Ireland to defend Home Internationals at Royal Portrush
Seven of the 2014 team (above) will be joined by Paul McBride, Colin Fairweather, Alex Gleeson and Stuart Grehan at Royal Portrush.
Defending champions Ireland will be looking to retain the title on home soil when Home International matches are played at Royal Portrush from 12-14 August.
he majestic Dunluce Links will be the venue for an event supported by Fairstone Financial Management and while Ireland had the in-form Open championship star Paul Dunne in their 11-man team, they will face a strong challenge from England, Scotland and Wales at the Co Antrim links.
The Open Championship will return to Royal Portrush within the next five years and while the date has yet to be announced — the Home Internationals could offer the R&A the perfect stage — a 2019 or 2020 date is expected.
As fo the Home Internationals, Wales will be looking to go one better, while Scotland will be looking to build on their victory at the European Men’s Team Championship earlier this month.
England were beaten semi-finalists in that tournament, and having won the title the last time the event was held in Ireland, they will be looking for more of the same in 2015 though several of their top players have entered the clashing US Amateur Championship.
The Dunluce links at Royal Portrush
"We are delighted once again to host the Home Internationals, and look forward to welcoming the teams and officials from the four Home Nations to such a magnificent venue as Royal Portrush,” said Albert Lee, Honorary Secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland.
“We are also extremely grateful to Fairstone for their steadfast support of the event. Having supported the event in England two years ago and Wales last year, we are excited to be working with them, now, for the first time in Ireland.”
Lee Hartley, Chief Executive of Fairstone Financial Management, said: “We are pleased to once again sponsor the Home Internationals competition which gives elite amateurs the platform to showcase their talents at one of the world’s greatest golf courses.
“We are proud to align our business with golf. This is a sport which is based on dedication, honesty and integrity - values which, as the UK’s largest Chartered Financial Planning firm, are integral to our business. We look forward to a great week ahead and wish everyone taking part the very best of luck.”
The team selected by the Golfing Union of Ireland for the Home Internationals is:
- Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint)
- Paul Dunne (Greystones)
- *Colin Fairweather (Knock)
- *Alex Gleeson (Castle/University College Dublin)
- *Stuart Grehan (Tullamore/Maynooth University)
- Jack Hume (Naas)
- Gary Hurley (West Waterford/Maynooth University)
- Gavin Moynihan (The Island)
- *Paul McBride (The Island)
- Dermot McElroy (Ballymena)
- John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead)
The team will be captained by Tony Goode (Lucan) and the team manager is John White (Co Armagh). The non-travelling reserves are Robin Dawson (Faithlegg/Maynooth University) and Rowan Lester (Hermitage).
*The asterisk beside players above indicates those making their Home Internationals debut.