03 Aug Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle
06 August – 09 August
The European Challenge Tour will make a welcome return to the province this year with the Northern Ireland Open to take place at Galgorm Castle in Ballymena for the third consecutive year.
The Galgorm showpiece broke all attendance records for any European Challenge Tour event in the last two years as over 34,000 spectators came through the gates in 2014 to witness Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren become the new NI Open champion. The new date earlier in August is certain to attract an even stronger field this year as several main European Tour players have already indicated they will compete at Galgorm.
Five-time European Tour winner Michael Hoey has signed up as the Tournament Ambassador for the third consecutive year and will be one of the many household names on show.
Gary Henry, Director of Galgorm Castle Estates and NI Open Tournament Director said,
“We are delighted with the new date on the European Challenge Tour’s international schedule and we look forward to welcoming back to Northern Ireland some of the finest players in Europe and beyond.”
Irish duo to compete in the NI Open
Colum Campbell and John-Ross Galbraith were nominated by the Golfing Union of Ireland Ulster Branch to compete in next week’s Northern Ireland Open, in Association with SPHERE Global and Ulster Bank, at Galgorm Castle. With this week’s announcement of the Irish Home Internationals team, Campbell and Galbraith will move straight onto Portrush to prepare for the defence of the team title Ireland won in Southerndown Golf Club in Wales last year where both players featured.
Galbraith is delighted to get picked for the Home Internationals, he said he wanted to make the team so because with it being at Portrush, he who won the North of Ireland Championship at Portrush earlier this month after defeating Rosslare’s Gary Collins in a thrilling final that was decided on the second extra playoff hole. Campbell is also hoping to make an impression when competing against the professionals at Galgorm.
Good Food Festival
As with last year, running alongside the event will be a food festival showcasing the finest of Northern Ireland produce, with artisan food producers and local retailers. There will also be a kids’ fun area with a range of activities to ensure all kids attending enjoy a great time.
For more information on the event, including the schedule and player profiles, visit http://www.niopen.co.uk/
Tickets for the NI Open are free, please register at http://www.niopen.co.uk/tickets/