Three former Irish internationals who now compete on the Ladies European Tour have been awarded the top grants from the Team Ireland Golf Trust which were announced in Dublin today.
Cork's Claire Coughlan graduated from the amateur ranks by winning the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School last November where Dublin's Martina Gillen also secured her card. The pair join Rebecca Coakley, who has been in the paid ranks for the last two seasons, and all three received €20,000 each from a grant totalling €205,000 divided among 15 professionals.
The annual Team Ireland grants are aimed at Irish professionals attempting to carve out careers on various men's and women's professional tours around the world.
Former European Amateur champion Stephen Browne lost his European Tour card and is one of several Irish hopefuls who competes mainly on the Challenge Tour this season
"The Trust has given me the opportunity to embark on a career as a professional golfer and to play golf at the highest level," said Browne who appreciated receiving one of this year's five €15,000 grants.
Former British Amateur champions Michael Hoey and Brian McElhinney along with Michael McGeady and Colm Moriarty also received this amount.
A number of Irish professionals compete on the development PGA Europro Tour, the domestic Irish PGA circuit and various other satellite tours and Team Ireland grants are aimed at softening the blow against entry fees and travel costs.
Damien Mooney played the Europro Tour last year and was narrowly beaten into second in the order of merit race while Simon Thornton was last season's leading light on the Irish PGA circuit. Both received one of seven €10,000 grants.
Former Walker Cup player Noel Fox took his chances on one of the satellite tours in Florida over the winter period and he too received €10,000.
"As Minister for Sport I am glad to see the assistance being given to our talented professional golfers to enable them to achieve their potential," said John O'Donoghue at today's announcement at the Davenport Hotel.
As part of the Trust's support package, all the golfers can also avail of the world class facilities at the GUI's National Academy at Carton House. This year the Trust is also developing a comprehensive coaching and sports science programme, in conjunction with the Golfing Union of Ireland, the Irish Ladies Golf Union, and the PGA Irish Region.
"The Trust is all about believing in the potential of the golfers at a time when financial support is so crucial to their further development as professionals," added John Treacy, chief executive Irish Sports Council. "It gives these golfers the necessary platform from which to really advance their careers in the game."
This is the eighth year of the Trust, which has provided over €1.75million in financial support to golfers to date. It appears the Trust has concentrated their financial assistance because this year's figure of €205,000 in total grants for 15 professionals compares, for example, to the 2004 figures which revealed the Trust awared 29 professionals a total of €252,000.
Team Ireland Golf Trust Grants 2007
Claire Coughlan - €20,000
Martina Gillen - €20,000
Rebecca Coakley - €20,000
Stephen Browne - €15,000
Michael Hoey - €15,000
Michael McGeady - €15,000
Colm Moriarty - €15,000
Brian McElhinney - €15,000
Damian Mooney - €10,000
David Mortimer - €10,000
Simon Thornton - €10,000
David Jones - €10,000
Michael McDermott - €10,000
Gareth Maybin - €10,000
Noel Fox - €10,000
Total - €205,000
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