The Team Ireland Golf Trust has announced grants totaling €217,000 to 17 golfers who are pursuing their careers on professional tours.
Among the golfers receiving the top award of €20,000, are Simon Thornton who graduated to the European Tour in 2010 from the Challenge Tour and Alison Walshe from Co Galway who has a card on both the Ladies European Tour and LPGA in the United States.
Alison has decided to represent Ireland in the professional ranks having competed for the USA in the Curtis Cup in 2008 as an amateur.
Other golfers to receive a grant of €20,000 are Tara Delaney and Martina Gillen, who will both play on the Ladies European Tour in 2010.
A grant of €15,000 has been awarded to former Walker Cup player Niall Kearney to support his first year on the professional circuit following a successful amateur career.
Niall will play mainly on the Challenge Tour in 2010 as will Jonathan Caldwell and Gareth Shaw, who also receive grants of €15,000.
All three players were members of the victorious GUI European Championship Team in 2008.
Doubtless they will be inspired by the major impact being made on the European Tour by team-mates Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.
Rebecca Coakley and Hazel Kavanagh will also receive grants of €15,000 to assist their campaigns on the Ladies European Tour and their efforts to qualify for the European Solheim Cup Team in 2011.
Irish golf enjoyed another very successful year in 2009. The Team Ireland Golf Trust, which is unique in Europe, plays an essential part in the development of professional golfers at the start of their tour careers, given the lack of commercial sponsorship. The impact of these golfers in recent years is also a tribute to the excellent work of the GUI and ILGU in improving the standards of golf in Ireland.
Established players on the main European Tour who have benefited from the Trust, include Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Gary Murphy, Michael Hoey, Gareth Maybin and Shane Lowry.
