Now sponsored by American luxury resort Black Desert and hosted by the ever-impressive Tom McKibbin — who will compete in the Pro-Am but not in the tournament itself — the tournament may be played on the Challenge Tour instead of the DP World Tour this year but that does not make for a lack of excitement. Eight of the top 10 in the Road to Mallorca rankings will be in action, including leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, with the Dane one of three players who could earn automatic promotion to the DP World Tour if he wins at Galgorm. Along with Neergaard-Petersen, Spain’s Joel Moscatel and England’s John Parry also have two wins already this year and a third would immediately send them up a tier, meaning Northern Ireland could be about to witness the birth of a new golfing star.
But from a local perspective, there will also be key interest in how Ballymena’s own Dermot McElroy gets on, along with Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell. Both need to pick up the pace if they, too, are going to earn promotion to the DP World Tour next year, Caldwell currently 84th in the Road to Mallorca while McElroy is 121st, but a big week in front of home support could spur them on for the second half of the season. Simon Thornton, head pro at Spa Golf Club, will also be in the field after earning a spot thanks to his victory at the PGA Play-Offs earlier in the year and he will be keen to cause a splash like he did when winning the NI Masters at Clandeboye in 2021.
McElroy could improve his Race to Mallorca ranking before returning to his home event with a good finish at the Euram Bank Open in Austria today. The 31-year-old enters the final round in a share of 33rd place at four-under-par, 10 shots behind leader Frank Kennedy, the Englishman holding a two-shot lead over Maximilian Steinlechner and Pietro Bovari at Golfclub Adamstal. Also yesterday, Ireland secured bronze at the European Nations Cup for Golfers with a Disability at Golfclub Hösel in Germany, where Italy cruised to the gold, while their European Team Championships side finished fourth as France took the win.
On the amateur schedule this week, Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell will be looking to defend his South of Ireland Championship crown at Lahinch as a star-studded field descends on the Clare links. There is a key absentee, though, as Bridgestone Order of Merit leader and Walker Cup star Matthew McClean will not be competing at Lahinch due to a prior engagement. Kirkistown Castle’s Beth Coulter and Castlerock’s Annabel Wilson are in Finland for the European Ladies’ Open at Messilä Golf in Lahti, which tees off on Wednesday, while also this week the England Under-18s Championship, also known as the Carris Trophy, begins on Tuesday at Ormskirk, where Fionn Dobbin (Malone) and Luka Rogers (Royal Portrush) are in action.
And Holly Hamilton (Belvoir Park) and Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush) will tee it up at the English Girls’ Open Stroke Play, which begins on Tuesday at Royal Norwich..
