Gareth Maybin
A year ago Gareth Maybin secured a second place finish at the fog plagued Ballantine’s Championship at the Pinx Golf Club to secure his playing rights for the 2011 season, easing the pressure of needing a late surge in earnings to keep his card. In fact on the final day Maybin may have done even better except he faded down the stretch, losing out on sole possession of second place after a par putt at the last lipped, with the level par 72 dropping him back alongside Australia's Brett Rumford.
Gareth, from Ballyclare in Northern Ireland, had a very successful career as an amateur, representing Ireland at boys, youth and senior levels in addition to wins in the Leinster Youths and North of Ireland.
In 2001 Gareth accepted a four year golf scholarship at the University of South Alabama, where he set a record by winning eight times in one season, beating PGA Tour player Heath Slocum’s record of seven wins. In 2004 Gareth played on the successful European Palmer Cup team at Ballybunnion Golf Club and was also a member of that year’s Walker Cup panel.
Maybin turned professional after the 2004 University season, initially playing on the Hooters Tour in the US, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 2005. After two wins on the Tour, in 2005 and 2006, and a victory in the 2006 Alabama Open, he returned to Europe to compete on the European Challenge Tour, for the second half of the 2007 season. After four top ten finishes in only ten events, including a third place finish in the First Plus Wales Challenge, Gareth finished the season in 49th position on the Order of Merit and secured full Challenge Tour playing rights for 2008. Gareth rounded off 2007 in style, playing in the World Cup of Golf with fellow Northern Irishman Michael Hoey, at Mission Hills in China.
Maybin had a superb 2008 season on the Challenge Tour, with nine top-10 finishes, including his first Challenge Tour victory at the Qingdao Golf Open in September. Gareth’s consistent performances saw him finish the 2008 season ranked 4th on the Challenge Tour Rankings. This secured a category 10 card on the main European Tour for the 2009 season, which gave Gareth entry to most tournaments.
He took full advantage of this opportunity, and nearly secured the European Tour’s Rookie Of The Season award for 2009. Maybin had no fewer than seven top-10 finishes, and came close to winning on a number of occasions. None more so than at the South African Open Championship, where he missed out on a play-off. Gareth finished 53rd in the final 2009 Race to Dubai rankings, a superb debut season.
Maybin would continue in the same vein going into 2010, narrowly missing out securing his first European Tour victory. Gareth would secure five top-10s, including finishing second at the Ballantine's Championship in Korea and also the Andalucia Valderrama Masters in Spain. He sampled his first taste of Major golf by qualifying for both the US Open and the Open Championship on his way to finishing 40th in the Race to Dubai.
Personal Details
Date of Birth: 14th September 1980
Residence: Ballyclare, Northern Ireland
Turned Professional: 2005
Interests: Football, Shooting, Cars and Pool
Career Highlights
2010 - 2nd Andalucia Valderrama Masters
2010 - 2nd Ballantine’s Championship
2010 - 4th Alfred Dunhill Championship
2010 - 7th UBS Hong Kong Open
2010 - 10th Hassan II Golf Trophy, Morocco
2009 - 2nd South African Open Championship
2009 - 4th Madrid Masters
2009 - 6th Maybank Malaysian Open
2009 - 7th Czech Golf Open
2009 - 8th BMW Italian Open
2009 - 10th Open de France
2008 - Winner Qingdao Golf Open (Challenge Tour)
2007 - Represented Ireland at the World Cup of Golf in China
2007 - 3rd First Plus Wales Challenge (Challenge Tour)
2006 - Winner QuickSilver Golf Classic (Hooters Tour)
2005 - Winner Base Camp Realty Open (Hooters Tour)
2004 - Palmer Cup player and Walker Cup panel member
