Change of date will boost NI Open field at Galgorm

FLASHBACK: Joakim Lagergren, 2014 Northern Ireland Open winner pictured along with Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and John Carruthers, Captain of Galgorm Castle Golf Club. Picture: Press Eye.

This year’s event will take place from Augut 6-9 - a week in which there is no regular European Tour event, which should in turn lead to more top names competing at Galgorm.

The Galgorm showpiece broke all attendance records for any European Challenge Tour event in the last two years as over 34,000 spectators came through the gates in 2014 to witness Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren become the new NI Open champion and pick up the €27,200 winner’s cheque.

The new date earlier in August is certain to attract an even stronger field this year as several main European Tour players have already indicated they hope to compete at Galgorm.

This will be the third successive year that the Northern Ireland Open has been held at the Ballymena venue and it has steadily grwon in stature.

Five-time European Tour winner Michael Hoey has signed up as the Tournament Ambassador for the third consecutive year and will be one of the many household names on show.

“We are delighted with the new date on the European Challenge Tour’s international schedule and we look forward to welcoming back to Northern Ireland some of the finest players in Europe and beyond,” said Gary Henry, Director Galgorm Castle Estates and NI Open Tournament Director.

“The NI Open is a great opportunity to put Northern Ireland, Ballymena and Galgorm in front of a global audience of over 350 million.

“For spectators on the ground during tournament week, they will also enjoy the dedicated Food Festival, which proved such a great success last year.”

Once again the NI Open will be free to enter.

All the general public will have to do is register online in due course to get their free tickets.