RYDER HEROS IN SWING FOR OMAGH
RYDER HEROS IN SWING FOR OMAGH
GOLF ON THURSDAY WITH JACK MAGOWAN AND DES MAGEE
Clarke's pals chip in to boost funds for victims
DARREN Clarke and a group of his Ryder cup team-mates won't be worried about big-money winnings on Monday - they will be happy to help raise £300,000 for the victims of the Omagh bomb atrocity.
Portmarnock Links near Dublin is the venue for the Omagh Memorial Fund Pro-am and our top golfer will be joined by fellow US-conquerors Thomas Bjorn, Colin Montgomerie, Jose-Maria Olazabal, Lee Westwood and Ian Woosnam.
Several other European tour players will also be in the field, including Ireland's Raymond Burns, Eamonn Darcy. Paul McGinley, Des Smyth and Philip Walton.
Dungannon-born Darren thought of the idea for the event soon after the bombing and he and manager Andrew Chandler have been busy making arrangements.
"My Ryder Cup colleagues gave me an immediate 'yes' when I approached them. Those who cannot make it are either in America or have commitments they can't break.
"With my son, Tyrone, born at the start of August I was particularly horrified and shocked by the tragedy. I have many friends in Omagh and I am only too pleased to play some part in raising money for the fund."
Corporate generosity has been fulsome for the occasion. Each of the 28 teams has paid at least £5,000 - indeed one company was only too happy to part with £50,000.
Aer Lingus is giving free flights to players, bringing them from the weekend's British Masters and on to the next event, the Lancome Trophy to France.
The Portmarnock Links complex, to which Darren is attached, is providing free accommodation for the players at its hotel.
Admission on Monday costs £5 at least, including entry to a raffle with prizes ranging from a golfing week in Portugal to various items of equipment.
Darren added: "We started off with a target of £30,000. Then it went up to £150,000. It's great that we'll now be raising £300,000.
"I'm sure there will he big galleries to support such a worthy cause and I'm looking forward to many people travelling from the North."
Meanwhile, Balmoral Golf Club have reached the final stages of the prestigious G B Carr Diamond Trophy.
This competition is for players aged 60 and is played on an all-Ireland basis, first at county level and then in the provinces.
Balmoral defeated Cliftonville and Massereene to win the County Antrim section and then Bangor, Castlerock and Blacklion of County Cavan to become Ulster Champions.
The final takes place at Woodenbridge Golf Club in County Wicklow on 26-27 September.
The Balmoral team which has been successful so far is. J McCreesh, R Blemmings, J Grist, G McCormack, J Matthews, P Gallagher, D McFetridge, P Turbitt, Mageean and T Stewart.
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