TEAM IRELAND Golf Trust to Support McElhinney

TEAM IRELAND GOLF TRUST TO SUPPORT MCELHINNEY’S PROFESSIONAL  CAREER

British Amateur Champion Secures Funding for 2006 

May 9, 2006.

The Team Ireland Golf Trust has announced that it has awarded Brian McElhinney €10,000 at the start of his career in the professional ranks.  Brian turned professional following his recent participation in the US Masters in Augusta. He had a highly impressive amateur career which included winning the European Amateur Championship in 2003, the British Amateur Championship in 2005 and representing Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup 2005. 

Brian, from Burnfoot, Co Donegal, has already received invites to a number of events on the Challenge Tour and European Tour and one event on the PGA Tour, the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village. Currently he is in Italy for this week’s Challenge Tour event, the Parco de Monza Challenge.

After receiving the news of the Trust award Brian commented "Its a great boost for me to receive funding from the Team Ireland Golf Trust after recently turning professional.  The support of the Trust will help me to compete events on the Challenge Tour and European Tour which I have invites for and assist my preparation for Tour School in September"

As a member of the Golf Trust Brian will be able to use the state of the art facilities at the GUI's National Academy at Carton House and also access sports science and medicine services coordinated by the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick.

In 2006 the Team Ireland Golf Trust has so far allocated a total of €260,500 to 23 aspiring golfers who are pursuing their careers on professional golf tours. The Trust targets golfers who have playing rights on the major tours and young golfers who are starting out to compete on the professional golf circuit.

This is the seventh year of the Trust, which has provided more than €1.5 million 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, private companies and the various golf organisations.  The Irish Sports Council and Failte Ireland provide financial backing along with private sector interests One51 (formerly IAWS Co-op), O’Callaghan Hotels and the PGA European Tour. 

For further information contact Austin Mallon, Irish Sports Council; 01-8608800