GOLF Team Ireland Golfers Performing Strongly in 2005

Team Ireland Golf Trust golfers presented a generally positive mid term report for 2005.  Golfers like Michael Hoey and David Higgins have performed exceptionally well so far this year with Rebecca Coakley also performing well on the Ladies European Tour.

David Higgins has been one of the top performers of the year and he has earned €69,598 on the Challenge Tour, where he is currently in second place in the Order of Merit. Higgins also earned €44,017 on the European Tour and a highlight of the year has been a second place at the Abierto Telefonica Mobiles de Guatemala in Feburary as well as fourth place in the Madeira Island Open.

Other top earners include Gareth Maybin who is currently first on the Hooters Tour Money list with €52,109, as well as Michael Hoey who has made €45,015 on the Challenge Tour where he is tenth on the Order of Merit. Hoey tied for second at the TIM Peru Open. Hoey received €15,000 from the Golf Trust with Maybin the recipient of €10,000.

Rebecca Coakley from Carlow is top amongst the Golf Trust ladies and she is performing admirably in her first year as a European Tour cardholder. She also finished eleventh on the Australian PGA Tour after 11 events and took seventh place at the Open in Espana Femenino in May last. Coakley’s performance on the Ladies European tour earned her €27,626 so far in 2005.

The Team Ireland Golf Trust, which is administered by the Irish Sport Council, was established in 1999 with the aim of increasing the presence of Irish golf professionals on the various international tours. Team Ireland Golf is a partnership between statutory agencies and private corporations. The Irish Sports Council and Failte Ireland provide financial backing with private sector interests IAWS, O’Callaghan Hotels and the PGA European Tour. 

2005 is the sixth year of the Trust, which has provided more than €1.25 million financial support to golfers to date.

ENDS