Irish Women's Open lands 3 sponsorship

Irish Open sponsors 3 will back the Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship this year - as a payback for stealing their Irish Close venue.

The mobile  telecommunications giant has already agreed to sponsor the European Tour's Irish Open for the next three years in a deal to be announced at the end of the month.

Now 3 has rowed in behind women's amateur golf and decided to back the ILGU's strokeplay event at Douglas Golf Club from June 20-21.

The European Tour and 3 opted to take the Irish Open to Baltray, forcing the ILGU to move the clashing Lancome Irish Ladies Close to Fota Island from May 14-20.

ILGU Chief Executive Sinead Heraty said: “We were thrilled by the offers of clubs to host our Championship when they heard of our unfortunate clash of dates at Baltray.

"While the Union is pleased that the Irish Open has found a good home, we are delighted that Fota Island Resort will host our blue-ribboned event over their splendid layout that will prove a challenging test for Ireland’s elite female amateurs."

Announcing plans to back the Irish Women's Strokeplay, 3's Rachel Channing said: "Ladies' golf is a vibrant and growing sport and we're pleased to support a first-class ladies' tournament."