Northern Ireland Open (golf) explained

Black Desert NI Open
Location:Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Establishment:2010
Course:Galgorm Castle Golf Club
Lang:uk
Yardage:7105yd
Par:70
Tour:Challenge Tour
PGA EuroPro Tour
Clutch Pro Tour
Format:Stroke play
Month Played:July
Aggregate:265 Ryan Fox (2016)
265 Calum Hill (2018)
To-Par:−19 as above
Current Champion: Conor Purcell
Map:Northern Ireland
Map Label:Galgorm Castle GC
Map Relief:yes
Map Size:200
Coordinates:54.858°N -6.322°W

The Northern Ireland Open is a professional golf tournament currently played on the Challenge Tour. It was played for the first time in June 2010 on the PGA EuroPro Tour at Galgorm Castle Golf Club in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. It also featured on the Clutch Pro Tour schedule from 2021 to 2023.

History

In 2017, the event was changed from 72 holes of stroke play to a "Super 6" style format. The format was similar to that used for the World Super 6 Perth. The main difference was that the 6-hole matches were determined by stroke play rather than match play. It retained the 156-player field, with the cut being made at the top-60 and ties after 36 holes. After 54 holes, the field was cut to a fixed 24. Ties for 24th place were determined by a sudden-death playoff. There were then five six-hole knock-out rounds on the final day. The leading eight after 54 holes received a bye in the first round. The remaining 16 were randomly paired. The six holes used on the final day were 17, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 18. There were a number of other matches for the minor places.[1]

In 2018, the event reverted to 72-hole stroke-play.

The 2020 event returned to the Challenge Tour as the Northern Ireland Open with backing from The R&A.[2] The tournament was played on the Clutch Pro Tour between 2021 and 2023,[3] with the event returning to the Challenge Tour schedule in 2024.[4] It was later confirmed in June 2024 that the Black Desert Resort in Utah would become the title sponsor of the event.[5]

Winners

YearTour(s)WinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
Black Desert NI Open
2024 267 −13 1 stroke Joakim Lagergren
Northern Ireland Open
2023 201 −9 3 strokes Daniel Smith
2022 205 −8 7 strokes Tim Rice
2021 135 −5 4 strokes Dermot McElroy
2020 267 −13 2 strokes Kristian Krogh Johannessen
2019: No tournament
Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open
2018 265 −19 1 stroke Scott Henry
Stuart Manley
2017 20 −3 2 strokes Alessandro Tadini
Tayto Northern Ireland Open
2016 265 −19 4 strokes Dominic Foos
Dylan Frittelli
Max Orrin
Bernd Ritthammer
Northern Ireland Open
2015 267 −17 1 stroke John Hahn
Northern Ireland Open Challenge
2014 271 −13 1 stroke Adrien Bernadet
2013 271 −13 Playoff Oliver Wilson
Ulster Bank Open
2012 204 −12 1 stroke Elliot Saltman
George Woolgar
Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland Open
2011 202 −14 Playoff Graeme Clarke
2010 201 −15 Playoff Daniel Gaunt

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shootout Sunday . www.niopen.golf . 8 August 2017.
  2. Web site: Northern Ireland Open added to 2020 Challenge Tour schedule . Irish Golfer . 17 July 2020 . 24 April 2022.
  3. Web site: Murphy and O'Rourke hit the front at Clutch Pro Tour’s NI Open . Irish Golfer . 14 June 2021 . 22 July 2024.
  4. Web site: Northern Ireland Open returns to Challenge Tour schedule . European Tour . 8 January 2024 . 22 July 2024.
  5. Web site: Black Desert Resort announced as NI Open title sponsor . Irish Golfer . 11 June 2024 . 22 July 2024.