Michael Quinn of Fintona Golf Club was crowned Srixon Amateur Champion this week, at the beautiful Galgorm Castle Golf Club in Ballymena.
Michael topped the leaderboard with a nett Stableford score of 35 points in what were, at times, challenging conditions.
The weather in the lead up to the event, with a very wet and windy few days beforehand, and heavy rain forecast on the day, left organisers wondering if it would go ahead at all.
However, with great planning from the staff at Galgorm, and with the weather on side eventually, it turned out to be a fantastic day for all involved.
Michael, who qualified for the final by winning the Fintona Golf Club Medal in June said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won the Srixon Amateur Championship and would like to thank TGI Golf, Srixon and also everyone at Galgorm Castle for a great experience”
Ashley Clements, TGI Partner and Head Professional at Fintona Golf Club added: “It was an exceptional event, the organisation from TGI, Srixon and Galgorm was first class.
“I would definitely recommend fellow TGI Partners to get involved in future as it has created a real interest around the club especially now with Michael having gone onto become Amateur Champion.
“Michael has had a great year for his golf with his handicap going from 13.4 to 8.8 and now picking up this title, having coached him, it is fantastic to see.”
The team event, in which the prize goes to the Pro and Amateur with the highest combined Stableford score, went to Padraig O’Connor of East Cork Golf Club and TGI Partner, David Ryan with a score of 71 points.
David Ryan said: “I would like to thank TGI and Srixon for their continued sponsorship of what is already a great event. I’ve been lucky enough to play in the final with amateurs a few times and have seen it go from strength to strength as both TGI and Srixon really get behind the event.
“Padraig, my amateur partner, was amazed with the organisation that had gone into the event and how welcome he was made to feel.”
O’Connor added: “I have had a fantastic time, the event has been amazing from start to finish, days like this don’t happen to golfers like me very often!”
The title of Srixon Amateur Champion goes to the top amateur golfer within TGI Golf’s stable of Partner venues, giving Partners the chance to offer their members an amazing experience.
In association with Srixon, prizes are supplied to Partners to hold a monthly medal as an Amateur Championship qualifier. The winners of the events are then placed on a national leaderboard, with the top 20 going through to compete in the grand final, with their Pro.
TGI Golf Managing Director, Adele McLean said: “This was our ninth Srixon Amateur Championship, and it was great to take the final to Ireland this year.
“The weather was not on our side initially, but it turned out to be a fantastic event and I’d like to thank all the staff at Galgorm Castle for helping everything run so smoothly.
“Congratulations to all the amateurs that made it to the final and thanks to the TGI Pros that played alongside them and, of course to Michael, this year’s Amateur Champion.
“I’d also like to say a huge thanks to Srixon for sponsoring and providing prizes for the 90 qualifying medals and the final event.”
Gareth Taylor, Srixon Head of UK & Ireland Sales, added: “Congratulations to all the amateurs who qualified for the final and to the winners on the day.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in making the Srixon Amateur Championship the success that it is - the TGI Partners that organise the 90 qualifying medals throughout the year as well as Adele and her team at TGI for all the work they do in pulling it all together.
“We are very much looking forward to next year when we will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of this fantastic event.”
