The Team Ireland Golf Trust announced grants totaling €157,000 to fifteen aspiring golfers who are pursuing their careers on professional golf tours.
Rebecca Coakley and Martina Gillen will receive grants of €15,000 to assist their campaigns on the Ladies European Tour. Rebecca's main target for the year is to qualify for the European Solheim Cup Team, the event will be held in Killeen Castle in September.
A grant of €15,000 is awarded to Niall Kearney, and Jonathan Caldwell as they seek to make on impact on the PGA Challenge Tour. County Cork golfer Niall Turner, a product of the US collegiate system, has won his card for the Asian Tour and receives a grant of €15,000 to support his first year of campaigning there.
Three players are receiving grants from Team Ireland who have graduated from the amateur ranks in the last year. They are Seamus Power who will play on the eGolf Tour in the US, Dara Lernihan who will play on the Alps Tour and Cian Curley who will play on the Eurpro Tour.
As part of the support package, all golfers can avail of the world class facilities at the GUI's National Academy at Carton House. The golfers on the scheme also have free access to the network of service providers such as physiologists, sports psychologists, biomechanists, physiotherapists and doctors coordinated by the Institute of Sport at Abbotstown.
This is the twelfth year of the scheme, which has provided €2.75 million in financial support to golfers to date. The Trust aims to contribute to an increase in the presence of Irish golf professionals on the various international tours. The total budget for the Trust in 2011 is down on previous years as it is now solely funded by the Irish Sports Council in partnership with Failte Ireland.
Many established players on the main European Tour have benefited from the Trust including Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Gary Murphy, Michael Hoey, Gareth Maybin and Shane Lowry.
Ireland top female professional golfer Rebecca Coakley is in Agadir this week to compete on at the Ladies European Tour Event. The Carlow golfer commented: "I have been very fortunate to have received backing from the Golf Trust over the years. The grant this year will have a huge impact on me not only financially but mentally. It allows me to focus on my goals for the year with out the financial worries that come with being a Professional Golfer. This in return helps me focus on making the Solheim Cup Team."
Niall Turner from Cork plans to concentrate on the Asian Tour. " Team Ireland's support over the last three years has been vital in my progression as a professional golfer. Team Ireland provides the perfect support structure needed to pursue a career in professional golf. Their financial support, along with coaching and facility help, has allowed me to continually improve my game. I will be playing on the Asian tour along with co-sanctioned European tour events in 2011 and look forward to continued success."
Niall Kearney from Royal Dublin is in Kenya this week at a Challenge Tour event: "My plan for 2011 is to secure a European Tour card for the 2012 season. I will be concentrating mainly on the Challenge Tour this season and will be planning to play approx 23 events. The financial support I receive will go a long way towards covering my expenses for the 2011 season".
Team Ireland Golf grant allocations 2011
Martina Gillen Ladies European Tour €15,000
Rebecca Coakley Ladies European Tour €15,000
Jonathan Caldwell PGA Challenge Tour €15,000
Niall Kearney PGA Challenge Tour €15,000
Niall Turner Asian Tour €15,000
Simon Thornton PGA Challenge Tour €10,000
Tara Delaney LET Access Tour €10,000
Gareth Shaw PGA Challenge Tour €10,000
Seamus Power E Golf Tour United States €10,000
Michael McGeady PGA Challenge Tour €7,000
Richard Kilpatrick Alps Tour €7,000
Paul O'Hanlon Europro Tour €7,000
Brendan McCarroll Europro Tour €7,000
Dara Lernihan Alps Tour €7,000
Cian Curley Europro Tour €7,000
