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GOLF: PGA EUROPEAN TOUR: McGeady eyes up a double

/noticias.info/ The celebrations have been put on ice by the Challenge Tour’s newest champion Michael McGeady, who this week returns to his homeland to compete in the Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson.

The man from Derry, fresh from his maiden victory at the SWALEC Wales Challenge, heads to Athlone fully focused on climbing into the top 20 of the Challenge Tour Rankings and securing a place on The European Tour for next season.

McGeady’s winner’s cheque for €22,400 catapulted him 125 places up the Challenge Tour Rankings to 34th place, but perhaps more importantly his status was upgraded from category 12 to one, meaning he is now fully exempt for the remainder of the season.

He said: “It’s a big relief for me, because my previous category didn’t guarantee me entry into every event. So it was difficult to plan my playing schedule, but now I can pick and choose the tournaments I play in. So it’s really set up my season.

“It means I’m guaranteed entry into the two big tournaments at the end of the year, in China and Kazakhstan. They’re almost like Challenge Tour Majors, because they go a long way towards deciding who gets into the top 20 of the Rankings and a card for next season’s European Tour. If I can keep my form going and play well in those events, I’ll have every chance.”

Before then, McGeady will tackle the Glasson Golf Hotel & Country Club’s 7,159 yards course, determined to become the event’s first home winner. Before his maiden victory last Sunday, McGeady’s previous highest Challenge Tour finish came on home soil in 2006, when he lost out by one stroke to Australia’s John Wade at the Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club.

The 30 year old is aiming to go one better this time around, and so become the first back to back winner on this season’s Challenge Tour Schedule.

He said: “I’ve felt my game’s been slowly coming together for a while now. Before then I’d had a couple of decent rounds, I just hadn’t played consistently enough over the four days. I’ve always thought I was good enough to win a tournament, but now I know I am – and that’s a big difference.

“But I can’t rest on my laurels, because there’s the Challenge of Ireland this week – that’s life on the Challenge Tour for you! I’m just going to relax for a day or so before preparing for it. My Mum and Dad and fiancée will be there, so I’ll have some home support – and a bit of pressure! But I’m really looking forward to playing there – it’s been a great year for Irish golf so far, and to get another winner in our home event would be the icing on the cake.”

McGeady will be joined in Athlone by compatriot Colm Moriarty, the winner of last year’s Wales Challenge, and Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin, who finished joint third in Cardiff last week. notas_de_prensa_archivo