Touring professional Ryan McCarthy tees off in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Thursday and is the first Tasmanian to make the field since Mathew Goggin tied for fifth place in 2009.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 27-year-old, formerly of Seabrook, has been competing on the Latino Tour of South America and the European Challenge Tour and earned his place in his first major through a qualifying tournament at Gailes Links in Scotland where he finished at 2 under par after two rounds then birdied the first play-off hole.
McCarthy won the Tasmanian Amateur Championship in 2008 and 2009 and the Tasmanian Open in 2009 before turning professional in 2012.
He will be teeing off along with fellow Australians Jason Day, Adam Scott, Matt Griffin, Scott Hend, Aaron Baddeley, Adam Bland, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Ashley Hall and Andrew Dodt who qualified after finishing tied for fourth in the Scottish Open.
Looking East
Stan Hardcastle reminds golfers that the East Coast Masters tournament is open to all age groups and will be played on November 4 and 5 at Scamander River and St Helens Golf Clubs.
This event has grown in popularity and in its seventh year has further increased sponsorship.
The ladies section is already booked out and further entries will be included on a waiting list. The men’s field is 80 per cent full. For enquiries ring Stan on 0409 935989.
Spoon feeding
August 31 is the closing date for this year’s Women’s Silver Spoon event played at most clubs and the Barclay Shield which will be played at Launceston Golf Club on September 25.
Womens Golf South is conducting the open and Division 2 tournament on September 10 and 17 at Claremont.
Tasmanian golfers can compete in the Australian Masters Games with events at Devonport, Ulverstone, Port Sorell, Thirlstane, Wynyard, Penquin and Sheffield from October 21 to 25. Details available at all clubs and the website.
The Australian Senior Men’s Amateur returns to Tasmania after a 12-year break and will be at Royal Hobart on October 10, 11 and 12.
This year’s Tasmanian Senior Men’s Amateur Championship will be at Mowbray Golf Club from November 15 to 17.
High performance
Golf Tasmania’s high performance director Peter Bond has completed a review of programs including discussions with all stakeholders involved with coaching and playing on the elite pathway in Tasmania.
Directors Georgette Chilcott and Bev Holman have completed their review of the Tasmanian women’s pennant conditions.
Further details from both reviews are anticipated at the Golf Tasmania annual meeting at Riverside Golf Club on September 24.
