The European Challenge Tour returns to Headfort Golf Club in Ireland for the Irish Challenge this week. Here’s everything you need to know.
Headfort Golf Club
Headfort Golf Club successfully hosted the Irish Challenge in 2019 as Spaniard Emilio Cuartero Blanco secured his maiden victory in a play-off, and the Challenge Tour has selected the magnificent parkland layout to host once again this year.
The Championship Course, designed by Ryder Cup hero Christy O’Connor Jr, takes full advantage of Ireland’s natural beauty and is renowned for its majestic native trees and natural undulations.
Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy
The highest finishing Irishman this week will take home the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy and this player will also receive an invitation to the 2023 Horizon Irish Open. The four-time DP World Tour winner is one of Ireland’s most beloved golfers and sadly passed away in 2016, when the Memorial Trophy was founded in his honour. Past recipients of the trophy include DP World Tour winner Tom McKibbin, Dermot McElroy, Ruaidhri McGee, Connor O’Rourke and Cormac Sharvin.
Monday Qualifier
The Irish Challenge returns to the stunning Kells venue this week and for the first time ever, golfers can play their way into the tournament with the leading two players from Monday qualifying earning their place in the €250,000 event. 48 players will contest the inaugural Irish Challenge qualifier on the Championship Course at Headfort Golf Club, just three days before the tournament itself tees off in Co. Meath.
Not only will the two qualifiers get the chance to tee-up at the Irish Challenge but there’s also the dangling carrot of a potential Horizon Irish Open invite just five weeks later for the leading Irish player at the end of the week through the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy.
The stage was already set for a fairy-tale week for one of the home contingent at Headfort but now opportunity truly knocks for two Irish players to fast-track their development to Europe’s top tier.
