Gary Hurley will look to make the most of home comforts 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 has made a promising start in his first season on Europe’s top developmental tour, where he is currently the highest-placed Irish player in the Road to Oman Rankings.
A tied fourth place finish at the rain-affected Montecchia Open by Lyoness has been the 2015 Walker Cup winner’s best result in a season where he also finished tied 60th at the Dubai Duty Free Open Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.
After teeing it up at The K Club in May, the 23 year old is relishing the chance to return to the Emerald Isle, and to a course he knows well in Mount Wolseley.
“I can’t wait to get back to Mount Wolseley for the Volopa Irish Challenge,” said Hurley, who studied Business and Management at Maynooth University after gaining the Padraig Harrington golf scholarship.
“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.
“My first year on the Challenge Tour has been great. I have had a couple of good finishes which has been brilliant, but it has been great to get the opportunities that Sport Ireland have given me this year – and also my management company Hambric Sports.
“It has been fantastic to start on the Challenge Tour and hopefully we can move forward. Out here you always have to keep your foot on the gas as you can fall down the field really quickly. But the competition is good as it makes you go low and gets you into that mind-set.
“Playing in front of your home crowds is brilliant. Every shot you get support, it doesn’t matter if it is a putt for double-bogey or a putt for eagle, if it goes in they just shout and roar. Especially the guys from where I am from!”
