Golfers receive financial fillip

The Team Ireland Golf Trust has allocated €221,500 to 21 golfers hoping to make an impact on the sport this year.

Rebecca Coakley and Martina Gillen have received the maximum award of €20,000 each as they embark on the Ladies European Tour, beginning with the European Ladies Golf Cup in Alicante at the start of April.

The 20-team competition will feature fourballs on days one and three, with a variation on greensomes on days two and four.

Of the men, Challenge Tour players Colm Moriarty, Michael Hoey, Stephen Browne and Gareth Maybin have received €15,000 each.

First year professionals Peter O'Keeffe, Richard Kilpatrick, Niall Turner, Heather Nolan and Marian Riordan have also received allocations.

The 21 recipients will have access to the facilities at the GUI's National Academy at Carton House and can avail of the services of physiologists, sports psychologists, bio-mechanists, physiotherapists and doctors in the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick - the value of which equates to approximately €3,000 each year.

One of the recipients, Tour professional Stephen Browne, spoke today of how he has benefitted from the scheme, which is now in its ninth year.

"The support from the Team Ireland Golf Trust has been of tremendous benefit to me since I turned professional," said Browne. "Golf is becoming more competitive year on year and the financial and specialist support that I've received from the Trust is crucial in giving me every opportunity to compete on the international golfing stage."

Trust Chairman Padraig O'hUiginn added: "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. The support of the Trust gives them the necessary platform from which to really progress their careers in the game."