Galgorm Castle makes successful debut on professional stage

There was high drama to the end as James Hepworth held his nerve to land the Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Tour Open from a play-off with Daniel Gaunt at the Ballymena venue last Friday.

Hepworth (35) landed his first PGA EuroPro title at the first play-off hole at Galgorm where over 1,000 spectators turned out to watch the stars of the future in action.

Not only did they enjoy top class golf but were blessed with balmy, sun conditions all three days.

Hepworth and Gaunt had been the main protagonists from the outset of the 40,000 tournament with the former firing a scintillating 63 on the opening day. The Englishman carded a third round 70 for a 15-under-par 201 aggregate and was joined by Order of Merit leader Gaunt, who closed with a 67.

To add to the drama Hepworth had to birdie the final hole of the 54-hole event to force the play-off. As the crowds gathered, the pair set off on the first sudden-death hole (18th) where Hepworth was quick to close it out with a birdie four compared to the Australian's five.

Shaw, competing in his first EuroPro event of the season, closed with an impressive final round 66 for his share of third place on 11 under alongside England's Matt Allen and Ian Keenan, winner of the EuroPro event at Castle Dargan in Sligo earlier this month.

Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell was an early leader of the tournament but a second round 73 undid much of the good work from his opening 66. That said the former Walker Cup player rallied with a closing 66 to be tied sixth on 10 under along with Ireland's Michael Collins (70), Gary Wolstenholme (69) and Scotland's Craig Lee (69), who won last time out at Bovey Castle in England.

There was no joy however, for the host club's two competitors as professional Phil Collins and assistant professional Philip Graham, both of whom failed to make the cut after the opening two rounds.

Earlier in the week Team Michelin won the George Best Invitational EuroPro Pro-Am with a fine score of 87 points. The amateur team of Harry Eagleson, David Black and Willie Park competed alongside professional Neil Walker.