The European Challenge Tour will make a welcome return to the province in 2015 with the Northern Ireland Open confirmed to take place at Galgorm Castle in Ballymena for the third consecutive year from August 6-9.
Details of the European Challenge Tour’s international schedule were released today with the record breaking Northern Ireland Open holding a key date on the calendar to be played on a week when there is no regular European Tour event. (The WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio takes place on the same date).
The Galgorm showpiece broke all attendance records for any European Challenge Tour event in the last two years as over 34,000 spectators came through the gates in 2014 to witness Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren become the new NI Open champion and pick up the €27,200 winner’s cheque.
The new date earlier in August is certain to attract an even stronger field this year as several main European Tour players have already indicated they hope to compete at Galgorm.
Five-time European Tour winner Michael Hoey has signed up as the Tournament Ambassador for the third consecutive year and will be one of the many household names on show.
“We are delighted with the new date on the European Challenge Tour’s international schedule and we look forward to welcoming back to Northern Ireland some of the finest players in Europe and beyond,” said Gary Henry, Director Galgorm Castle Estates and NI Open Tournament Director.
“The NI Open is a great opportunity to put Northern Ireland, Ballymena and Galgorm in front of a global audience of over 350 million. For spectators on the ground during tournament week, they will also enjoy the dedicated Food Festival, which proved such a great success last year.”
Once again the NI Open will be free to enter. All the general public will have to do is register online in due course to get their free tickets.
Galgorm Castle www.galgormcastle.com
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