““Lee Valley became a very happy haunting ground for golfers, if a fellow could win the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup it was a good omen” So says Tony Hurley, President of the Lee Valley Golf Club.
Shane Lowry set a strong precedent for the competition when he won in 2009 just before winning the Irish Open and subsequently turning professional. At least thirteen golfers that have played in the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup have gone on to play professionally. The competition has gained a strong reputation amongst serious amateur golfers, attracting high calibre players. This year we have a strong field with a number of high profile national and international amateurs competing this weekend. We have golfers coming from all four provinces.
Dave O’Donovan, who won the Senior Scratch Cup last year, will return to try and retain his trophy. “I’d targetted this one big time. My mum is a member here, my mother in law is a member here, my brother started his profession as a PGA pro up here as well and we know the Keohanes well so we’d have great ties with the place. And when it got even more prestigious over the last five or six years it was one I would have loved to have won. It’s always got a good field and a good welcome, a great 54-hole event.”
This year proves to be the biggest and best scratch cup to date. EMC is the main sponsor of the event, which is now a qualifying event for World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). This has attracted the top class field of players we have playing this weekend.
Lee Valley would like to extend special thanks to Vincent Drinan, the tournament director who contacts all of the players and assures the smooth running of the event, as well as Patsy Ryan, Captain, Tony Hurley and of course the Keohanes and all the Greenkeepers who have worked tirelessly to make this year’s Scratch Cup our best yet! And best of luck to all of the players!
