The tee times for the 36-hole stroke play qualifying at next week’s Connolly Motor Group West of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship have been released with Caolan Rafferty, Matthew McClean and Colm Campbell grouped together in the opening 3-ball.
Provincial slam winning Rafferty, four-time major winner Campbell and former Irish Amateur and US Mid-Amateur champion McClean will strike the first shots in anger on Friday at County Sligo Golf Club at 7:30am. They will be followed by defending champion Dylan Holmes, Patrick Curran and home hopeful Aodhagan Brady at 7:41am.
Holmes (Greystones) will be looking to become the first player since Rory McIlroy in 2005 and 2006 to successfully defend the West when he returns after his triumphant victory last year which saw him become the youngest winner of the title since McIlroy.
South of Ireland champion Jonathan Keane gets underway at 8:14am alongside former Irish Close winner Thomas Abom and Alex Kerins while Ryan Griffin and Dylan Keating are alongside Jamal Sabir just before 9:00am.
East of Ireland champion David Howard will bid for his first West of Ireland title at 10:15am when he tees off with Matthew Dodd and Ben Cahill while local favourite and former South winner TJ Ford tees it up at 8:47am.
There are thirteen spaces available via the pre-tournament qualifier on Wednesday with the now lucky number thirteen set to be handed an all star tee time with Paul Coughlan and Keith Egan in the championship proper at 7:52am.
There is a strong field that includes a blend of youth and experience as 2010 runner up Eddie McCormack joins young guns William O’Riordan, Mark Cadden, Conor Hickey, Kerins and others.
Former North of Ireland champion James Fox, Liam Abom, Jordan Boles, David Kitt and David Shiel complete a strong field out West.
Tee Times HERE
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