Holywood will look for another Flogas Irish Boys’ Amateur Open Championship success this weekend when Henry Campbell makes his debut in the event.
On the week that the County Down club celebrated Rory McIlroy’s historic back-to-back success in Augusta, one 14-year-old will look to emulate his victory from 22 years ago.
Malone will host this year’s championship, with 120 players making their way to the Belfast venue for the 54-hole tournament. Over the years, winning this event has also helped launch the careers of fellow professionals Sam Murphy (2020), Mark Power (2017, 2016) and Dermot McElroy (2010).
Campbell is already beginning to make his mark on the junior circuit, a rise that has seen him selected for the Golf Ireland U16 High Performance Panel, becoming the first pupil from Sullivan Upper School to achieve this distinction, since Masters champion McIlroy.
Campbell will get his maiden Flogas Irish Boys’ campaign underway at 2.51pm on Friday alongside Stephen Patterson (Baltinglass) and Tiernan Bradley (Ballyliffin). He will not be the sole Holywood representative in the field either, with clubmate Rhys Davidson also teeing it up.
“You get it in school,” said Campbell.
“Rory, he’s one-of-a-kind. You’re not going to get many like him, so to be honest, there’s times where I wonder, can anyone catch him?”
Campbell is focused on his own game after claiming victory on the Flogas Irish Junior Open Tour at Lough Erne over the Easter weekend.
“I’m a lot more confident than I was last year. I feel a lot more in control of my game. I’ve got a bit more experience in tournament play,” said Campbell.
“I like playing with a bit of pressure. It makes you feel like you have to think around the golf course more.”
Campbell is also looking forward to the test that Malone promises to bring. Located just 30 minutes from Holywood, it is a course he has had the opportunity to play before and rates highly.
“It’s a parkland course. It’s a really good course. There are some holes that are slightly wider. They give you a bit more confidence to put that driver in your hand so you can try and get far down there,” said Campbell.
“It’ll be hard for a lot of the field but the scoring will be quite good there.”
Campbell’s fellow U16 High Performance panellists will also be in action this weekend along with the entire U18 panel. Isaac Oliver (Glasson), John William Burke (Ballyhaunis) and Harry O’Hara (Clandeboye) are set to be among the top contenders with each player coming in off the back of strong performances at the Scottish Boys’ Open Championship last week.
Despite being in the early stages of his golfing journey, Campbell has ambitions to be the third Holywood member after McIlroy and Tom McKibbin to make his mark on the professional game.
“My hope would be to turn pro and play on the DP World or PGA Tour, maybe play in a major,” said Campbell.
“Maybe be the third one from Hollywood and maybe win a green jacket along the way.”
A chance meeting with McIlroy when Campbell was 10 years old has stayed with him ever since, with a simple message continuing to shape his approach to the game.
“The thing he said was just to keep doing what I was doing and to enjoy it.”
Flogas Irish Boys’ Amateur Open Championship Tee Times and Scoring
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