Gary Hurley is making the most of home comforts on the European Tour this week – and is hopeful of another good performance when the European Challenge Tour returns to Ireland for the Volopa Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort.
The Waterford man is currently playing at the Dubai Duty Free Open Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation, where he has made a solid start at The K Club and is level par after two rounds.
After a promising performance at the rain-affected Montecchia Open by Lyoness in Italy last week, the 2015 Walker Cup winner has his sights set on a successful 2016 Road to Oman campaign.
And the 23 year old believes teeing it up in Ireland this week alongside such stars as World Number Three Rory McIlroy and Masters Tournament champion Danny Willett will stand him in good stead for the rest of the season.
“If I can stay focused this week then I am sure I will have no problems going forward,” said Hurley, who studied Business and Management at Maynooth University after gaining the Padraig Harrington golf scholarship.
“This week is probably one of the bigger European Tour events of the season, so this experience will help me for the rest of the Challenge Tour events as they won’t be as nerve-racking.
“I am feeling pretty good coming into the week. I am playing really well and hopefully I can manage my emotions playing here this week, and if I do that I am hoping that I can make the best out of what I have.
“Looking ahead I can’t wait to get back to Mount Wolseley for the Volopa Irish Challenge.
“It is a great course and I have played there a good few times now and although I missed the cut last year I really enjoyed the experience of it. I am really looking forward to going back there and hopefully I can do a bit better this year.”
Fellow countryman Ruaidhri McGee, who is also competing at The K Club this week, has had two top ten finishes on the 2016 Road to Oman so far, and is also excited for when the Challenge Tour comes to his homeland in September.
“I played there last year and I thought it was a fantastic course in really good condition,” he said. “The whole set up with the hotel is really brilliant and I’m looking forward to going back.”
