Championship Castle Course at Galgorm looking down the fourth hole from behind the green. (Photo: Kevin Markham)
The Junior NI Open will take place during this year’s Black Desert NI Open presented by Tom McKibbin at Galgorm and will be an exceptional opportunity for budding young golfers to compete on the championship Castle course at the same time as the professionals.
A brand-new initiative by tournament organisers presents a unique opportunity for aspiring young golfers to experience true tournament conditions, while competing for their own Junior NI Open title.
Junior golfers can qualify via the Flogas Irish Junior Open Tour event at Holywood Golf Club from July 8-9 and qualifiers will play the nine-hole NI Junior Open competition on the Saturday (July 27) of tournament week at Galgorm, following the leaders off the 1st tee.
Junior golfers can book their place at the Holywood event HERE.
“We are absolutely delighted to be part of this year’s NI Open where our leading Junior golfers will get the chance to enjoy a genuine ‘Tour Experience’ by competing at Galgorm on the Saturday of Tournament week,” said Michael Gallagher from the Irish Junior Open Tour.
“We have another great summer schedule in place for the Junior Tour, but the Junior NI Open will be a real feather in the cap for the lucky Juniors who play their way to Galgorm in July.”
The Junior NI Open provides a full range of categories and formats with Boys Under-9, U11, U14 and U19 and Girls U12 and U19 categories. The format will be Stableford points playing off scratch with three players in each category, 18 Juniors in all.
The Clutch Pro Tour’s (NI Open Promoter) Tom Hayward added:
“We are delighted to see the Junior NI Open form part of tournament week at Galgorm. To have the Junior NI Open played on Saturday will make it extra special for everyone involved.”
The category winners of the Junior NI Open will return to Galgorm on Sunday where tournament host and DP World Tour winner Tom McKibbin will present them with their prizes that will include one year’s junior membership at Galgorm.
“This Junior event is a wonderful additional to the NI Open,” explained McKibbin, who cut his teeth at Junior events like this, both in Ireland and abroad, before making his way in the professional game.
“I learned so much from competing in underage events like the Junior NI Open, and the Juniors that compete at Galgorm will also take away so much too. The best advice I can give is to soak up the experience and enjoy the day.”
Qualifiers will enjoy lunch in the clubhouse on arrival and then have the opportunity to warm up on the practice facilities before teeing off.
The inaugural NI Open was played at Galgorm in 2010 and evolved into one of the most popular events on the Challenge Tour, breaking all attendance records.
This year promises to be just as popular with FREE ENTRY all week and registration for free tickets is available HERE.