<p>Stuart Grehan celebrating his win at Hoylake. Photo: Oisin Keniry / The R&A.</p>
The Amateur Champion Stuart Grehan will lead the Irish men’s team for the European Amateur Team Championships in Estonia next month.
The 33-year-old claimed a stunning victory at Royal Liverpool last weekend when he defeated Matt Moloney (USA) in the final to become the 131st Amateur Champion.
Grehan will now play in The Open at Royal Birkdale next month, while he also receives an invite to the Masters and the US Open in 2027.
Meanwhile, Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) and Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye) will look to provide the experience for European Ladies’ Team Championship at home in Slieve Russell.
The Girls’ and Boys’ teams will also be in action in Austria and Greece as the four teams tee off on 7 July.
Leona Maguire says Slieve Russell will provide the ideal test in the European Ladies’ Team Championships.
The Cavan native, who grew up playing on the Ballyconnell course, never competed in a major event there.
However, she knows this is a huge opportunity for the six Irish hopefuls stepping out on home turf ready to compete against the rest of Europe.
Olivia Costello (Roscommon), Kate Dillon (Oughterard), Jessica Ross (Clandeboye), and Katie Poots (Knock) complete the Irish team.
“I probably know every blade of grass at that place,” said Maguire.
“Hopefully the weather is kind to them and they’ll enjoy it. It’ll be a really good test. It’s going to test all aspects of their game - some slopey shots, tighter tees, wider tees, water, really good greens - they’ll be able to get the greens nice and fast.
“Hopefully they can bring home some silverware.”
Ireland have not won that event since 1983, and just twice in their history, and with Ireland having finished strong last year with wins over Italy and England, they will hope improve on their fifth-place result from Chantilly.
“It’s a testament to how much work they have put into the course over the years, it’s huge,” said Maguire, who was speaking at the launch of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
“It’s in great shape, great for the area, for the golf course and they obviously have the hotel on site which is very handy for the teams.
“I never actually got to play a big event there, I know there have been Home Internationals over the years, and they’ve had some bigger events the last few years, but they’ve continued to work on a lot of the course.
“I always thought it was very underrated because it wasn’t close to Dublin, people didn’t really know about it.”
Grehan will look to maintain his fine form at Estonian Golf & Country Club, as Ireland continue with the same selection that managed a brilliant fourth-place finish in Killarney last year.
John Doyle (Fota Island), Thomas Higgins (Roscommon), Matthew McClean (Malone), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) and Gavin Tiernan (Co Louth) will also be involved again.
Ella Cantwell (Esker Hills), Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush), Zoe McLean-Tattan (Romford), Kayleigh Mulholland (Royal Portrush), Jessica Reynolds (Co Sligo) and Emma Vinarcik (Tralee) form a strong Girls’ team, as they make the trip to Golf & Country Club Zurich.
The Boys’ team will see Flogas Irish Boys’ Champion Luke Furlong (Wexford) joined by John William Burke (Ballyhaunis), Adam Fahey (Portmarnock), John Moran (Portmarnock), Harry O’Hara (Clandeboye) and Isaac Oliver (Glasson) at Costa Navarino in Greece.
European Ladies’ Team Championships
Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle)
Olivia Costello (Roscommon)
Kate Dillon (Oughterard)
Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye)
Katie Poots (Knock)
Jess Ross (Clandeboye)
Women’s Captain - Gillian O’Leary (The Island)
Women’s Coach - Donal Scott
European Amateur Team Championships
John Doyle (Fota Island)
Stuart Grehan (Co Louth)
Thomas Higgins (Roscommon)
Matthew McClean (Malone)
Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk)
Gavin Tiernan (Co Louth)
Men’s Captain - Damien Coyne (Tuam)
Men’s Coach - Michael Collins
European Girls’ Team Championships
Ella Cantwell (Esker Hills)
Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush)
Zoe McLean-Tattan (Romford)
Kayleigh Mulholland (Royal Portrush)
Jessica Reynolds (Co Sligo)
Emma Vinarcik (Tralee)
Girl’s Captain - Brenda Craig (Roganstown)
Girl’s Coach - Chris Jelly
European Boys’ Team Championships
John William Burke (Ballyhaunis)
Adam Fahey (Portmarnock)
Luke Furlong (Wexford)
John Moran (Portmarnock)
Harry O’Hara (Clandeboye)
Isaac Oliver (Glasson)
U18 Boys Captain - John Carroll (Cork)
U18 Boys Coach - Stephen Hood.
Article Link: Amateur champion Grehan returns for European Team Championships - News - Irish Golf Desk