Cormac Sharvin will be one of the home favourites in action at the Monaghan Irish Challenge at Concra Wood Golf Club, from October 4-7.
The Northern Irishman has had a fruitful last six weeks on the European Challenge Tour, making four cuts and claiming two top ten results, including a share of fourth place at the Bridgestone Challenge.
Sharvin is coming into form at the business end of the season and will be one to watch when he takes to the course at Concra Wood with only four events remaining on the Challenge Tour’s International Schedule.
After a tied ninth finish in Northern Ireland in August, the 25 year old returns to home soil for his fourth Irish Challenge appearance, and will face a new challenge when he visits Castleblayney.
“It’s always extra special having an event on home soil,” he said. “Every event is special in its own way, but being from Ireland, or being from anywhere, and playing your home event is always that extra bit special because you’ve got the home support and everyone rooting for you.
“It’s coming to crunch time in the year. I feel like I’ve played well over the last six to seven weeks after struggling in the middle of the year and I’m coming into a little bit of form. I know my game is in a really good place, so hopefully I’ll have a chance to win in Ireland.”
Concra Wood will make its debut on Europe’s top developmental tour when the players tee off on Thursday morning. The Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy will be awarded for the lowest scoring Irishman once again, after Ruaidhri McGee claimed it with a share of 15thplace last year.
With the prospect winning the trophy named after the iconic Irish star, Sharvin is looking forward to the challenge on a new course and hopefully coming away with more than just pride.
“I met Christy during the first year I played the Irish Challenge,” he said. “It was when I was an amateur just after the Walker Cup in 2015. I had the chance to meet him and chat with him then, which was really nice.
“Christy is an Irish golfing hero and it would be really nice to pick up his award at the end of the week, alongside the actual trophy as well.”
Unlike the warmth of continental Europe, the players will experience autumnally conditions in County Monaghan. However, Sharvin is confident that he will be able to battle the elements and continue his good form.
“An Irish course will always be a battle against the elements, especially with it being the first week in October,” he said. “It’s going to be a mix, which means the golf course is going to play different every day.
“You’re always going to be battling the elements when you play in Ireland and I enjoy that, when you have to grind it out and try to get the most of your rounds no matter what the conditions.”
