Winning Irish Boys’ Home Internationals star Mark Gazi is looking to help Munster claim its first U18 interpros title since 2011 this week.
The Tralee golfer will team up with four of his Home Internationals teammates, Donnacha Cleary (Tipperary), John Doyle (Fota Island), Jack Murphy (Douglas) and James Walsh (Douglas) for Munster alongside Sean Deasy (Douglas) and Lucas Lyons (Limerick)
“I feel pretty confident. We’ve a very strong team coming into it, five Home Internationals on our team, so we have a really strong chance,” said Gazi.
“The chemistry between the team is very good. For me golf wise, the last week I’ve been fairly sick so it’s kind of just lying in bed trying to rest and get back to full recovery and now I’m back to practicing again so starting back from scratch, game is pretty good at the moment.
“It’s a nice track as well, Ballykisteen. It’s a great match play test especially the last few holes coming in you definitely need some good pressure situations, some good nerves towards those last few holes to get the match done.”
The 17-year-old will have course knowledge heading into the week, as Munster will compete for the title on home turf this year.
“I’ve played it probably like three or four times maybe. There was a Munster U16 there a few years ago so that was a good test for everyone, I remember it from there but it’s a great golf course,” said Gazi.
Coming off a great win at the Boys’ Home Internationals, Gazi will look to keep his winning match play momentum into the week.
“It was class the team we had over there, the chemistry between us is class, everyone kind of knows you so well,” said Gazi.
“Everyone is so hyped up about it. They hadn’t won in ten years so it was great to get the win especially to have that support from the parents that were over there and from the coaches and managers to have that support and get the win it was class.
“It’s a very well-run event, it’s 36 holes everyday it’s going to be a lot of golf which we love but it does get hard towards the end of the week, but it’s a great format of foursomes in the morning and then singles in the afternoon. You get to play everyone on every team.
“You get to play in both formats which obviously you need that in golf to play with a partner, so it’s a really good run event and having it the end of season I think it’s a great idea.”
The Boys’ and Girls’ U18 Interpros will take place this week alongside the Boys’ U16 and U14 event. Gazi will play his first U18 Boys’ Interpro’s having come through the age groups and he feels confident in his team that they can bring the trophy home to Munster.
“First time on the U18 team. I’ve played U14 and U16 growing up and to get to the U18 team at U17 level is a great accomplishment and we’ve a really strong team coming into it, so we fancy our chances.”
Connacht U18 Boys
Aodhagan Brady (Co. Sligo)
Luke Harrison (Co. Sligo)
Darragh McGrath (Athlone)
Charlie Mooney (Ballinasloe)
Cathal Penney (Athenry)
Aaron Quigley (Castlebar)
Conor Stapleton (Connemara)
Captain – John Waters (Oughterard)
Manager – Shane Quigley (Castlebar)
Connacht U18 Girls
Holly Cafferky (Ballinasloe)
Ellen Lonergan (Westport)
Mary Kate Lonergan (Westport)
Maebh McLoughlin (Co. Sligo)
Riona Murphy (Oughterard)
Jessica Reynolds (Co. Sligo)
Sophie Reynolds (Co. Sligo)
Captain – Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook)
Manager – Anne Fahy (Portumna)
Leinster U18 Boys
Jamie Anderson (Greystones)
Robert Garry (Malahide)
Dylan Holmes (Greystones)
Luke Mitchell (Portmarnock)
Ciaran Murphy (Grange)
Adam O’Loughlin (Killeen)
Gavin Tiernan (Co. Louth)
Captain – Tony Goode (Lucan)
Manager – Vincent Conlon (Dundalk)
Leinster U18 Girls
Anna Abom (Edmondstown)
Ella Cantwell (Esker Hills)
Hannah Guerin (Royal Tara)
Ellen O’Shaughnessy (Co. Louth)
Sinead Ni Cheilleachair (Tullamore)
Caoimhe O’Grady (Royal Dublin)
Niamh O’Grady (Royal Dublin)
Captain – Stephanie McNiff (Tullamore)
Manager – Mary Farrell (Carlow)
Munster U18 Boys
Donnacha Cleary (Tipperary)
Sean Deasy (Douglas)
John Doyle (Fota Island)
Mark Gazi (Tralee)
Lucas Lyons (Limerick)
Jack Murphy (Douglas)
James Walsh (Douglas)
Captain – Liam Troy (Thurles)
Manager – John Fennessy (Clonmel)
Munster U18 Girls
Lauren Bradfield (Waterford Castle)
Sadhbh Bullock (Castletroy)
Lucy Grattan (Tralee)
Hayley Martinez (Douglas)
Ella Moynihan (Tralee)
Caitlin Shippam (Ballykisteen)
Ciara Waldron (Naas)
Captain – Kiara O’Keeffe (Tipperary)
Manager – Imelda Fitzpatrick (Cahir Park)
Ulster U18 Boys
Noah Bickerstaff (Massereene)
Adam Buchanan (Royal Portrush)
Fionn Dobbin (Malone)
Finlay Eager (Royal Belfast)
Darcy Hogg (Belvoir Park)
Harry McArdle (Warrenpoint)
Corey Scullion (Moyola Park)
Captain – Jeff Forde (Tandragee)
Manager – Trevor Lewers (Portstewart)
Ulster U18 Girls
Julia Currie (Royal Portrush)
Olivia Currie (Royal Portrush)
Holly Hamilton (Belvoir Park)
Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush)
Gemma McMeekin (Royal Portrush)
Kayleigh Mulholland (Moyola Park)
Ella Proctor (Royal Portrush)
Captain – Nicola Gorman (Fortwilliam)
Manager – Suzanne Logan (Massereene).
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