GOLF Team Ireland Golf Trust Announces 2010 Allocations

17 aspiring golfers supported to continue success for Irish golf on major tours.

The Team Ireland Golf Trust today announced grants totaling €217,000 to seventeen aspiring golfers who are pursuing their careers on professional golf tours.

Among the golfers receiving the top award of €20,000 are Simon Thornton who graduated to the European Tour in 2010 from the Challenge Tour and Alison Walshe from Co. Galway who has a card on both the Ladies European Tour and LPGA in the United States. Alison has decided to represent Ireland in the professional ranks having competed for the USA in the Curtis Cup in 2008 as an amateur. Other golfers to receive a grant of €20,000 are Tara Delaney and Martina Gillen who will both play on the Ladies European Tour in 2010.

A grant of €15,000 is awarded to former Walker Cup player, Niall Kearney, to support his first year on the professional circuit following a successful amateur career. Niall will play mainly on the Challenge Tour in 2010 as will Jonathan Caldwell and Gareth Shaw, who also receive grants of €15,000. All three players were members of the victorious GUI European Championship Team in 2008. Doubtless they will be inspired by the major impact being made on the European Tour by teammates Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. Rebecca Coakley and Hazel Kavanagh will also receive grants of €15,000 to assist their campaigns on the Ladies European Tour and their efforts to qualify for the European Solheim Cup Team in 2011.

Irish golf enjoyed another very successful year in 2009. Team Ireland golfers made their mark with another series of successful performances on the major golf tours. The Team Ireland Golf Trust, which is unique in Europe, plays an essential part in the development of professional golfers at the start of their tour careers, given the lack of commercial sponsorship. The impact of these golfers in recent years is also a tribute to the excellent work of the GUI and ILGU in improving the standards of golf in Ireland.

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr Martin Cullen TD, welcomed the allocation of the grants: ""I welcome the great work the Golf Trust has done over the years to assist and encourage talented young golfers to make the transition from amateur to professional international status. Without the initial financial assistance given to them, many of our successful international golfers would not have reached the successes they have achieved. Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Shane Lowry are among those who have benefitted from the Trust. Padraig was a grant recipient from the original Golf Trust for a number of years, at the time when he was an amateur, and he has often talked of what a great help these grants were to him in his early career. I wish the Golf Trust every success as they further develop the talent of our young golfers pursuing their professional careers and, adding significantly, to our country's golf tourism profile abroad."

One of the outstanding successes of 2009 was Shane Lowry. Following discussion and agreement with Shane, the Trust is not providing him with financial assistance in 2010. The Trust was delighted to assist Shane with €20,000 last year when he turned professional after his victory in the Irish Open. Since then Shane has made considerable progress and is not in need of financial support from the Trust. He is currently 30th on the Race to Dubai rankings and 88th in the World Rankings. The Trust wishes Shane continued success in his golf career.

Reflecting on 2009 Shane commented "I would like to sincerely thank the Irish Sports Council for their generous support in 2009. I turned professional in quite abnormal circumstances last May but the Sports Council were quick to lend their support via the Team Ireland Golf Trust. It gave me the essential financial backbone that helped kick-start my professional career and without that I may not be where I am today. I know that these days it is increasingly hard for golfers to get funding, and that is why schemes like the Golf Trust are invaluable. I am fortunate enough to have made a successful start to my professional career, and hence fully support the Irish Sports Council's decision to not provide me with funding in 2010."

As part of the Trust's support package, all golfers can avail of the world class facilities at the GUI's National Academy at Carton House. The golfers on the Trust scheme also have free access to the network of service providers such as physiologists, sports psychologists, biomechanists, physiotherapists, and doctors offered by the Irish Sports Council to the athletes on the International Carding Scheme.

Niall Kearney, one of the new recipients of support from the Trust said: "The support from the Team Ireland Golf Trust will be of great practical benefit to me as I seek to establish myself in my first year as a professional. The financial backing from the Trust will allow me to concentrate on my game and hopefully achieve my full tour card later in the year."

Alison Walshe, reacting to her award, commented; "I am thrilled to receive this generous grant from the Golf Trust. I'm starting to play an extensive LET schedule this week in New Zealand and am really honored to do it as a member of Team Ireland. One of my chief goals is to represent our country in the 2011 Solheim Cup and this support will help tremendously".

This is the eleventh year of the Trust, which has provided €2.5 million in financial support to golfers to date. The Trust, which is administered by the Irish Sport Council, aims to contribute to an increase in the presence of Irish golf professionals on the various international tours. It is a partnership between state agencies and the various golf organisations. Financial backing for the Trust is provided by the Irish Sports Council, Fلilte Ireland and the PGA European Tour.

Trust Chairman Padraig O'hUiginn stated; "The Trust was established with a very specific goal in mind, increasing the number of Irish golfers competing and winning on the top tours and hence promoting Ireland, north and south, as a golf destination. The proof of the success of the scheme is the presence of many successful Irish golfers in international competition. This brings enormous benefits to the game at home, not least by highlighting Ireland as an important golf tourism destination".

Established players on the main European Tour, who have benefited from the Trust, are Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Gary Murphy, Michael Hoey, Gareth Maybin and Shane Lowry. The Irish PGA, the Golfing Union of Ireland, and the Irish Ladies Golf Union, along with the state agencies are represented on the Team Ireland Golf Trust committee, which is chaired by Mr. O'hUiginn.

John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council commented "Irish golf is enjoying a period of unprecedented success. The Trust has played a major part in that success by providing support for top amateur players as they embark on careers as touring professionals".

Team Ireland Golf Trust Grants 2010