Transatlantic battle at The European Club
The par-five 13th and the Irish Sea. (Courtesy Pat Ruddy)
The European Club plays host to another prestigious event this weekend when it stages the Carey Cup between the GUI and the MGA.
The first shots were fired in an Am-Am today but the really heavy guns will come out on Sunday and Monday when a six-man GUI team takes on the Metropolitan Golf Association of New York for the Carey Cup at The European Club.
It will be 10th meeting between the sides with the balance so far favourable to Ireland with six wins, the last of which came at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links in 2009.
Read an on-line version of the GUI’s excellent programme here
The MGA won the last edition, held on the famous Black Course at Bethpage State Park in New York, by 7.5 pts to 4.5 but this year’s event looks set to be a close fought affair.
The GUI’s six-man team is mixture of youth and experience with 19-year olds Brian Casey of Headfort and Alex Gleeson of Castle joined by Knock’s Nicky Grant, Belvoir Park’s Simon Ward, Co Cavan’s Eddie McCormack and Portmarnock’s Geoff Lenehan.
The MGA side is also an interesting blend of young guns and experienced olders heads with 15-year old Cameron Young from Sleepy Hollow and 17-year old Jim Liu, the current No 1 Junior in the Golfweek rankings, joined by some exciting talent such as the big-hitting Mike Miller, the two-time reigning MGA player of the year.
The first series of foursomes will see Casey and McCormack combine for the GUI against Brian Komline and Joe Saladino, two MGA veterans of the match.
Gleeson and Grant will then team up in the second match for the GUI against Cameron Young and Jim Liu.
Lenehan and Ward will play the US All-State champion Miller and 2011 US Amateur quarter-finalist Max Buckley in the final match of the foursomes.
A series of three four-ball matches will follow on Sunday afternoon, with the final series of six singles concluding the match on Monday April 29th.
Admission to the European Club for the Carey Cup matches is free.
Live scoring will be available from Sunday morning on www.gui.ie.
Governor Hugh L Carey Challenge Cup 2013
The European Club, Sunday 28th April
Foursomes
8:30am: Brian Casey & Eddie McCormack v Brian Komline & Joe Saladino
8:40am: Alex Gleeson & Nicky Grant v Cameron Young & Jim Liu
8:50am: Geoff Lenehan & Simon Ward v Max Buckley & Mike Miller
Four-Ball pairings will be announced at 1.15pm
Monday
From 10am - Six singles matches