Maybin feeling comfortable on tour
Gareth Maybin is feeling comfortable with his overnight success on the European Tour.
Ranked 88th in the world, the Ballyclare man won't return to action until the Estoril Open de Portugal in two weeks' time but hopes to hit the ground running in his bid for a maiden European Tour victory.
Currently leading the charge for Rookie of the Year honours at 34th in the Race to Dubai standings, Maybin took time out of his busy golfing schedule to make a flying visit to Carnfunnock Park, just outside Larne, on Thursday morning to help promote the re-opening of the driving range.
According to the Larne Times Ballyclare professional Colin Lyttle and business partner Brian Craig, a member of Ballyclare Golf Club, have taken control of the Driving range premises which is due to open to the public during the Easter holiday break.
Gareth posed for a few photos before heading back to Ballyclare to film a piece for European Tour Weekly which will be shown on Sky TV.
The Ballyclare golfer has taken the European Tour by surprise and is currently in the top 30 (34th) in the Race to Dubai, just missing out on a maiden victory in South Africa
The film crew from Sky TV arrived in Ballyclare on Thursday morning did a few interviews and then filmed Gareth Clay Pigeon shooting with some of his friends at a local farm.
However the film may not be shown for a week or two as Gareth is delaying his return to the European Tour until the Estoril de Espana tournament in Portugal at the start of April.
As Gareth explains “I am heading to American for the wedding of a room mate at College in Alabama and will return for the Estoril in a couple of weeks time then I hope to get into the Volvo China Open in Beijing and then take in the Italian Open but the one I am really looking forward to The 3 Irish Open at Baltray in Co Louth.
“I took a trip down to Baltray recently to familiarise myself with the course which I did not play often during my amateur days,” added Maybin.
Still delighted with his start to the first season in the European Tour is pleased with the reaction his has received for the more seasoned European Tour players “I have played with Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood and they have been very supportive.
“Even when I was on the putting green in Dubai, Ernie Els walked over and congratulated me on my start to the European Tour and wished me well for the rest of the season.
“My first target is to make sure I win my Tour card for next season I feel I only need another 20,000 euros to achieve that target – then I will take it from there,” added Maybin.
Like everyone at Ballyclare we all wait to see Gareth in action sooner rather than later and hope his first victory on the European Tour is not far away.