Axel Boasson arrives in Northern Ireland fresh from winning one gold and one silver medal at the European Golf Team Championships and is targeting further glory at this week’s Galgorm Resort and Spa NI Open, presented by Modest! Golf.
The Icelander formed part of a formidable foursome alongside Valdis Thora Jonsdottir, Birgir Hafthorsson and Olafia Kristinsdottir who claimed gold in the Mixed Team event, while Boasson and Hafthorsson continued to thrive in the Men’s Team event where they took home silver.
After becoming the most successful golfing nation in the inaugural European Golf Team Championships, Boasson admits he is still coming to terms with his country's achievements.
“I really didn’t expect it to be honest,” he said. “But to come away with two medals was such a huge bonus.
“It was a very long tournament. On Sunday playing 36 holes in those conditions really drains you but I feel amazing coming into this week.
“I didn’t really feel like I played that great if I’m honest. Me and my partner Birgir just managed to play really well together and something clicked.
“We have known each other for a long time, I have also played with the girls since I was a junior, and I think that must have affected how we played. We play a similar format regularly in Iceland too which I also think really helped us.
“My partner was ill so we didn’t go out and celebrate. So my celebrations consisted of drinking a Coca-Cola, eating a pizza and watching Guardians of the Galaxy for the third time!”
Boasson, a European Challenge Tour rookie, started the season in a rich vein of form having triumphed twice en route to topping the Nordic Golf League Rankings last year.
The 28 year old has found the going tougher on Europe’s top developmental tour this season though, making just one cut so far this term, but believes last week’s success can help spur him on throughout the remainder of the campaign.
“Winning medals in such a big event does fill you with a lot of confidence,” he said. “I have had a difficult year so far on the Challenge Tour and I think looking back I haven’t been very good in my preparation for events.
“When you have a poor start to the year you always feel like you are chasing, and at times I feel like I have been trying to force it too much when I have been close to making the cut. Going forward I need to relax and just trust in the process.
“The weather looks as though it will be similar to how it was in Scotland last week – so hopefully I can get another good result in these ‘Icelandic’ conditions.”
Joining Boasson at Galgorm Castle is former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson. The Englishman will look to continue his outstanding run having recorded one victory and one top five finish in his last two starts, which has seen him rise 124 places in the Road to Ras Al Khaimah Rankings over the last fortnight.
Also teeing it up in Northern Ireland is home favourite Michael Hoey. The five-time European Tour winner currently lies in 26th place on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah and will be looking to rise up the Rankings with a goodperformancein his homeland this week.
