As the European Challenge Tour returns to Galgorm Castle for the Northern Ireland Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank, these are the four men we think Irish eyes could be smiling upon come Sunday evening.
Brandon Stone
Stone finished in a tie for fifth in this event last year so clearly knows and likes the course, and we think this could be a breakthrough week for the South African.
Still just 22 years old, Stone finished strongly in last week’s Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI, where he was described by winner Roope Kakko as having “Major-winning potential.”
A tie for seventh last week was his best result since a top ten finish in the Najeti Open Presented by Neuflize OBC in June, and these finishes, along with a second place at The Barclays Kenya Open, see Stone in 13thplace in the Road to Oman Rankings.
A win here would go some way to securing his spot among the top 15 players who graduate to The European Tour for next season.
Daan Huizing
Stone’s roommate this week in Northern Ireland, Huizing has even better form around the parkland Galgorm Castle Golf Course, winning the inaugural tournament in 2013.
He followed that with another victory in his very next event, the Kharkov Superior Cup, on the way to a sixth place in the Challenge Tour Rankings and a place on The European Tour for last season.
Now back on the Challenge Tour, the Dutchman has faltered slightly after two top ten finishes in his first four events to currently lie 35thin the Road to Oman Rankings.
A player of Huizing’s pedigree will not be out of the winner’s circle for too long though, and with his fond memories of Galgorm Castle he may be in with a shot of regaining his Northern Ireland Open title.
Jamie McLeary
With two top ten finishes on top of his victory at the KPMG Trophy, McLeary has been one of the form players on the Challenge Tour this season.
Currently sitting in 11thplace in the Road to Oman Rankings, the Scot’s tied fourth finish at the D+D REAL Slovakia Challenge last month shows his game is still in good shape.
The 34 year old has previous around Galgorm Castle as well, finishing tied for third in 2013, and will surprise nobody if he finds himself in contention again this week.
Haydn Porteous
Since winning the season’s curtain-raiser, The Barclays Kenya Open, the South African has had a low key season, making five further cuts but missing four others.
However, there were signs at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge that the early form was returning, a tied fifth finish helping keep the 21 year old in 12thplace in the Road to Oman Rankings.
He played in the inaugural Northern Ireland Open in 2013, making the cut before being blown off the course in a final round of 80, but the local knowledge should stand him in good stead to challenge for victory this week.
