Carton House golfer Conor Stone is set to break new ground when he makes his G4D debut at the G4D @ ISPS Handa World Invitational Presented by Aviv Clinics.
Stone will be part of the field at Galgorm Castle next week after earning an invite as a result of his performances on the EDGA Tour this year and he is delighted to be ticking off a goal as he continues to live the dream.
“I’ve been trying to get in for ages. That was the main goal for the year to get into one of the G4D events on the DP World Tour just to play alongside or to be in the same field as the top European Tour professionals,” said the world number 13. “It’s great to be on the same range, the same course on the same week it’s unbelievable so that was my main aim for the season.
“I had hoped to get into the G4D event at the Irish Open in Mount Juliet earlier this year but it wasn’t to be so the next best thing is playing on Irish soil in the ISPS Handa World Invitational G4D event so I can’t wait for that and the opportunities that could open aswell is unbelievable.
“I’m absolutely loving playing the disability tour, it’s been great to go down a different route and to be playing golf full time is a dream come true I am really enjoying it and can’t wait to see what the future holds, the opportunities the DP World Tour provides for us are brilliant,” added Stone who also represents Co. Meath Golf Club at Senior Cup and Barton Shield level.
Stone will join fellow Carton House player and EDGA world number one, Brendan Lawlor next week and he returns to Galgorm with a point to prove after a disappointing experience at the Ulster Strokeplay in 2019.
In his first year back playing golf following surgery for his scoliosis diagnosis, the Kildalkey man was in a good position at the halfway stage after successive rounds of 75. Unfortunately, his back gave way and he had to withdraw from the championship and after wondering what might have been that week, he is back hunting silverware and a fourth win of the season.
“I played the Ulster Strokeplay there three years ago,” said Stone who has won EDGA titles in France and England as well as European Championship success with Ireland. “It was my first competitive year playing after surgery on my back and it was 36 holes two days in a row and I was in the top-10 or 15 after the first two rounds and I sadly had to withdraw on the final day because of my back.
“I was in bits, just wasn’t able to play 36 holes two days in a row so that was disappointing after doing really well the first two rounds so thankfully the ISPS is only 18 holes per day, I just wouldn’t be able for 36, 36.”
This will be the 27-year-old’s first appearance since a top-7 finish in the inaugural US Adaptive Open in Pinehurst and he will get the chance to rub shoulders with Leona Maguire, John Murphy and 2016 Ryder Cup player Andy Sullivan in what is sure to be another unforgettable experience.
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