boys U16 Amateur Championship at Donabate Golf Club from August 20 to 23 were Lady Captain Gráinne Synnott (left), President Pauline Byrne (centre) and Captain Joe Rice (right).

 

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