Local golfers eye prestigious title

Michael McGarry is among the Ballymena contingent taking part in the North of Ireland Open this week.

Despite producing some excellent golfers, no-one from this area has ever landed the prestigious North of Ireland Open Championship.

The closest the title ever came to coming to Ballymena was in 1972 when the late John McAleese - arguably the area’s greatest amateur player - was beaten in the final, while Dermot McElroy was also pipped at the final hurdle in 2010.

A total of five golfers representing Ballymena’s two golf clubs, along with a couple of others with strong Ballymena connections, already have a round under their belts at Royal Portrush yesterday (Monday).

Competitors play their second round of strokeplay today with the aim of reaching the matchplay stage of the prestigious competition, sponsored by Cathedral Eye Clinic.

Galgorm Castle have three competitors in action, including former Irish boys close champion Jordan Hood.

He is joined by club-mates Michael Reid - who reached the quarter-finals of last year’s competition - and Jamie Sutherland.

Ballymena Golf Club is represented by Gary Black and Michael McGarry.

Two other golfers from the Ballymena area - John Finnegan and John Robinson, who play their golf at Royal Portrush, are also in the list of competitors aiming to follow in the footsteps of the likes of past winners such as Darren Clarke and Alan Dunbar.